The Moral Problem
Philosophical Theory
1. Edition October 1994
240 Pages, Softcover
Wiley & Sons Ltd
ISBN:
978-0-631-19246-6
John Wiley & Sons
This widely anticipated volume offers a systematic introduction to and striking analysis of the central issues animating current debate in moral philosophy.
1. What is the Moral Problem?.
2. The Expressivist Challenge.
3. The Externalist Challenge.
4. The Humean Theory of Motivation.
5. An Anti-Humean Theory of Normative Reasons.
6. How to Solve the Moral Problem.
2. The Expressivist Challenge.
3. The Externalist Challenge.
4. The Humean Theory of Motivation.
5. An Anti-Humean Theory of Normative Reasons.
6. How to Solve the Moral Problem.
"The Moral Problem's ability to
combine originality and subject overview are two factors that
render this book an essential text for anyone enrolled on an
intermediate level moral philosophy course and above. With a
certain level of guidance, the book's powerful clarity and
explanatory style could also be harnessed at the introductory
level. Overall, I strong recommend this text and believe the
non-philosopher would also learn a great deal about how moral
philosophy works." (Philosophy & Economics Books
Reviews, 1 April 2013)
"Vigorous, engaging, and marvelously sophisticated, Michael Smith's
The Moral Problem faces head-on the challenge of reconciling
morality's motivational relevance with its claims to objectivity
and categorical force - without abandoning a Humean account of
human action and without metaphysical extravagance." Geoffrey
Sayre-McCord, University of North Carolina
"Extraordinarily clear and well organised. Reading this book
takes you right into the centre of the intense contemporary debate
on moral theory. Smith knows exactly what he is doing, and slowly
puts together a redoubtable argument for the broadly realist
position he favours." Jonathan Dancy, University of
Reading
"An intelligent, clear, and engaging book" Times Literary
Supplement
"An outstanding and ambitious work, it serves at once as a lucid
introduction to metaethics and a wide-ranging inquiry into some of
its hardest problems." Brad Hooker, University of
Reading
"A marvelous volume: it is not only an important contribution to
philosophical ethics, but also an exciting introduction to the
subject. The book is an excellent model of how to do philosophy, a
model I hope students (and their teachers) will adopt for
themselves." Gilbert Harman, Princeton University
combine originality and subject overview are two factors that
render this book an essential text for anyone enrolled on an
intermediate level moral philosophy course and above. With a
certain level of guidance, the book's powerful clarity and
explanatory style could also be harnessed at the introductory
level. Overall, I strong recommend this text and believe the
non-philosopher would also learn a great deal about how moral
philosophy works." (Philosophy & Economics Books
Reviews, 1 April 2013)
"Vigorous, engaging, and marvelously sophisticated, Michael Smith's
The Moral Problem faces head-on the challenge of reconciling
morality's motivational relevance with its claims to objectivity
and categorical force - without abandoning a Humean account of
human action and without metaphysical extravagance." Geoffrey
Sayre-McCord, University of North Carolina
"Extraordinarily clear and well organised. Reading this book
takes you right into the centre of the intense contemporary debate
on moral theory. Smith knows exactly what he is doing, and slowly
puts together a redoubtable argument for the broadly realist
position he favours." Jonathan Dancy, University of
Reading
"An intelligent, clear, and engaging book" Times Literary
Supplement
"An outstanding and ambitious work, it serves at once as a lucid
introduction to metaethics and a wide-ranging inquiry into some of
its hardest problems." Brad Hooker, University of
Reading
"A marvelous volume: it is not only an important contribution to
philosophical ethics, but also an exciting introduction to the
subject. The book is an excellent model of how to do philosophy, a
model I hope students (and their teachers) will adopt for
themselves." Gilbert Harman, Princeton University
Michael Smith is Reader in Philosophy at Monash University, Australia, having taught previously at the University of Oxford and Princeton University. He is the author of several essays in ethics and moral philosophy.
