Peter Singer is Ira W. DeCamp Professor of Bioethics at the University Center for Human Values, Princeton University. He is the author of Animal Liberation, first published in 1975, and is widely credited with triggering the modern animal-rights movement. His Practical Ethics is one of the most widely used texts in applied ethics, and Rethinking Life and Death received the 1995 National Book Council's Banjo Award for non-fiction. He was the foundation president of the International Association of Bioethics.

"A Companion to Ethics will provide an invaluable stimulus for anyone interested in ethics -- which is to say it will benefit anyone interested in the central questions of human life." David Seehouse, University of Liverpool; BMJ"Peter Singer has directed this book very expertly. The contributors have set forth the facts about ethical systems with as much kind clarity as specialists can ever bestow upon the ignorant." The Independent "A brilliant collection of articles." Pat Haggard, New Scientist

• Introduction. Acknowledgments.List of contributors.Part I: The Roots:.1. The Origin of Ethics: Mary Midgley.2. Ethics in Small-Scale Societies: George Silberbauer.3. Ancient Ethics: Gerald A. Larue.Part II: The Great Ethical Traditions:.4. Indian Ethics: Purusottama Bilimoria.5. Buddhist Ethics: Padmasiri de Silva.6. Classical Chinese Ethics: Chad Hansen.7. Jewish Ethics: Menachem Kellner.8. Christian Ethics: Ronald Preston.9. Islamic Ethics: Azim Nanji.Part III: Western Philosophical Ethics : A Short History:.10. Ethics in Ancient Greece: Christopher Rowe.11. Medieval and Renaissance Ethics: John Haldane.12. Modern Moral Philosophy: J. B. Schneewind.Part IV: How Ought I Live?:.13. Natural Law: Stephen Buckle.14. Kantian Ethics: Onora O'Neill.15. The Social Contract Tradition: Will Kymlicka.16. Egoism: Kurt Baier.17. Contemporary Deontology: Nancy (Ann) Davis.18. An Ethic of Prima Facie Duties: Jonathan Dancy.19. Consequentialism: Philip Pettit.20. Utility and the Good: Robert E. Goodin.21. Virtue Theory: Greg Pence.22. Rights: Brenda Almond.Part V : Applications: .23. World Poverty: Nigel Dower.24. Environmental Ethics: Robert Elliot.25. Euthanasia: Helga Kuhse.26. Abortion: Mary Anne Warren.27. Sex: Raymond A. Belliotti.28. Personal Relationships: Hugh Lafollette.29. Equality, Discrimination and Preferential Treatment: Bernard R. Boxill.30. Animals: Lori Gruen.31. Business Ethics: Robert C. Solomon.32. Crime and Punishment: C. L. Ten.33. Politics and the Problem of Dirty Hands: C. A. J. Coady.34. War and Peace: Jeff McMahan.Part VI: The Nature of Ethics:.35. Realism: Michael Smith.36. Intuitionism: Jonathan Dancy.37. Naturalism: Charles R. Pigden.38. Subjectivism: James Rachels.39. Relativism: David Wong.40. Universal Prescriptivism: R. M. Hare.41. Morality and Psychological Development: Laurence Thomas.42. Method and Moral Theory: Dale Jamieson.Part VII: Challenge and Critique:.43. The Idea of a Female Ethic: Jean Grimshaw.44. The Significance of Evolution: Michael Ruse.45. Marx Against Morality: Allen Wood.46. How Could Ethics Depend on Religion?: Jonathan Berg.47. The Implications of Determinism: Robert Young.Afterword.Index.