George Edward Moore’s Principia Ethica

Published by Cambridge University Press in 1903, this book marked the birth of the science of ethics. So groundbreaking was this work at the time that, practically overnight, ethicists became meta-ethicists. Since then, it has been recognized as the definitive starting point for 20th-century ethical theory.

In it, Moore is concerned with applying logic to ethics and demonstrating that logic can provide a better foundation for ethics. Moore defines ethics as an inquiry into what is good, including what is good in human conduct. He proposed that common sense beliefs about the world were correct as they were and shows how false premises about the way in which good is to be defined can lead to false conclusions about ethical conduct.

Known to influence thinkers such as Russell, Wittgenstein, Ryle, and Keynes, understanding this key work in 20th-century ethics is essential and made achievable in this brief guide.