Ethical Theory (Third Edition)

Mel Thompson

Rating:

This is a textbook for AS and A Level students on the increasingly popular subject of ethics. It is a companion volume to Philosophy of Religion by Peter Cole. Both are part of the series access to religion and philosophy and both have been revised in the light of change to AS and A Level specifications, which came into force September 2008.

Ethical Theory begins with a general introduction to the topic. It then charts a chronological course through the history of ethics up till the present day. Each chapter follows the same pattern with checklists, key questions, profiles of key individuals, diagrams and a revision checklist. The book ends with a conclusion, suggestions for further reading, a glossary and timeline of philosophers. I found it to be an excellent introduction to ethics and particularly liked the way the author has attempted to present a coherent account of ethical thinking through time (diachronically). If students can be persuaded to start at the beginning and proceed page by page, they would construct a firm foundation. There is further reading at the end of the book, but each chapter would benefit from a section of short further reading.

The chapter on ‘Religion and Morality’ is the book’s single greatest weakness. It considers six religions, but gives each one less than a page – this is most unsatisfactory!

Reviewer: Penny Thompson, Retired Independent Researcher, Sefton, Merseyside

Review posted on: 6 November 2008

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