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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 (Epub & Mobi)
Edition 1st
Extent 352
ISBN 9798765144480
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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