Practical Intelligence and the VirtuesOne of the most important developments in modern moral philosophy is the resurgence of interest in the virtues. In this new book, Daniel Russell explores two important hopes for such an approach to moral thought: that starting from the virtues should cast light on what makes an action right, and that notions like character, virtue, and vice should yield a plausible picture of human psychology. Russell argues that the key to each of these hopes is an understanding of the cognitive and deliberative skills involved in the virtues. If right action is defined in terms of acting generously or kindly, then these virtues must involve skills for determining what the kind or generous thing to do would be on a given occasion. Likewise, Russell argues that understanding virtuous action as the intelligent pursuit of virtuous goals yields a promising picture of the psychology of virtue. This book develops an Aristotelian account of the virtue of practical intelligence or 'phronesis'—an excellence of deliberating and making choices—which Russell argues is a necessary part of every virtue. This emphasis on the roots of the virtues in the practical intellect contrasts with ambivalence about the practical intellect in much recent work on the virtues—a trend Russell argues is ultimately perilous for virtue theory. This book also takes a penetrating look at issues like the unity of the virtues, responsibility for character, and that elusive figure, 'the virtuous person'. Written in a clear and careful manner, Practical Intelligence and the Virtues will appeal to philosophers and students alike in moral philosophy and moral psychology. |
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Contents
| 1 | |
Part I Phronesis Virtue and Right Action | 35 |
Part II The Enumeration Problem | 143 |
Part III Situations Dispositions and Virtues | 237 |
Part IV Defending Hard Virtue Theory | 333 |
| 415 | |
| 429 | |
| 433 | |
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Common terms and phrases
account of right act constraint agent agent-based virtue ethics aims argue Aristotelian Aristotle Aristotle says Aristotle’s assessment behavior benevolent broad-based dispositions cardinal virtues chapter character traits characteristic cognitive-affective compatibilist consider consistency courage critical distance deliberation directions view discussion dispositionist distinction Doris empirical ends enumeration problem eudaimonia excellence exercise experiments fact Fred’s goals Hard Virtue holism Hursthouse 1999a idea ideal instance intuitionism kind mean Milgram experiments Milgram’s Mischel model concept moral motivation nature nonetheless normative notion Nukak ofa virtue ofthe virtues ofvirtue one’s character particular patterns personality theory philosophical phronesis practical reasoning psychological attribute question rational requires responsibility for character responsiveness to reasons right action Rosalind Hursthouse Ross and Nisbett satis concept sense simply situationism situationist situations Slote social psychology sort subjects suggests suppose Swanton taxonomy theorist thesis thing understand unity virtue ethicists virtue theory virtues in terms virtuous person
Bibliographic information
| Title | Practical Intelligence and the Virtues |
| Author | Daniel C. Russell |
| Publisher | OUP Oxford, 2009 |
| ISBN | 0191569887, 9780191569883 |
| Length | 464 pages |
| Subjects | › › Philosophy / Ethics & Moral Philosophy Philosophy / History & Surveys / Ancient & Classical |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |