This collection of essays investigates the core question of whether morality is fundamentally second-personal, requiring mutual accountability and the authority to address demands. Stephen Darwall, a prominent philosopher in the field of ethics, utilizes his extensive academic background to argue that moral obligations are not merely impersonal facts but are rooted in the authority we hold over one another. He constructs a framework that links the nature of moral claims to the interpersonal dynamics of address and response.

Experts recognize this work as a significant contribution to contemporary moral philosophy, particularly for its focus on the structure of interpersonal authority. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which is intended for scholars and advanced students of philosophy and law.