Synopsis
MacIntyre is greatly discontented with the nature of contemporary morality, which according to him has a form, i.e. what appears like morality, but lacks essential content. He argues that the most common feature of contemporary ethical discourse is that much of it is used to express individual preferences, which leads to disagreements among philosophers, and eventually results in debates that are interminable in character. MacIntyre attributes the cause of this situation to the activities of the enlightenment philosophers of the 17th and 18th centuries who, in an attempt to find rational justification for morality repudiated those essential elements that define the essence of morality and give it its contents. Such elements include historical narrative, tradition, teleology, and divine law. In MacIntyre’s opinion, morality so constructed was destined for failure, since it was not founded on the true nature of the human person. The obvious consequences of this failure were the birth of diverse post-enlightenment ethical theories and a substantial change in the conception of virtue. In order to remedy this deplorable condition of contemporary ethics MacIntyre, along with other virtue ethicists, advocates a certain renaissance of ethical principles that are founded on the true nature of the human person, characterized by historical narrative, tradition, and teleology, all grounded on divine legislation. Morality thus reconstructed finds its fullest expression in the theory of human character traits, i.e. virtues. This is what has motivated MacIntyre’s construction of virtue theory, which has brought him into confrontation with the enlightenment philosophers. Our study and analysis of MacIntyre’s theory of virtue reveals that his account of virtue is inadequate. This inadequacy is what has motivated our own project of reconstructing MacIntyre’s theory of virtue in view of offering an account of virtue that is adequate. In this way our own project complements that of MacIntyre.
About the Author
Fr Benjamin OKON is a priest of the Missionary Society of St Paul of Nigeria. He hails from Oron, Akwa Ibom State. He was ordained priest for the missions on the 3rd July 1999. He obtained his bachelor degree in Philosophy and Bachelor degree in Sacred Theology from the National Missionary Seminary of St Paul, Abuja – Nigeria, an affiliate of the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State – Nigeria and the Pontifical Urban University, Rome – Italy. He obtained his Licentiate degree in Philosophy with specialization on Metaphysics and his Doctorate degree in Philosophy with specialization on History of Philosophy from the Pontifical University of St Thomas Aquinas, Angelicum, Rome – Italy. He also holds a Masters degree in Environmental Science from the Pontifical University of the Queen of the Apostles, Regina Apostolorum, Rome – Italy. After his ordination, he served as the Assistant Cathedral Administrator in the diocese of Minna, Niger State – Nigeria from Sept – Dec 1999. In 2000, he was assigned to Christ the King Junior Seminary, Gwada as the Assistant Rector and as the Assistant Parish Priest of Christ the King Parish, Gwada – Niger State, where he worked from January till June 2000. In October 2000, he was sent to the Archdiocese of Douala in Cameroun for his first Missionary Apostolate. Here he worked as the Assistant Parish Priest of Holy Trinity Parish, Douala. He was also appointed as the Archdiocesan Chaplain for the Catholic Women Association. While in Cameroun, he published two works: The Benediction handbook, 2002 and Insight into the Catholic Faith, 2003. In October 2003, he was sent to Rome for specialized studies in Philosophy. While studying in Rome to used to help out during summer vacation at the Missionary Society of St Paul (MSP) promotion Office located in Galveston diocese, Houston USA. In 2008, he graduated from Angelicum. From 2007 and 2013 he was nominated and worked as the Chaplain of the Anglophone African Catholic Community, Padua – Italy. In 2012, he was appointed the Mission Superior of the Missionary Society of St Paul in Italy. In 2013, he was appointed the parish priest of San Gioacchino Parish, Torino –Italy, where he is currently serving.
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