Preface -- 1. Metaphysics -- 2. The moral being -- 3. Life, death, joy and suffering -- 4. The moral margin -- 5. The roots of moral thinking -- 6. The rational basis of moral judgement -- 7. The moral status of animals -- 8. Duty and the beast : moral conclusions -- 9. Morality and the law -- Appendix 1 : thoughts on farming -- Appendix 2 : thoughts on hunting -- Appendix 3 : thoughts on fishing -- Glossary of philosophical terms -- Notes -- Index