The Fundamentals of Ethics

The Fundamentals of Ethics, first published in 2010, is a primer on the basics of moral philosophy written by philosophy professor Russ Shafer-Landau for new students in the field. The book is divided into thirds covering the three topics of value theory, normative ethics, and metaethics and designed to be read in any order. This guide references the book’s fourth edition, which has a comprehensive glossary of terms at the end.

The Fundamentals of Ethics introduces relevant topics to the study of moral philosophy through Shafer-Landau’s viewpoint. Aware that there are drawbacks when opting to write an introductory guide from a unilateral perspective, Shafer-Landau published a complementary book that includes additional readings and primary sources. This companion book, entitled The Ethical Life: Fundamental Readings in Ethics and Moral Problems, is a collection of foundational texts written by various Western philosophers meant to provide readers with a multilateral perspective. The Fundamentals of Ethics and its companion book are Shafer-Landau’s most recent publications.

Plot Summary

The Fundamentals of Ethics is separated into three parts. The first is an overview of value theory, the branch of moral philosophy concerned with understanding how to live a good life. This section seeks to answer questions such as “what is worth pursuing in life?” and “how do we improve our condition?” by exploring various existing ethical theories.