The Virtues of Arisotle

What is a virtue? This book is the first rigorous exposition of the best answer to this important question.

Both moral philosophers and philosophical psychologists need to address the question, and the best answer so far given is that of Aristotle. The elements of Aristotle's doctrine of virtue are scattered throughout his writings, and in this scholarly book the author reconstructs Aristotle's complex and comprehensive doctrine.

In the process of doing this, Hutchinson directs new light on Aristotle's views about choice, character, the emotions, and the role of pleasure and pain in virtue and vice. the celebrated function (ergon) argument is dissected, and demonstrated to be successful. Aristotle's doctrine of virtue is related to his metaphysics and to his doctrine of categories.

1986 Hardback. Slight fading to dust jacket.