Can Ethics Provide Answers?: And Other Essays in Moral Philosophy by James Rachels

Esteemed moral philosopher James Rachels here collects fifteen essays, some classic and others extensively revised, on the nature and limits of moral reasoning. Rachels argues that, rather than simply expressing societal conventions, moral philosophy can subvert received opinion and replace it with something better. Combining a concern for ethical theory with a discussion of practical moral issues such as euthanasia, the rights of animals, privacy, and affirmative action. Can Ethics Provide Answers is an excellent collection for students, scholars, and anyone concerned with the degree to which our principles can guide our policies.

Review:

…An excellent collection of articles…Rachels is among the very best applied ethicists around…In a prose style that makes the volume both very accessible and enormously readable, Rachels carefully presents and sifts arguments in the best philosophical manner. (R.G. Frey, Bowling Green State University)

From now on we should disregard whatever columnists and commentators say about ethical issues, if they have not read Can Ethics Provide Answers? Whether or not Rachels' readers agree with his conclusions, in his clear and reasoned essays they have before them a model of how we should discuss questions in ethics. (Peter Singer, Centre for Human Bioethics, Monash University, Australia)

As one would expect from Rachels, the essays are clear, thoughtful, engaging, and well argued. (John Lemos, Coe College Teaching Philosophy)

The essays are always stimulating, highly insightful, and unwaveringly clear. Good reading for philosophers and for students. (Hugh LaFollette, University of Stirling)