Moral and Political Philosophy: Key Issues, Concepts and Theories

Paul Smith's clear and concise introduction provides a comprehensive and incisive examination of key concepts and theories in moral and political philosophy. With a clear focus on the essentials of each topic, he presupposes no prior knowledge and relates moral philosophy to social and political issues. Chapters can be read independently, but are interconnected, enabling students to develop a coherent understanding of the subject, including: - the controversial and topical practical issues of drug laws, justifications of punishment, civil disobedience and whether there is a duty to obey the law, and global poverty. - key concepts in moral and political theory: liberty, reasons for laws that limit liberty (harm to others, offence, harm to self, and harmless wrongdoing), rights, equality and social justice. - critical evaluation of moral and political theories: moral relativism, utilitarianism, Kantian moral philosophy, and Rawls's theory of justice, together with libertarian and egalitarian criticisms of Rawls.