The Virtuous Life in Greek Ethics

There is now a renewed concern for moral psychology among moral philosophers. Moreover, contemporary philosophers interested in virtue, moral responsibility and moral progress regularly refer to Plato and Aristotle, the two founding fathers of ancient ethics. The book contains eleven chapters by distinguished scholars which showcase current research in Greek ethics. Four deal with Plato, focusing on the Protagoras, Euthydemus, Symposium and Republic, and discussing matters of literary presentation alongside the philosophical content. The four chapters on Aristotle address problems such as the doctrine of the mean, the status of rules, equity and the tension between altruism and egoism in Aristotelian eudaimonism. A contrast to classical Greek ethics is presented by two chapters reconstructing Epicurus’ views on the emotions and moral responsibility as well as on moral development. The final chapter on personal identity in Empedocles shows that the concern for moral progress is already palpable in Presocratic philosophy.

• Illustrates the variety present in Greek ethics and its usefulness for contemporary debates on moral psychology • Innovative treatment of some well known problems in Plato’s and Aristotle’s ethics, with excursions into pre- and post-classical Greek philosophy • Features the work of many of the most distinguished scholars of ancient philosophy working today

Introduction Burkhard Reis; 1. Dialectic and virtue in Plato’s Protagoras James Allen; 2. Ethics and argument in Plato’s Socrates Julia Annas; 3. The speech of Agathon in Plato’s Symposium David Sedley; 4. Is dialectic as dialectic does? The virtue of philosophical conversation Mary Margaret McCabe; 5. What use is Aristotle’s doctrine of the mean? Christof Rapp; 6. Aristotle’s ethics as political science Gisela Striker; 7. Epieikeia: the competence of the perfectly just person in Aristotle Christoph Horn; 8. Aristotle on the benefits of virtue (EN 10. 7 and 9.8) Jan Szaif; 9. Epicurean ‘passions’ and the good life David Konstan; 10. Moral responsibility and moral development in Epicurus’ philosophy Susanne Bobzien; 11. ‘Who do we think we are?’ Brad Inwood.