Vices, Virtues, and Consequences : Essays in Moral and Political Philosophy

__Vices, Virtues, and Consequences__ offers a broad study of the basic and universal issues in ethics and politics, the issues of what the human good is and how to attain it and avoid its opposite. These questions have long been debated and are no less debated today. However, according to author Peter Phillips Simpson, within the mainstream of Anglo-American modern philosophy they have been debated too narrowly. This narrowness is one of our modern vices, and it does much to encourage other vices, in particular that of despair of universal and objective reason. The essays in this collection not only attack these vices, but also attempt to replace them with the contrary virtues. The volume begins with an overview of modern Anglo-American moral philosophy and critiques the work of contemporary thinkers―specifically Alasdair MacIntyre and John Rawls―and the work of historical thinkers such as Machiavelli, Kant, and Hobbes. The author then explores ancient and medieval sources, and applies their concepts to discussions of modern problems. The book closes with chapters that discuss the direct consequences of contemporary vices in both thought and action, in particular the vice of failing to educate the morals of citizens. Simpson rejects the contemporary liberal dogma that political authority should not be involved in the moral education of citizens. Violence in Northern Ireland and the crime of abortion are among the issues discussed. Contents Acknowledgments General Introduction Part I. Moral Philosophy 1. A Century of Modern Anglo-American Moral Philosophy Introduction MacIntyre and Fragmented Moral Traditions Rawls and the Abandonment of Moral Philosophy Moore and the Naturalistic Fallacy Narrowness of Anglo-American Philosophy 2. Modern Autonomous Morality and the Idea of the Noble Introduction The Realism of Machiavelli Kantian Autonomous Morality Conclusion 3. On Doing Wrong, Modern-Style The Phenomenon of Doing Wrong The Rights and Wrongs of Making One's Own Right and Wrong Fear and Duty as Foundation of the Idea of Doing Wrong The Human End as Foundation of the Idea of Doing Wrong Concluding Remarks 4. Justice, Consequences, and Cicero Introduction Two Understandings of Justice Justice and Consequences Two Understandings of Consequences 5. Virtue Ethics and Aristotle Introduction Theory, Practice, and Prejudice Gentlemanly Ethics Gentlemanly Politics Conclusion 6. The Naturalistic Fallacy and Saint Thomas Introduction The Naturalistic Fallacy Saint Thomas on Facts and Values Saint Thomas on the 'Is' and the 'Ought' Conclusion 7. Practical Thinking and Saint Thomas A Contempory Account of Practical Thinking Criticism of This Account Practical Thinking Rethought The First Principle of Practical Thinking Part II. Political Philosophy 8. Politics and Nature Introduction Justification of the Concept of Nature Application of the Concept to Politics Conclusion 9. Political Authority and Moral Education Reasons to Deny to Political Authority the Teaching of Morals Insufficiency of These Reasons Kinds of Political Authority and Their Role in Teaching Morals 10. Tyrants and Gods Flew on Rule by Tyrants Flew on Rule by Gods In Defense of Rule by Gods Conclusion 11. Liberalism, State, and Community Introduction Why the State Must Be Liberal Why the Community Must Not Be Liberal That Most Critics and Defenders of Liberalism Are Wrong Conclusion 12. Freedom and Representation: Finding the Mean Freedom Aristotle's Nose Representative Oligarchy 13. Natural Law, Abortion, and Civil Disobedience The Basic Idea of Natural Law The Relation of Natural Law to Human or Positive Law The Relation of Natural Law to the Human Law F.A.C.E. Natural Law and the U.S. Constitution Disobedience to F.A.C.E. and the Alleged Threat of Anarchy Absurdity of Judicial Attempts to Uphold F.A.C.E. 14. Just War Theory and the IRA Introduction The Idea of Just War Just War and Rebellion The Case of Northern Ireland Justifiable Violence in Northern Ireland The Question of the IRA Conclusion 15. Becoming Gods: The Work of Persons Introduction Authentic Person Authentic Work Bibliography Index