G. E. Moore's 1912 work
Ethics
has tended to be overshadowed by his famous earlier work
Principia Ethica
. However, its detailed discussions of utilitarianism, free will, and the objectivity of moral judgements find no real counterpart in
Principia
, while its account of right and wrong and of the nature of intrinsic value deepen our understanding of Moore's moral philosophy. Moore himself regarded the book highly, writing late in his career, "I myself like [it] better than
, because it seems to me to be much clearer and far less full of confusions and invalid arguments." Short but philosophically rich, and written with impressive precision and intellectual candor,
is a minor classic which repays careful study. This new edition includes Moore's essay "The Nature of Moral Philosophy" as well as editorial notes, an introduction, and a guide to further reading.