The essays in this book represent an integrated selection from the many that I have written in ethics since the publication of my Moral Knowledge and Ethical Character in 1997. All of the essays concern one or another aspect of practical reason, but they are grouped to provide, in each case, a detailed treatment of an important subfield of ethics or a major moral question. Part I focuses on reasons for action and develops a theory of both their nature and their grounds. Part II presents my own ethical theory, which, though continuous with the view of W. D. Ross, has been called “the new intuitionism” because of its developments beyond Ross's view, particularly in bringing to bear results from my several decades of work in epistemology. Part III presents views growing from those in the previous parts: a conception of rights, especially as applicable to practical ethics; a political philosophy as applied to the realm of religion and politics; and a sketch of cosmopolitanism in contrast with both nationalism and patriotism.

Each part is designed to be usable in teaching in areas of ethics that overlap or coincide with those of its essays. Part I might be integrated into a course on practical reason, the theory of value, or metaethics. Part II can be used both in general ethics and in studies of intuitionism, of obligation, or of virtue. It connects all of these areas, and also formulates a Kantian version of intuitionism that has aroused interest both among those interested in intuitionism and in a number of people working in (or on) Kantian ethics. Part III may be of interest both for ethics courses and for a number of courses in political philosophy.

With one exception, the essays appear in essentially their previously published versions with only theminor corrections that come with a second round of copy-editing.