The Pitfalls of Virtue Ethics
Description
This book offers a unique look into virtue ethics, exploring why this tradition is in need of repair, renewal, and reformation.
Husain Sarkar examines which tenets of virtue ethics are indispensable and which ones are simply indefensible through uniquely different perspectives by bringing five cardinal objections – namely, the self-defeating objection, the circularity objection, the moral relativism objection, the explanatory poverty objection, and the inconsistent advice objection – to bear on a multiplicity of central tenets of virtue ethics. Sarkar discusses theories of virtue ethics proposed by G.E.M. Anscombe, Philippa Foot, Julia Annas, and Rosalind Hursthouse, and their novel, intriguing answers to old, familiar questions, such as, 'What is a virtuous action?' 'Are there virtue rules?' 'What is the best explanation of a morally right action?' 'What, if anything, is the meaning of life?', and more. The central task of this book is to examine the vision and tradition that their works collectively create, while also unraveling why this tradition is in need of repair, renewal, and reformation.
Table of Contents
Part I: A Bit of Background
Chapter 1: Two Irreconcilable Principles
Part II: Julia Annas
Chapter 2: Virtuous Person, The Circularity Objection, and The Moral Relativism Objection
Chapter 3: The Just Soul, the Community, and The Circularity Objection
Part III: Rosalind Hursthouse
Chapter 4: Right Action and Explanatory Models
Chapter 5: Moral Conflicts and Moral Dilemmas
Part IV: The Unique Moral Problem
Chapter 6: The Unique Moral Problem and Three Traditional Solutions
Part V: Does Virtue Ethics Have a Solution?
Chapter 7: Annas' (Possible) Solutions
Chapter 8: Hursthouse's (Possible) Solutions
Chapter 9: Can Virtue Ethics Save Us from Moral Nihilism?
Bibliography
Name Index
Subject Index
About the Author
Product details
| Published | 04 Sep 2025 |
|---|---|
| Format | Ebook (PDF) |
| Edition | 1st |
| Extent | 240 |
| ISBN | 9798765144473 |
| Imprint | Bloomsbury Academic |
| Illustrations | 1 line drawing |
| Publisher | Bloomsbury Publishing |
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