Problems of Conduct: An Introductory Survey of Ethics

Written in the 1920s by philosopher Durant Drake, Problems of Conduct offers a remarkable proposition: that ethics is not merely abstract speculation but a practical science essential to navigating modern life. Drake approaches morality through the lens of evolution and psychology, arguing that human ethical sense developed from primitive instinct into the reasoned reflection that defines civilized consciousness. He examines how individuals can construct coherent moral frameworks amid the competing demands of daily life, moving beyond inherited tradition toward principled choice. The book systematically explores the foundations of right and wrong, the psychology behind our moral feelings, and how societies cultivate ethical behavior in their members. What gives this century-old text surprising urgency is its insistence that readers must actively construct their own ethical ideals rather than passively accept inherited rules. For anyone curious about how we became moral creatures and how we might reason more clearly about good and evil, Drake's clear, unpretentious prose provides a foundation that still speaks to contemporary dilemmas.