Whatever Happened to Good and Evil?

Whatever Happened to Good and Evil? presents a concise philosophical defense of moral realism against moral relativism and moral nihilism. Shafer-Landau systematically addresses common arguments and beliefs that lead people to doubt the existence of objective moral truth. The book examines real-world examples and thought experiments to demonstrate problems with relativistic moral thinking. Through clear argumentation, Shafer-Landau challenges the notion that morality is purely subjective or culturally constructed. Through nine chapters, the text builds a case for moral realism while acknowledging and engaging with legitimate concerns about moral disagreement and moral knowledge. The author maintains focus on accessibility while addressing complex philosophical concepts. The work serves as both an introduction to meta-ethics and a broader commentary on the state of moral discourse in contemporary society. Its central argument connects to ongoing debates about truth, knowledge, and the foundations of ethics.

Readers appreciate the book's clear arguments against moral relativism and its accessibility for undergraduate philosophy students. Multiple reviewers note it serves as a solid introduction to metaethics without requiring extensive philosophy background. Specific praise focuses on Shafer-Landau's straightforward writing style and use of real-world examples to illustrate complex concepts. One reader highlighted the "step-by-step dismantling of relativistic arguments." Main criticisms include: - Book can feel repetitive in later chapters - Some arguments oversimplified at expense of depth - More attention needed on competing moral theories Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (28 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (12 ratings) The book receives higher ratings from philosophy students and educators compared to general readers. Philosophy instructors mention using it successfully in undergraduate ethics courses. More experienced philosophy readers recommend pairing it with additional metaethics texts for a fuller perspective.

Taking Rights Seriously by Ronald Dworkin This text examines moral objectivity through legal philosophy and constitutional rights while challenging moral relativism.

The Right Thing to Do by James Rachels This collection presents core arguments in moral philosophy through contemporary ethical issues and real-world examples.

Ethics: History, Theory, and Contemporary Issues by Steven M. Cahn This compilation connects historical moral philosophy to modern ethical debates through primary source readings.

Moral Realism: A Defence by Russ Shafer-Landau This work builds a case for moral realism through systematic analysis of metaethical arguments and moral facts.

The Moral Problem by Michael Andrew Smith This book addresses the relationship between moral judgments and motivation while defending moral realism against relativist positions.

🔹 Russ Shafer-Landau serves as the Chair of Philosophy Department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and is known for being one of the leading moral realists in contemporary philosophy. 🔹 The book directly challenges moral relativism and nihilism, which gained significant popularity in academic circles during the late 20th century. 🔹 Written in a highly accessible style, the book provides real-world examples including discussions of terrorism, genocide, and human rights to illustrate complex philosophical concepts. 🔹 Shafer-Landau founded the annual Madison Metaethics Workshop (MadMeta) in 2004, which has become one of the most important gatherings for discussions of moral realism and related topics. 🔹 The arguments presented in this book influenced a resurgence of moral realism in academic philosophy, contributing to what some scholars call the "moral realist revival" of the early 2000s.