What are the primary shifts and developments in ethical theory throughout the twentieth century? Mary Warnock, a prominent philosopher, examines the evolution of moral philosophy from the turn of the century through the early 1970s. She evaluates how various schools of thought, including intuitionism, emotivism, and existentialism, have shaped the contemporary understanding of moral language and ethical decision-making.

Experts recognize this work as a concise and accessible overview of twentieth-century moral philosophy. Readers frequently note the clarity of the prose, which makes complex meta-ethical debates manageable for students and interested laypeople.