Essays on Ethics and Culture

These essays explore moral philosophy, drawing on Platonic-Aristotelian ethics, Wittgenstein, and Iris Murdoch, with a realist or objectivist approach and attention to the role of imaginative literature in ethical formation. The focus is on the lived experience of the socially situated subject, including engagement with inherited traditions and forms of life, with a critical theme predominating and moral critique being immanent within the culture addressed.

Format: Hardback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 15 November 2022
Publisher: Oxford University Press

These essays delve into profound ontological and epistemological inquiries within the realm of moral philosophy, drawing upon diverse sources such as Platonic-Aristotelian ethics, the later Wittgenstein, and Iris Murdoch. While they do not aim to construct a cohesive system, they explore the interplay between these ideas. The overarching approach leans towards realism or objectivism, with a recognition of the role of imaginative literature, particularly the novel, in shaping ethical perspectives. A central theme emerges: the lived experience of the socially situated subject, encompassing our ability to engage with the values inherent in a particular tradition or form of life. This engagement, once brought to consciousness, can manifest as both affirmation and cultural critique. Throughout the book, a critical thread prevails, with a particular focus on discourses of social disruption. However, it is consistently maintained that the appropriate vantage point for observing the domain of value lies within that domain itself. Consequently, moral critique is inherently contextual, relying on the conceptual and linguistic resources accessible to ordinary participants in moral, political, or aesthetic conversations.

Weight: 568g
Dimension: 166 x 240 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780192856166