For many decades Bernard Williams has enlivened philosophy in general and ethics in particular. The editors, like many other philosophers, have been stimulated and helped in their own thought by his incisive and wide-ranging work. This stimulus has, perhaps, been more into opposition than discipleship; but numerous philosophers have worked out their own thought in part by having to meet the problems which he has posed. In ethics Williams has set a considerable part of the current agenda. We, working in the field, have had to take account of his insights and have been forced into much richer thought in consequence.

The editors, therefore, thought that it would be both useful and interesting to have a collection of new papers devoted to the study of aspects of Williams' work in ethics. We invited a distinguished team of contributors known to be interested in, or influenced by, Williams' work. We are pleased that so many of them have been able to provide new papers, and that Bernard Williams has been able to contribute a substantial piece of his own, linked to some of the contributions.

The way in which Williams has set the ethical agenda can be seen from several specific issues which were either started off, or significantly reformulated, by him decades ago, and which are still running with unabated energy. These issues have been extensively discussed, both by colleagues and also in innumerable student essays.