In this illuminating study of the moral psychology of Plato and Aristotle, A. W. Price considers four related areas: eudaimonia, or living and acting well, as the ultimate end of action; virtues of character in relation to the emotions, and to one another; practical reasoning, especially from an end to ways or means; and acrasia, or action that is contrary to the agent's own judgement of what is best. The focal concept is that of eudaimonia, which both Plato and Aristotle view as an abstract goal that is valuable enough to motivate action. Virtue has a double role to play in making its achievement possible, both in proposing subordinate ends apt to the context, and in protecting the agent against temptations to discard them too easily. For both purposes, Price suggests that virtues need to form a unity--but one that can be conceived in various ways. Among the tasks of deliberation is to work out how, and whether, to pursue some putative end in context. Aristotle returns to early Plato in finding it problematic that one should consciously sacrifice acting well to some incidental attraction; Plato later finds this possible by postulating schism within the soul. Price maintains that it is their emphasis upon the centrality of action within human life that makes the reflections of these ancient philosophers perennially relevant.

About the Author
A. W. Price was educated at Winchester and Oxford, and has taught chiefly at York and in London. He has maintained an interest both in current ethical theory, and in the moral psychology of Greek philosophers, especially Plato and Aristotle. This is his fourth book.

Reviews
demonstrates an incomparable knowledge of both the original texts and the contemporary literature at every turn. * Tom Angier, Times Literary Supplement *
for those interested in ancient ethics and moral psychology, Virtue and Reason is a treasure trove of enlightening commentary, insightful arguments, and a keen view of the most important and perennial aspects of Plato's and Aristotle's genius. * Dimitrios Dentsoras, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews *
VR is a closely argued and densely packed work which is likely to become an essential point of reference for certain research programmes in Platonic and Aristotelian ethics and moral psychology. * Dylan Futter, Philosophy in Review XXXIII *
this is masterly work that embraces and assimilates an impressive amount of material in a clearly argued sequence, straightforward where the issues are less controversial, even-handed where their interpretation is ambiguous. It adds much to previous work on the subject, and is to be recommended for advanced students of Greek philosophy and of the moral philosophy in general. * Barrie Fleet, Classics for All *



Book Information
ISBN 9780198709350
Author A.W. Price
Format Paperback
Page Count 370
Imprint Oxford University Press
Publisher Oxford University Press
Weight(grams) 568g
Dimensions(mm) 234mm * 155mm * 21mm