Date of Award
Spring 4-15-2011
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
Philosophy
First Advisor
Dr. A.J. Cohen
Second Advisor
Dr. Tim O'Keefe
Third Advisor
Dr. Jessica Berry
Abstract
In this thesis I distinguish between two conceptions of naturalism that have been offered as possible starting points for a virtue based ethics. The first version of naturalism is characterized by Philippa Foot’s project in Natural Goodness. The second version of naturalism can be found, in various forms, among the works of John McDowell, Martha Nussbaum, and Rosalind Hursthouse. I argue that neither naturalistic approach is entirely successful on its own, but that we can fruitfully carve a path between both approaches that points the way to a positive ethical account. I then conclude with a brief sketch of what such a positive account of a virtue ethics may look like.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.57709/1948581
Recommended Citation
Clewell, Timothy J., "The Promise and Limits of Natural Normativity in a Neo-Aristotelian Virtue Ethics." Thesis, Georgia State University, 2011.
doi: https://doi.org/10.57709/1948581