How Should One Live

The last four decades have seen a remarkable revival of interest in the virtues, which lay at the heart of ancient and medieval moral philosophy. This collection is the first general survey of this revival, containing specially commissioned articles on topics central to virtue ethics and virtue theory, written by a distinguished international team of philosophers. It represents the state of the art in this subject, and will set the agenda for future work. Topics covered in How Should One Live? include: practical virtue ethics; ancient views of the virtues; impartiality and partiality; Kant and the virtues; utilitarianism and the virtues; the virtues and human nature; natural and artificial virtues; virtue and the good life; the vices; virtue and the emotions; virtue and politics; feminism, moral education, and the virtues; and virtue and community.

As the title suggests, John Kekes examines two different ethical approaches to the question How should we live? One approach gives a person an ideal theory, or an overriding concern that should guide how everyone, always, everywhere should make ethical decisions. The other promotes instilling virtues in people that will give each person the practical reasoning skills to assess the situation they face and choose ethically. Kekes argues that the ideal theory approach is misguided because it ignores the context of ethical dilemmas and the multiple ethical demands placed upon us by our various roles in life. Looking at popular ideal theories by prominent, modern philosophers Donald Davidson, Thomas Nagel, Christine Korsgaard, Harry Frankfurt, Charles Taylor, Alasdair MacIntyre, and Bernard Williams, Kekes shows how each of these theories is inadequate for navigating our daily lives. To demonstrate the flaws of ideal theories Kekes examines real lives, which are lives as they are, not as they should be, and demonstrates how ideal theories give the wrong answers to conflicts within ourselves between our various responsibilities; ways of using our limited time, energy, and money; balancing long-term and short-term satisfactions; controlling our temper; doing too much or not enough; dealing with people we dislike; and so on. Advocating instead for a virtue-based approach to our conflicts, Kekes offers an accessible, engaging book that speaks to the root of ethical inquiry and offers a practical approach to a good life."

Incisive and engaging, The Free Market Existentialist proposes a new philosophy that is a synthesis of existentialism, amoralism, and libertarianism. Argues that Sartre’s existentialism fits better with capitalism than with Marxism Serves as a rallying cry for a new alternative, a minimal state funded by an equal tax Confronts the “final delusion” of metaphysical morality, and proposes that we have nothing to fear from an amoral world Begins an essential conversation for the 21st century for students, scholars, and armchair philosophers alike with clear, accessible discussions of a range of topics across philosophy including atheism, evolutionary theory, and ethics

Chinese and Greco-Roman ethics present highly articulate views on how one should live; both of these traditions remain influential in modern philosophy. The question arises how these traditions can be compared with one another. Comparative ethics is a relatively young discipline, and this volume is a major contribution to the field. Fundamental questions about the nature of comparing ethics are treated in two introductory chapters, followed by chapters on core issues in each of the traditions : harmony, virtue, friendship, knowledge, the relation of ethics to morality, relativism. The volume closes with a number of comparative studies on emotions, being and unity, simplicity and complexity, and prediction.

Chinese and Greco-Roman ethics present highly articulate views on how one should live; both of these traditions remain influential in modern philosophy. The question arises how these traditions can be compared with one another. Comparative ethics is a relatively young discipline, and this volume is a major contribution to the field. Fundamental questions about the nature of comparing ethics are treated in two introductory chapters, followed by chapters on core issues in each of the traditions : harmony, virtue, friendship, knowledge, the relation of ethics to morality, relativism. The volume closes with a number of comparative studies on emotions, being and unity, simplicity and complexity, and prediction.

What are the philosophical foundations of moral life? Randolph Feezell and Curtis Hancock seek the answer In a series of fascinating fictional dialogues. The participants-all educated people from diverse walks of life-hold eight lively conversations on everything from the definition to the value of ethics. They critically discuss many of the prevailing theories concerning the foundations of ethics, including Divine Command theory, relativism, egoism, utilitarianism, and deontology. The book also contains distinctive treatments of a natural law approach to virtue-ethics and Carol Gilligan's widely discussed account of female moral development in the context of an ethic of care. Every dialogue ends with a list of key terms, epigrams, and suggested readings. THE DIALOGUES One What Is Ethics? Two Ethics and Religion Three Ethics and Relativism Four Ethics and Self-Interest Five Ethics and Consequences Six Ethics and Persons Seven Ethics and Virtue Eight Ethics and Female Voices Epilogue Is Ethics Worthwhile?

In Should We Live Forever? Christian ethicist Gilbert Meilaender puzzles over the implications of the medical advances that have lengthened the human life span, wrestling with what this quest for living longer means for our conception of living well and completely. As he points out in his introduction, "That we often desire, even greedily desire, longer life is clear; whether what we desire is truly desirable is harder to say." The six chapters of this book take multiple perspectives on issues surrounding aging and invite readers to consider whether "indefinitely more life" is something worth pursuing and, if humans are created for life with God, whether longer life will truly satisfy our underlying hunger.

Francis Schaeffer's Classic Analysis of the Rise and Decline of Western Thought and Culture Civilizations throughout history have built societies around their own limited value systems including rulers, finite gods, or relativism—only to fail. The absence of a Christian foundation eventually leads to breakdown, and those signs are visible in present-day culture as well. Can modern society avoid the same fate? In this latest edition of How Should We Then Live?, theologian Francis A. Schaeffer traces the decline of Western culture from the fall of Rome, through the Middle Ages and the Enlightenment, and up to the twentieth century. Studying humanism's impact on philosophy, science, and religion, he shows how this worldview historically results in apathy, chaos, and decline. Schaeffer's important work calls on readers to live instead by Christian ethics, placing their trust in the infinite personal God of the Bible. Originally written in 1976, How Should We Then Live? remains remarkably applicable today. A Theology Classic: Written by renowned Christian philosopher Francis A. Schaeffer For Those Interested in Philosophy and History: Engages with the ideas of Plato, John Locke, Thomas Jefferson, and Voltaire, and examines the art, architecture, and ideas that shaped modern society Explores the Importance of a Christian Worldview: A practical assessment of the evolution of culture and the steadfast alternative offered by the biblical perspective