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Description

In this book, Husain Sarkar offers a remarkable look into the groundwork of virtue ethics.

Especially focusing on theories proposed by Julia Annas and Rosalind Hursthouse, he examines a multiplicity of cardinal tenets of virtue ethics by bringing five cardinal objections – namely, the self-defeating objection, the circularity objection, the moral relativism objection, the explanatory poverty objection, and the inconsistent advice objection – to bear upon them. These objections define the shape, scope, and substance of the book. Collectively, they unveil several fault lines, a few hitherto unsuspected. Sarkar argues that notwithstanding the novel, intriguing answers to old, familiar ethical questions, the answers are so fraught with difficulties, that virtue ethics – as a philosophical moral tradition – is best seen as badly in need of repair and reformation. Perhaps, this book may provoke a Renaissance in the field of virtue ethics.

Table of Contents

Preface
Part I: A Bit of Background
Chapter 1: Two Irreconcilable Principles
Part II: Julia Annas
Chapter 2: Virtuous Person, The Circularity Objection, and The Moral Relativism Objection
Chapter 3: The Just Soul, the Community, and The Circularity Objection
Part III: Rosalind Hursthouse
Chapter 4: Right Action and Explanatory Models
Chapter 5: Moral Conflicts and Moral Dilemmas
Part IV: The Unique Moral Problem
Chapter 6: The Unique Moral Problem and Three Traditional Solutions
Part V: Does Virtue Ethics Have a Solution?
Chapter 7: Annas' (Possible) Solutions
Chapter 8: Hursthouse's (Possible) Solutions
Chapter 9: Can Virtue Ethics Save Us from Moral Nihilism?
Bibliography
Name Index
Subject Index
About the Author

Product details

Bloomsbury Academic Test
Published 04 Sep 2025
Format Ebook (PDF)
Edition 1st
Extent 352
ISBN 9798765144473
Imprint Bloomsbury Academic
Illustrations 1 line drawing
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Husain Sarkar

Husain Sarkar is Professor Emeritus of Philosophy…

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