After Virtue: A Study of Moral Theory
by Alisdair MacIntyre
If someone hasn’t turned this one book into an entire semester college course, they will soon. In fact, other authors have written entire books dedicated to Alisdair MacIntyre’s After Virtue. Just over 300 pages, it’s not weighty and boring like a typical textbook, but instead, full from cover to cover with arguments, counterarguments, adjustments, questions, theories, and everything in-between.
I’ll tell you right now, if you haven’t studied Aristotle thoroughly, you’d better read up on him before tackling this book. MacIntyre references and discusses other philosophers such as Nietzsche and Marx, but Aristotle is the main meat. What did Aristotle’s teachings mean; was he correct; how are they relevant today; can he be improved; should he be improved; how does he relate to his contemporaries; what is virtue; what did virtue mean then and how has it changed?
If you’re that guy at the party who likes to talk politics and philosophy, and if those questions inspire conversation rather than a headache, you’ll probably find this book very interesting. I belong in the headache camp, so chances are, you won't see me talking to that guy at the party. If one of your favorite discussion topics is moral philosophy, head on over to Amazon and grab the latest edition today (or the next time you have a party to go to).
I’ll tell you right now, if you haven’t studied Aristotle thoroughly, you’d better read up on him before tackling this book. MacIntyre references and discusses other philosophers such as Nietzsche and Marx, but Aristotle is the main meat. What did Aristotle’s teachings mean; was he correct; how are they relevant today; can he be improved; should he be improved; how does he relate to his contemporaries; what is virtue; what did virtue mean then and how has it changed?
If you’re that guy at the party who likes to talk politics and philosophy, and if those questions inspire conversation rather than a headache, you’ll probably find this book very interesting. I belong in the headache camp, so chances are, you won't see me talking to that guy at the party. If one of your favorite discussion topics is moral philosophy, head on over to Amazon and grab the latest edition today (or the next time you have a party to go to).