Virtue Ethics

Explorations about and around the ethics of virtue dominated philosophical thinking in the ancient world, and recent moral philosophy has seen a massive revival of interest in virtue ethics as a rival to Kantian and utilitarian approaches.

To help users make sense of the gargantuan—and, often, dauntingly complex—body of literature on the subject, this new four-volume collection is the latest addition to Routledge’s acclaimed Critical Concepts in Philosophy series. The editor has carefully assembled classic contributions, as well as more recent work, to create a one-stop ‘mini library’ of the best and most influential scholarship.

While Volume I (‘Ancient Virtue Ethics’) focuses on the Greek and Roman founding fathers, it also brings together key works that examine the roots of virtue ethics in Christian, Asian, and other traditions. Volume II is organized around ‘Religious Virtue Ethics’, especially in the last sixty years or so, and Volume III brings together ‘Modern Virtue Ethics’. The final volume in the collection (‘Applied Virtue Ethics’) assembles major works on topics such as the beginning and end of life; the environment; animal rights; business ethics; sports ethics; the virtues and the economy; the virtues and political life; studies of particular virtues; and debates about whether particular traits are indeed virtues.

With a comprehensive index and a useful synoptic introduction newly written by the editor, Virtue Ethics will be welcomed as an indispensable resource for both reference and research.