2 MacIntyre

Question 1

What was the title of MacIntyre’s book on VE?

Answer 1

After Virtue, a Study in Moral Theory

Question 2

What does MacIntyre think of modern ethics and morality?

Answer 2

‘We have largely, if not entirely, lost our comprehension, both theoretical and practical, of morality’

Question 3

What are MacIntyre’s three questions that we should explore to make the most of our human lives?

Answer 3

1. Who am I?
2. Who ought I to become?
3. How do I get there?

Question 4

Where does MacIntyre think our ability to make good moral judgements comes from?

Answer 4

The development of good character, using virtues.

Question 5

What does MacIntyre see a moral society as?

Answer 5

One in which people recognise commonly agreed virtues and aspire to meet them.

Question 6

What does MacIntyre think about virtues over time?

Answer 6

That they improve and clarify themselves over time

Question 7

What does Keenan suggest as virtues in the modern era?

Answer 7

Justice, fidelity, self-care and Christian virtue of mercy,

Question 8

What does MacIntyre think is necessary to understand in order to achieve the good life?

Answer 8

The different types of people in the modern world (rather than those of Aristotle’s time) the manager, the aesthete and the therapist

Question 9

What is emotivism?

Answer 9

The idea that all moral statements are none other than personal preference

Question 10

What is MacIntyre’s problem with emotivism?

Answer 10

Moral reasoning has been undermined to the extent that words like ‘good’, ‘moral’ and ‘useful’, although used frequently, have lost their meaning, their force and their context.

Question 11

What does MacIntyre say about a moral vacuum?

Answer 11

That modern ethics has lost its way and is too concerned with normative rules and metaethics. We live in ethical confusion, a ‘hidden catastrophe’ has undermined moral reasoning.

Question 12

An example of how MacIntyre think virtues have changed over time?

Answer 12

Homeric virtues used to be: physical strength, courage, cunning, friendship

Question 13

What are internal goods?

Answer 13

Virtues and character qualities which are goods unique to certain practices. Achieving an internal good benefits the entire community (eg. admiration) and allows the person to flourish.

Question 14

What are external goods?

Answer 14

Will come when internal goods are done. They usually only benefit the individual.

Question 15

What does MacIntyre say the bureaucratic manager is?

Answer 15

Found in managerial jobs etc. effecient at using things/people to achieve own aims, ruthless, people/things are dispensible. The only morality they see is the greatest return. Use legalism and bravado to keep people under control. Use busyness to look like society is successful.

Question 16

What does MacIntyre say the rich aesthete is?

Answer 16

Live for glamorous and exotic pleasures, material things. Use money to make themselves look happy. Celebrity culture shows people idolise this lifestyle has no faults.

Question 17

What does MacIntyre say the therapist is?

Answer 17

Balances all the failed hopes/dreams caused by the manager and aesthete, conceal emptiness and meaninglessness of our lives. Are things that treat yourself, he even says chat/game show hosts engage in therapy ‘en masse’. Is a quick fix.

Question 18

What are practices?

Answer 18

Doing something with internal goods in mind, because they want to be good at something because they enjoy doing it

Question 19

What are the most important virtues for MacIntyre?

Answer 19

Honesty, courage and justice

Question 20

What does MacIntyre think a virtue is?

Answer 20

An acquired human quality, which allow us to achieve internal goods when practiced and when lacked, we cannot achieve any such goods. We have to consciously develop and practice them and keep reviewing how we can develop.

Question 21

Where does MacIntyre think true happiness comes from?

Answer 21

It’s a by-product of striving for/achieving excellence in a certain practice. Striving for excellence also develops the practice.

Question 22

What does MacIntyre say the search for the good life is?

Answer 22

It allows humans to flourish (eudaimonia) by doing what’s appropriate for them becoming the best person.

Question 23

What does MacIntyre say a good life is?

Answer 23

“A good life for man in the life spent seeking the good life of man”

Question 24

What does MacIntyre think a Practical Reasoner is?

Answer 24

One with intellectual and moral virtues - he and Aristotle think the ability to reason/evaluate is what sets humans apart from other creatures.

Question 25

What does MacIntyre think a flourishing person is?

Answer 25

The ability to evaluate our own practical judgement, the ability to imagine alternative futures to make rational choices between them, and ability to see how to redirect our focus to achieve the good life.

Question 26

What do MacIntyre and Aristotle believe about human nature?

Answer 26

Humans are rational, practical and social, so we should use these characteristics to the best of our ability.

Question 27

What does MacIntyre think we should do to keep learning?

Answer 27

We should all be students and teachers, we should always get advice off others

Question 28

Why does MacIntyre like a focus on Greek heroes?

Answer 28

People were defined by their actions, virtues and vices

Question 29

What does MacIntyre now call internal and external goods?

Answer 29

Goods of excellence/effectiveness

Question 30

Who do internal goods benefit?

Answer 30

“The whole community who participate in the practice”

Question 31

How are external goods attached to a practice?

Answer 31

“By the accidents of social circumstance”

Question 32

What sort of questions would MacIntyre ask in an ethical issue?

Answer 32

Who has given you advice, how do you know it’s right? How does it affect your search for the good life? What internal/external goods are involved? Are you developing a practice? Is it helping you become who you ought to become?