The Legacy of Socrates

James Rachels always writes clearly, in a manner that is easy to read and has a personal touch. It is as if he is in an armchair, speaking to you as a friend. This collection covers the range of topics for which he is best known-the ethics of how we should treat animals, life and death issues in medical practice and other topics in bioethics, and the nature of ethics. It displays all the author's characteristic virtues: clarity, thoughtfulness, a willingness to provoke, a sense of humor, a broadly humane vision, and a relaxed style of writing. Great reading for philosophers and for those who simply want to know more about how philosophers write and think about ethical issues. -- Peter Singer, Ira W. DeCamp Professor of Bioethics, Princeton University James Rachels had a gift for revealing with luminous clarity certain truths of which we seem to be unaware but that we immediately recognize as obvious once they're called to our attention. In this and in certain other respects, he reminds me of Bertrand Russell. His writing is subtly witty, limpid, and highly accessible, though one senses the erudition behind it. Also like Russell, Rachels was a charming and likable champion of heretical views. His virtues are all on display in this important and enjoyable posthumous collection. -- Jeff McMahan, professor of philosophy, Rutgers University

James Rachels was a pioneer in applied ethics, who shaped the fields of bioethics and animal rights. This work brings together his fourteen essays that address the relationship between morality and reason, the duty to relieve human and animal suffering, the independence of morality from religion, the rejection of relativism and egoism, and more.James Rachels's philosophical writings address key questions of contemporary life and the classic dilemmas of moral philosophy. A leading figure in the development of applied ethics, James Rachels became an influential and sometimes controversial thinker on issues concerning animal rights, euthanasia, bioethics, and moral objectivity. This final collection of James Rachels's work brings together fourteen essays that best summarize Rachels's philosophical positions. The essays also shed new light on the depth and breadth of Rachels's work and its importance for contemporary philosophy. Written in Rachels's characteristically lucid, literary prose, these essays address the relationship between morality and reason, the duty to relieve both human and animal suffering, the independence of morality from religion, the rejection of relativism and egoism, and the role of ethics in a democratic society. Rachels offers an argument for vegetarianism, examines a controversial case involving a surrogate mother, and speculates on the ethics of political killing. Other essays range from Rachels's interpretation of Nietzsche's philosophy to his appreciation of movies. Rachels was a strong believer in the ability of moral philosophy to improve our lives. This collection, which brings these important works together for the first time, is a testament to both the value of moral philosophy in understanding our world and the richness of Rachels's contributions to this understanding.