Tradition, Rationality, and Virtue : The Thought of Alasdair MacIntyre

"Tradition, Rationality and Virtue" provides the first comprehensive and detailed treatment of the work of Alasdair MacIntyre. In this book, Thomas D'Andrea presents an accessible critical study of the full range of MacIntyre's thought, across ethical theory, psychoanalytic theory, social and political philosophy, Marxist theory, and the philosophy of religion. Moving from the roots of MacIntyre's thought in ethical inquiry, this book examines MacIntyre's treatment of Marx, Christianity, and the nature of human action and discusses in depth the development and applications of MacIntyre's After Virtue project. The book culminates in an examination of major internal and external criticisms of MacIntyre's work and a consideration of its future directions. Introduction: Understanding MacIntyre : his biography and distinctive voice The roots of MacIntyre's thought Reconceiving ethical inquiry How not to conduct ethical inquiry Lessons from the history of ethics Ought language The moral quandaries of the modern social order Philosophy and the exigence of praxis The appeal of Marx : a first estimation Uses and abuses of Marxs thought A democratic culture of critical inquiry Towards a post-Marxist ideology of liberation The rational resources of Christianity The first explorations Christian belief and the challenge Of philosophical rationality The atrophy of reason in modern christianity Social change and Christian unbelief Ethics and Christian theism The explanation of human action : social, psychological, and historical considerations Psychoanalysis and explanation Action explanation, logical and causal The refutation of behaviorism Historical context and the limitations of social scientific explanation Social explanation and ideology The after virtue project The after virtue synthesis Evidences of a present moral crisis The crisis in its historical causes Resources for the restoration of rational moral discourse Reconstituting moral theory and practice The present social imperative The project developed After virtues aftermath The evolution of pre-modern practical reason The Augustinian contribution and the Thomistic synthesis Challenging modern morality Confronting todays moral dissensus The project applied Present humanistic debate in context Competing conceptions of moral inquiry The Thomistic Aristotelian epistemic ideal : a reformulation The distinctiveness of the Thomistic moral standpoint The vindication of Thomistic moral theory Revitalizing contemporary academic debate A postscript to the project : moral inquiry and dependency Future directions Continuities and discontinuities in the oeuvre The normative question in ethics Theism and religious belief Marxism : the considered verdict MacIntyres mature outlook : a unified perspective? Criticisms, internal and external Relativism and the question of vindication Historicism vs. Thomism? Anti-pluralistic Authoritarianism? Romantic conservative Utopianism? Reactionary anti-Modernism? Morality justified? Tradition, Rationality, And Virtue Provides The First Comprehensive And Detailed Treatment Of The Work Of Alasdair Macintyre. In This Book Thomas D'andrea Presents An Accessible Critical Study Of The Full Range Of Macintyre's Thought Across Ethical Theory, Psychoanalytic Theory, Social And Political Philosophy, Marxist Theory, And The Philosophy Of Religion.--book Jacket. Reconceiving Ethical Inquiry -- Philosophy And The Exigence Of Praxis -- The Rational Resources Of Christianity -- The Explanation Of Human Action : Psychological, Social And Historical Considerations -- Social Explanation And Ideology -- The After Virtue Synthesis -- The Project Developed -- The Project Applied -- Continuities And Discontinuities In The Oeuvre -- Criticisms, Internal And External . Thomas D. D'andrea. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [435]-452) And Index.