Virtue Ethics

by Liezl Van Zyl

This volume provides a clear and accessible overview of central concepts, positions, and arguments in virtue ethics today. While it focuses primarily on Aristotelian virtue ethics, it also includes discussion of alternative forms of virtue ethics (sentimentalism and pluralism) and competing normative theories (consequentialism and deontology).

The first six chapters are organized around central questions in normative ethics that are of particular concern to virtue ethicists and their critics:

What is virtue ethics?
What makes a trait a virtue?
Is there a link between virtue and happiness?
What is involved in being well-motivated?
What is practical wisdom?
What makes an action right?

The last four chapters focus on important challenges or objections to virtue ethics:

Can virtue ethics be applied to particular moral problems?
Does virtue ethics ultimately rely on moral principles?
Can it withstand the situationist critique?
What are the prospects for an environmental virtue ethics?

Genres: Philosophy

248 pages, Paperback

Published June 28, 2018

Reviews

[Brodie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid book that performs its intended purpose: I feel well introduced. Although the central account throughout the book is the Aristotelian virtue ethic, I would have loved a bit more discussion on the Stoic and Platonic virtue ethics; that is, more on the ‘golden age’ of virtue ethics. Then again this is a ‘contemporary’ introduction, so perhaps this is an unwarranted suggestion. Nevertheless, I doubt my perhaps-unjustified-preference-driven minor diminution of rating will send a thousand ships.

[Rojhat Avsar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent introduction to virtue ethics and its critiques. Very accessibly written. The end of chapter summaries are very useful wrap-ups.

[Tyler Hurst · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fine introduction to virtue ethics. Helpfully unpacks the various versions and genres of virtue ethics. My criticism is that I don't see a distinct discussion for Christian virtue ethics, which has a number of important differences, and honestly I am not sure the differences build enough of a distinction to warrant a book. The amount of content in here pushes only slightly further than a well-written virtue ethics chapter in a moral theory text.

[Valeriano Diviacchi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very basic summary for readers with no experience in philosophy. John Rawls is not even mentioned in this book once. From the obvious 9 out of 10 references to women philosophers on any subject, there is an obvious attempt and bias at trying to publicize women writers. It appears the Routledge series, which was never very good to begin with, has gone Woke or DEI or whatever slang one wants to call the present polemics pretending to be philosophy.