What role does ethics play in Marxism? Can ethical imperatives displace political economy at Marxism's core? In an age of rampant capitalism, can the vision of a free global society be kept alive? Bill Martin contends that these questions can't be answered within the cold confines of theoretical debate, but must be examined within a conversation of what is right and good. In arguing that the effects of capitalism cannot be judged solely by political and economic implications, Martin uses examples from science fiction as well as the real-world example of animal rights.

Bill Martin is Professor of Philosophy at DePaul University in Chicago. He is a musician, cyclist, and chess enthusiast whose numerous previous books include The Radical Project: Sartrean Investigations (2001), Avant Rock: Experimental Music from the Beatles to Bjork (2002), and he is co-author of Marxism and the Call of the Future (2005).