Holmess text presents a clear, systematic approach to ethical theories, shedding light on their historical roots as well as important contemporary concerns. Throughout, the author presents reasoned assessments of various theories, helping students develop a viewpoint that engages them in doing ethics rather than passively reading about the theories of others. In addition, by placing individual theories in the broader context of moral philosophys basic problems, the book gives students a clear sense of the issues stemming from concern with ethics of virtue vs. ethics of conduct, ethics of rules and principles vs. moral particularism, and relativism vs. universalism