Applied ethics has become established as a distinct area of study, but its theoretical basis, methodology and usefulness are still matters of controversy. This collection examines how the field has developed over the last 50 years of the 20th century, by bringing together those articles that have been seminal in the development of the subject. Rather than the multitude of issues that could be dealt with under the umbrella of "Applied Ethics", the focus of these volumes is on the different types of approach to subject, the areas in which it has been most active, and ways in which the field has expanded. Each of the six volumes has an introduction to provide the reader with the historical context of the material and identify key philosophical themes and trends within the collection.