The Puzzle of Ethics

Having read some of Vardy's other books, such as The Thinker's Guide to God and The Thinker's Guide to Evil (which were written after this Puzzle of Ethics), this book is just as well written. It is a great read for those who are interested in philosophy and contemporary and applied ethics, pertaining to real issues in the world. This book is definitely for those who want complex ethical theories to be more readable and accessible to the layman. But I'd also recommend it to philosophically-experienced individuals too.

As with all of Peter Vardy's "Puzzle Of..." series, the author demonstrates an uncanny knack for presenting difficult, complex concepts very clearly and well. This short volume, which sets forth ethical dilemmas and basic definitions yet clearly is intended more to stimulate questions than provide answers, is a superb introduction to various topics in moral theology, including both classic questions to ponder and some currently popular illustrations (such as environmental concerns, animal rights, and issues about abortion.) Vardy is an orthodox Christian philosopher, but never hesitates to show the flaws in classic Christian arguments any less than those of other approaches. In the entire "Puzzle Of" series, one of the elements which I found most beneficial is that the essence of philosophical thought from many traditions is set forth effectively and allowed to stand on its own merits, yet, whatever the perspective, the 'holes in the arguments' (of which there always are an abundance in philosophy) are not only pointed out but explained with simple, powerful examples. There also is a frankness about how people's grasp of situations may be a far cry from the philosophers' theorising, and this even if the original authors' works are among the most acclaimed in history. The Puzzle of Ethics is not an exhaustive work. It is a fine introduction which should stimulate the (very necessary) action of pursuing areas in depth, if one is undertaking a serious study. If one only seeks an overall view of the area, it may be sufficient for this. Though the book is often used for "A level" exams, I can testify that those who are long past that age, and who have training in philosophy, will equally find it valuable.

A worthy read and a strong introduction to its subject. The book is divided into major theories of ethics and applied ethics. Its particular strength is the latter. The chapters on applied ethics are tightly written, interesting, and provoke the reader to go beyond the text to discover more. The chapters on ethical theories are sometimes slackly written, but ultimately do their jobs. Some of these chapters are compelling--such as the one on crime and punishment; but in others--such as the one on Aristotle--you can see the authors sweat as they try to crunch his ideas into a quick overview. The chapter on situational ethics, while interesting, seems misleading as it claims that situationism is a Christian approach; I'm no expert but this doesn't seem credible. Throughout, the authors use vivid, concrete examples to illustrate their ideas. I wish the conclusion were longer as it begins a fascinating discussion, sprung by an example by Vaclev Havel, to point out the importance of ethics for the individual.

THIS IS A BRILLIANT BOOK (how original was that!) This book is full of everything you will ever need to know. If Peter is reading this, then WE LOVED YOU AT METHODIST CENTRAL HALL- WE ARE VARDY GROUPIES!