Contemporary Aristotelian Ethics

This volume provides a thorough introduction to three of the twentieth century’s most influential proponents of Aristotle’s moral philosophy.Arthur Madigan’s Contemporary Aristotelian Ethics examines the work of Alasdair MacIntyre, Martha Nussbaum, and Robert Spaemann in the context of twentieth-century Anglo-American moral philosophy. By surveying the ways in which these three philosophers appropriate Aristotle, Madigan illustrates two important points: first, that the most pressing problems in contemporary moral philosophy can be addressed using the Aristotelian tradition and, second, that the Aristotelian tradition does not speak with one voice. Madigan demonstrates that Aristotelian moral philosophy is divided on important issues, such as the value of liberal modernity, the character and provenance of our current moral landscape, and the role of nature in Aristotle’s ethics.Through his examination of MacIntyre, Nussbaum, and Spaemann, Madigan offers a vision for the future of Aristotelian moral philosophy, urging today’s philosophers to set a clear educational agenda, to continue refining their concepts and intuitions, and to engage with new conversation partners from other philosophical traditions.

“Contemporary Aristotelian Ethics is an extremely rich original contribution, encompassing a vast landscape of intellectual activity, examining important thinkers in detail, and setting the stage for what can be done next.” —Robert Sokolowski, author of Phenomenology of the Human Person

Arthur Madigan, S.J., is professor emeritus of philosophy at Boston College. He is the author and translator of many books and essays about Greek philosophy, including Aristotle’s Metaphysics: Books B and K 1–2.