This book is intended to provide a critical overview of some main
themes and issues in contemporary metaethics. I set the scene with
discussions of Moore and Ayer, and follow up with examinations
of more recent figures: Blackburn, Gibbard, Mackie, Wright,
Harman, Sturgeon, Railton, Wiggins, Jackson, Pettit, Smith and
McDowell. It will be apparent to anyone with a knowledge of the
rich scene presented by contemporary metaethics that many important
figures and issues do not get considered in the book. In a
work of this length and scope that could not be helped. In addition,
it seemed to me that a substantial discussion of some main facets of
the territory would be more interesting, and ultimately more helpful,
than a superficial tour of a much larger area. And where
possible I have tried to make small contributions to the ongoing
debates, which I hope will be of interest to the professional as well
as the student.