Answering the simplest questions satisfactorily often poses the greatest challenge and difficulty to philosophers. Since these questions concern principles underlying our everyday conduct, the inability to provide convincing answers can be exceedingly frustrating.
When, during a career of teaching, John T. Goldthwait was asked by his students "Why is that good?" - in regard to art and to conduct - he realized he had no answer that would satisfy his students and himself. And so, his effort to answer his students became a journey through the concept of value judgments, resulting in his...