The Morals of Modernity [Paperback]

The essays collected in this volume all explore the problem of the relation between moral philosophy and modernity.Arguing against recent attempts to return to the virtue-centered perspective of ancient Greek ethics, these essays explore the problem of the relation between moral philosophy and modernity by studying the differences between ancient and modern ethics.Arguing against recent attempts to return to the virtue-centered perspective of ancient Greek ethics, these essays explore the problem of the relation between moral philosophy and modernity by studying the differences between ancient and modern ethics.The essays collected in this volume all explore the problem of the relation between moral philosophy and modernity. The book argues against recent attempts to return to the virtue-centered perspective of ancient Greek ethics. As well as exploring the differences between ancient and modern ethics, the author treats such topics as the roles of reason and history in our moral understanding, the inadequacy of philosophical naturalism, and the foundations of modern liberalism. These essays will be of interest both to professional scholars and to general readers concerned with ethics and politics.Part I. Modern Ethics: 1. The right and the good; 2. Beyond religion and enlightenment; 3. The secret philosophy of Leo Strauss; Part II. Beyond Naturalism: 4. Nietzsche's legacy; 5. Moral knowledge; Part III. Liberalism and Modernity: 6. Political liberalism; 7. Pluralism and reasonable disagreement; 8. Carl Schmitt's critique of liberal democracy; 9. Modernity and the disunity of reason; 10. The foundation of modern democracy: reflections on Jurgen Habermas. ...advances several important new proposals, especially regarding political liberalism and moral epistemology. The Morals of Modernity is a book rich in ideas. Joel Anderson, The Philosophical Review