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The Fabric of Character: Aristotle's Theory of Virtue
The ethics of Aristotle (384-322 B.C.), and virtue ethics in general, have seen a resurgence of interest over the past few decades. No longer do utilitarianism and Kantian ethics on their own dominate the moral landscape. In addition, Aristotelian themes fill out that landscape, with such issues as the importance of friendship and emotions in a good life, the role of moral perception in wise choice, the nature of happiness and its constitution, moral education and habituation, finding a stable home in contemporary moral debate. The essays in this volume represent the best of that debate. Taken together, they provide a close analysis of central arguments in Aristotle's "Nicomachean Ethics". But they do more than that. Each shows the enduring interest of the questions Aristotle himself subtly and complexly raises in the context of his own contemporary discussions.
REviews
"A sensible and sensitive discussion of four different aspects of Aristotle's account of practical reason....Her book deserves a wide readership among Aristotle specialists."—Ethics
"'The Shared Life' gives one of the most complete and sympathetic analyses of Aristotle's views of friendship available in English....'The Habituation of Chararcter,' [is] a very clear and apparently correct account of ethismos.....I recommend these chapters to anyone interested in gaining a broader perspective on Aristotle's ethical theory....The book is interesting, well-argued, and well-documented, and provides a valuable new slant on several parts of Aristotle's ethical theory."—International Studies in Philosophy
"A lively and engaging contribution....Her own style is warm and fluent, and wins the reader over without drawing attention to itself....Her book deploys an insight and authenticity that refresh one's attention to familiar texts."—Ancient Philosophy
"[An] exemplary study....A well-argued and sympathetic interpretation of Aristotle's ethical theory, valuable to anyone interested in ethical theory at the upper undergraduate level and above, especially educators."—Classical World
"Engaging and perceptive....Her accounts of moral sensitivity, practical reason, and the building of character by an agent...are fascinating and soundly based on interpretation of the texts."—Times Higher Education Supplement