Dependent rational animals : why human beings need the virtues
"The overall argument of this book presupposes the truth of certain contentious philosophical theses: that human identity is primarily an animal identity, that understanding the resemblance between human beings and some other types of intelligent animals is a necessary prerequisite for also understanding how they differ, that human flourishing requires the exercise of certain types of virtue, and that it is only within a certain type of local political community that those virtues can be developed and sustained. The latter part of this book is directed to the discussion and defence of these theses."--Jacket
Paul Carus lectures, 20th ser, 20
xiii, 172 pages ; 24 cm
9780812693973, 9780812694529, 9780715629024, 0812693973, 081269452X, 0715629026
40632451
Vulnerability, dependence, animality
Humans as contrasted with, humans as included in the class of animals
The intelligence of dolphins
Can animals without language have beliefs?
How impoverished is the world of the nonhuman animal?
Reasons for action
Vulnerability, flourishing, goods, and 'good'
How do we become independent practical reasoners? How do the virtues make this possible?
Social relationships, practical reasoning, common goods, and individual goods
The virtues of acknowledged dependence
The political and social structures of the common good
Proxies, friends, truthfulness
Moral commitment and rational enquiry
Includes index
APPE gift
library.ccsu.edu Entire Brian O'Connell Collection