Description
Book SynopsisVirtue ethics is perhaps the most important development within late twentieth-century moral philosophy. Rosalind Hursthouse, who has made notable contributions to this development, now presents a full exposition and defence of her neo-Aristotelian version of virtue ethics. She shows how virtue ethics can provide guidance for action, illuminate moral dilemmas, and bring out the moral significance of the emotions. Deliberately avoiding a combative stance, she finds less disagreement between Kantian and neo-Aristotelian approaches than is usual, and she offers the first account from a virtue ethics perspective of acting ''from a sense of duty''. She considers the question which character traits are virtues, and explores how answers to this question can be justified by appeal to facts about human nature. Written in a clear, engaging style which makes it accessible to non-specialists, On Virtue Ethics will appeal to anyone with an interest in moral philosophy.
Trade ReviewAnyone who has ever been tempted to make glib remarks about what virtue ethics is, or about the account it gives of core issues in moral philosophy should read this excellent book. The wealth of detail and the abundant examples provided by Hursthouse demand to be carefully ruminated over by everyone interested in this rapidly maturing domain of moral theory. * The Heythrop Journal *
... offers a thought-provoking approach to virtue-based ethical theory - one that, moreover, has the potential to be developed in any number of interesting ways. * The Heythrop Journal *
For those who have been looking forward to this book for a long time, it will not disappoint. * The Heythrop Journal *
The themes are taken up, thought about, and presented in an instructive, lively, courteous, and entertaining way from beginning to end. In all, one has the sense of being drawn into a conversation on issues of importance in a way that provides hope that an on-going co-operative effort in this field might make a difference to the world at large. This strikes me as an appealing model for philosophical inquiry ... The prospect for much fruitful discussion of the Hursthouse account of virtue ethics seems certain * Australasian Journal of Philosophy *
This is a book for everyone, certainly for teachers and students of moral philosophy and indeed anyone interested in the large questions that bear on the nature of morality * Australasian Journal of Philosophy *
This splendid new book is intended to be used as a textbook, but should be read by anyone interested in moral philosophy ... numerous new ideas and insights * Gilbert Harman, Times Literary Supplement *
Table of ContentsINTRODUCTION; PART I: ACTION; 1. RIGHT ACTION; 2. RESOLVABLE DILEMMAS; 3. IRRESOLVABLE AND TRAGIC DILEMMAS; PART II: EMOTION AND MOTIVATION; 4. ARISTOTLE AND KANT; 5. VIRTUE AND THE EMOTIONS; 6. THE VIRTUOUS AGENT'S REASONS FOR ACTION; 7. MORAL MOTIVATION; PART III: RATIONALITY; 8. THE VIRTUES BENEFIT THEIR POSSESSOR; 9. NATURALISM; 10. NATURALISM FOR RATIONAL ANIMALS; 11. OBJECTIVITY; BIBLIOGRAPHY; INDEX.
