Description
Book SynopsisPaul Woodruff's Living Toward Virtue gives ethics a new start that is practical and down to earth, while resting on a foundation of ancient wisdom. Woodruff draws on the ancient wisdom of Socrates to develop a new approach to an ethical life - one that shows how we can nurture our souls, enjoy a virtuous happiness, and avoid moral injury.
Trade ReviewThis engaging, challenging, and timely book will be good supplementary reading for those interested in introductory ethics and ancient philosophy. * Choice *
Table of ContentsPreface Table of Contents Acknowledgements About the Author 1. Practical Ethics 1.1. Epimeleisthai 1.2. Ignorance 1.3. Injury: The Wounded Soul 1.4. Impractical Virtue Appendix to Chapter 1: Moral Injury 2. The Spirit of Socrates 2.1. Socrates' Approach 2.2. Socrates' Way 2.3. Going Beyond Socrates 3. The Shape of Virtue 3.1. An Impossible Assignment: Confucius 3.2. An Activity Good in Itself: Socrates 3.3. The Adverb Problem 3.4. Virtues of Imperfection 3.5. Degrees of Human Virtue 3.6. Self-examination 3.7. Bad Luck and Moral Failure 3.8. The Tragic View of Human Life 4. Aiming at Virtue 4.1. Moral Holidays 4.2. Grand Aims 4.3. Aiming Well: Commitments 4.4. Competing Virtues 4.5. Avoidance: Dilemmas and Injuries 4.6 The Nature of Human Virtue Appendix to Chapter 4: Moral Dilemmas 5. Human Wisdom and Practical Knowledge 5.1. Ignorance and Aporia 5.2 Self-knowing 5.3. The Limits of Knowledge in Ethics 5.4. The Theory Trap 5.5 Judgment 5.6. Virtues of Imperfection Appendix 1 to Chapter 5: The Rectification of Names Appendix 2 to Chapter 5: Socrates on Human Wisdom 6. Resources 6.1. Using Resources 6.2. Internal vs. External Resources 6.3. Community 6.4. Human Nature and Virtue 6.5. Justice 6.6. Differences in Human Environment 6.7. Friendship 6.8. Love 6.9. Expert Advice and Example 6.10. Emotions 6.11. Intuitions vs. Judgments 6.12. Orientation to the Good Appendix 1 to Chapter 5: The Jewish-Christian Ethics of Love Appendix 2 to Chapter 5: How Elenchus Succeeds 7. Living Toward Virtue 7.1. The Beautiful Soul 7.2. Love 7.2. Other-regarding Virtues 7.4 Rounding Up the Virtues 7.5 Growth 7.6. Self-repair 7.7. Looking Behind 7.8. Looking Ahead 7.9. Happiness: "Paradise within Thee" Bibliography
