Moral Philosophy

Moral Philosophy by Joseph Rickaby is a clear, persuasive guide to ethics, deontology, and natural law that helped define Catholic moral teaching in the early 20th century. Rickaby, a Jesuit scholar, organizes moral thought around a decisive question—what do we mean by obligation?—and distinguishes three complementary branches: Ethics (the study of human flourishing), Deontology (the science of duty), and Natural Law (the moral order grounded in human nature). Engaging with Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics while correcting what he sees as its eudaemonistic limits, Rickaby blends scholastic clarity with practical analysis, showing when virtue, duty, and law intersect or conflict. Written as a concise manual, the work explains key concepts—conscience, obligation, the role of the state, and principles for moral action—without sacrificing philosophical rigor or historical sensitivity. Readers will appreciate Rickaby’s steady pedagogy and his rootedness in the Catholic intellectual tradition, yet his arguments remain relevant to broader conversations in moral philosophy and political ethics. Ideal for students, clergy, and anyone seeking a systematic, accessible introduction to ethical theory, deontological reasoning, and natural-law thought.