"Principia Ethica"

"Principia Ethica," written by G.E. Moore in 1903, is a foundational work in moral philosophy that explores how we determine what is morally right or wrong. Moore argues that ethical properties, like goodness, are simple, non-derivable qualities that cannot be broken down into other concepts. He emphasizes that moral judgments are based on this intrinsic quality of goodness itself, rather than on consequences or societal rules. This work challenged earlier ethical theories and encouraged a more precise, analytical approach to understanding morality, significantly influencing modern meta-ethics and discussions about how we evaluate moral values.