A good dialectical introduction to Utilitarian Philosophy is Utilitarianism: For and Against, J .J. Smart and B. Williams (Cambridge 1973). The most thorough and fascinating introduction to political philosophy can be found in the two volumes of Man and Society, J. Plamenatz (Longman 1992); a shorter but interesting introduction is in the essays contained in Political Ideas, ed. D. Thomson (Penguin 1990).
A clear account of more recent moral and political theory is in : Modern Political Philosophy, A. Brown (Penguin 1986) ; Political Thinkers, ed . D. Muschamp (Macmillan 1986) ; Public and Private Morality, ed . S. Hampshire (Cambridge 1978).
Other books on practical ethics are : Animals and Why They Matter, M. Midgley (Penguin 1983); Animal Liberation, P. Singer (Cape 1976); Causing Death and Saving Lives, J . Glover (Penguin 1972).
The most recent and very good collection of essays on all manner of historical , theoretical and practical ethical subjects is : A Companion to Ethics, ed. P Singer (Blackwell 1993).
Philosophy Now is an excellent , unstuffy and accessible magazine that comes out quarterly and often covers contemporary moral issues. It is obtainable from 226 Bramford Road , Ipswich IP1 4AS. _
Acknowledgements
I'd like to mention A Companion to Ethics as especially useful to this author, although , unsurprisingly, I haven't agreed with every single view expressed in that anthology. I'd also like to thank the unnatural patience shown me by my companion Judith and all those friends I forced to read my original manuscript. I'm always grateful to my students for making me laugh and providing me with some of the very few original ideas in this book. I am also full of admiration for Chris Garratt who has made th is book more fun than it might have been. Thanks also to my editor, Richard Appignanesi , who had to remind me patiently what commas are for. Finally I would like to thank Professor R.F. Atkinson for much of my formal and informal education in ethical philosophy. I would recommend everyone read his book Conduct: An Introduction to Moral Philosophy (Macmillan 1969) when they have finished with this one.
Artwork assistants Diane Dalton Sophie Garratt Duncan Heath
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