This collection of essays investigates the core question of whether normativity can be grounded in an agent's subjective concerns rather than objective values. David Sobel, a professor of philosophy, utilizes a rigorous analytical framework to argue that well-being and reasons for action are fundamentally derived from what an individual values. He systematically addresses common objections to subjectivism, specifically focusing on the perceived conflict between subjective desires and moral requirements.

Experts in metaethics recognize this work as a significant contribution to the defense of subjectivist theories in contemporary philosophy. Readers frequently note the high level of technical density and the precise, argumentative nature of the prose.