Bernard Williams

1. Introduction : "against the shortsighted" -- 2. Personal identity -- 3. Critique of utilitarianism -- 4. Critique of the morality system -- 5. Practical reason -- 6. Truth, objectivity and knowledge -- 7. The ancient world -- 8. Conclusion : "a pessimism of strength?".

From his earliest work on personal identity to his last on the value of truthfulness, the ideas and arguments of Bernard Williams - in the metaphysics of personhood, in the history of philosophy, but especially in ethics and moral psychology - have proved sometimes controversial, often influential, and always worth studying. This book provides a comprehensive account of Williams's many significant contributions to contemporary philosophy. Topics include personal identity, various critiques of moral theory, practical reasoning and moral motivation, truth and objectivity, and the relevance of an