Ethical philosopher Sheldon Ackley (1919-2008) challenges the common view that ethics is a struggle between what is satisfying and what is worthwhile, arguing this inherited perspective limits and distorts our views of what we can make of ourselves. His radicalism is based on his conviction that such a classical metaphysics is wrong, and that our ethics, our view of nature and humans, and our conception of "the good society" are all in need of revision.

Outlining an ethics that can serve as a philosophy of life, he provides a new way of looking at ourselves and others and the world around us, grounded not in religion but in the physical sciences and the sweep of Western history from Plato and Aristotle to William James, John Dewey and beyond. Building on the work of pioneering American feminist philosopher Nel Noddings, his presentation rejects the traditional view of ethics as obligations for social order in favor of a modern view of caring between individuals.

With a foreword by his son.