This volume brings together much of the most influential work undertaken in the field of virtue ethics over the last four decades. The ethics of virtue predominated in the ancient world, and recent moral philosophy has seen a revival of interest in virtue ethics as a rival to Kantian and utilitarian approaches to morality. Divided into four sections, the collection includes articles critical of other traditions; early attempts to offer a positive vision of virtue ethics; some later criticisms of the revival of virtue ethics; and, finally, some recent, more theoretically ambitious essays in virtue ethics.

"For those interested in the contemporary and ongoing developments in moral philosophy, this is an indispensable volume of essays....this volume brings together in one convenient and valuable form, some of the most important and influential writings on the subject of virtue theory from the last few

decades....this volume is an important asset for those interested in that movement."--Teaching Philosophy

Includes bibliographical references (p. [280]-282) and index.

Roger Crisp is Fellow and Tutor in Philosophy at St Anne's College, Oxford. He edited How Should One Live? Essays on the Virtues (OUP, 1996), is an associate editor of Utilitas, and is currently working on a book on J. S. Mill's Utilitarianism.

Michael Slote is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Maryland. He is the author of From Morality to Virtue, and is currently collaborating with Marcia Baron and Philip Pettit on a book debating the merits of Kantian ethics, consequentialism, and virtue ethics.

Introduction, Roger Crisp and Michael Slote

1. Modern Moral Philosophy, G. E. M. Anscombe

2. Morality, the Peculiar Institution, Bernard Williams

3. The Schizophrenia of Modern Ethical Theories, Michael Stocker

4. Moral Saints, Susan Wolf

5. The Sovereignty of Good Over Other Concepts, Iris Murdoch

6. The Nature of the Virtues, Alasdair MacIntyre

7. Virtue and Reason, John McDowell

8. Virtues and Vices, Philippa Foot

9. The Misfortunes of Virtue, Jerome B. Schneewind

10. On Some Vices of Virtue Ethics, Robert B. Louden

11. Virtue Theory and Abortion, Rosalind Hursthouse

12. Agent-Based Virtue Ethics, Michael Slote

13. What Do Women Want in a Moral Theory?, Annette Baier

Notes on Contributors

Bibliography

Index of Names