Great Readings

This document consists of great books or articles on Moral Philosophy (Ethics). Some are here because there is a course covering the same material; some are just great books that you should read at some point in your career.

Once you have made it through most of the curriculum, knowing whether a book is worth your time will become easier. Or, if you are struggling in one of the courses, perhaps reading a book on the subject will help.

Normative Ethics

Name Author(s)
The Elements of Moral Philosophy James Rachels and Stuart Rachels
Ethics: History, Theory, and Contemporary Issues Steven M. Cahn and Peter Markie

Applied Ethics

Name Author(s)
Practical Ethics Peter Singer
The Life You Can Save (free online) Peter Singer

Metaethics and Advanced Theory

Name Author(s)
Ethics: Inventing Right and Wrong (borrow on Archive.org) John L. Mackie
After Virtue Alasdair MacIntyre