Aristotelian Philosophy: Ethics and Politics from Aristotle to MacIntyre - Hardcover

Knight, Kelvin

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0745619762 ISBN 13: 9780745619767

Publisher: Polity Press, 2007

Synopsis

Aristotle is the most influential philosopher of practice, and Knight's new book explores the continuing importance of Aristotelian philosophy. First, it examines the theoretical bases of what Aristotle said about ethical, political and productive activity. It then traces ideas of practice through such figures as St Paul, Luther, Hegel, Heidegger and recent Aristotelian philosophers, and evaluates Alasdair MacIntyre's contribution. Knight argues that, whereas Aristotle's own thought legitimated oppression, MacIntyre's revision of Aristotelianism separates ethical excellence from social elitism and justifies resistance.

With MacIntyre, Aristotelianism becomes revolutionary. MacIntyre's case for the Thomistic Aristotelian tradition originates in his attempt to elaborate a Marxist ethics informed by analytic philosophy. He analyses social practices in teleological terms, opposing them to capitalist institutions and arguing for the cooperative defence of our moral agency. In condensing these ideas, Knight advances a theoretical argument for the reformation of Aristotelianism and an ethical argument for social change.

About this title

Book Description:

Aristotle legitimated oppression but Alasdair MacIntyre justifies resistance, arguing for ethical excellence and against social elitism. With MacIntyre, Aristotelianism becomes revolutionary. Aristotle remains the most influential philosopher of practice, and this book first explores the theoretical bases of what he said about ethical, political and productive activity. It traces ideas of action through St. Paul, Aquinas, Luther, Kant, Hegel, Heidegger and others, and then examines MacIntyre's contribution. MacIntyre's case for the Thomistic Aristotelian tradition developed out of his attempt to devise a Marxist ethics informed by analytic philosophy. He analyzes social practices in ethical and teleological terms, opposing them to managerial institutions and arguing for the cooperative defence of our moral agency. In presenting these ideas, Knight advances a theoretical argument for the reformation of Aristotelianism and an ethical argument for social change.

About the Author:

Kelvin Knight is Director of the Centre for Contemporary Aristotelian Studies in Ethics and Politics at the London Metropolitan University.

About this edition

• Publisher: Polity Press
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 0745619762
• ISBN 13: 9780745619767
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 256