Alasdair MacIntyre
Alasdair MacIntyre
#### A Philosopher of Morality and Social Criticism
Full Name and Common Aliases
Alasdair Chalmers MacIntyre is commonly referred to as Alasdair MacIntyre in academic and professional circles.
Birth and Death Dates
Born on January 1929, exact date not publicly disclosed, in Glasgow, Scotland. No known public record of his death date exists.
Nationality and Profession(s)
MacIntyre's nationality is Scottish, although he has spent significant periods of time living and working in the United States. He is a philosopher by profession, specializing in ethics, moral philosophy, and social theory.
Early Life and Background
Growing up in Glasgow during the Great Depression had a profound impact on MacIntyre's perspective on society and morality. His family was Catholic, which played a significant role in shaping his philosophical views. MacIntyre attended the University of Manchester, where he studied Philosophy, before moving to Oxford for postgraduate studies.
Major Accomplishments
MacIntyre's most notable contributions include:
Critique of Modernity: He challenged the notion that modern societies are inherently better than their predecessors, arguing that this view is based on a flawed understanding of human nature and history.
Concept of Tradition: MacIntyre introduced the idea of tradition as a framework for understanding moral and social change. According to him, traditions provide a shared set of values and practices that guide individual and collective behavior.
Critique of Utilitarianism: MacIntyre's work critiques utilitarian ethics, arguing that they fail to account for the complexities of human relationships and the importance of tradition in shaping morality.Notable Works or Actions
Some of MacIntyre's most influential works include:
_A Short History of Ethics_ (1967) - This book provides a comprehensive overview of the development of ethics throughout history, highlighting the tension between rationalism and tradition.
_After Virtue: A Study in Moral Theory_ (1981) - In this seminal work, MacIntyre presents his concept of virtue as the foundation of morality, arguing that virtues are essential for living a good life.
_Whose Justice? Which Rationality?_ (1988) - This book explores the relationship between justice and rationality, challenging the dominant Western views on these concepts.
Impact and Legacy
MacIntyre's ideas have had far-reaching impacts across various disciplines, including philosophy, sociology, and theology. His critiques of modernity and utilitarianism have influenced contemporary debates about morality, politics, and social change. MacIntyre's concept of tradition has been particularly influential in shaping our understanding of cultural heritage and the importance of shared values.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Alasdair MacIntyre is widely quoted and remembered due to his:
Influence on Contemporary Debates: His critiques of modernity, utilitarianism, and the nature of morality continue to shape contemporary debates in philosophy, sociology, and politics.
Conceptual Contributions: MacIntyre's concepts, such as tradition and virtue, have become integral to discussions about ethics, social theory, and cultural heritage.
* Academic Legacy: His work has inspired generations of philosophers, sociologists, and scholars across various disciplines.
Quotes by Alasdair MacIntyre
Indeed, one of the functions of the structures of normality is that by making it unnecessary for almost everybody almost all the time to provide justifications for what they are doing or are about to do, they relieve us of what would otherwise be an intolerable burden.
At least some of the items in a Homeric list of the aretai would clearly not be counted by most of us nowadays as virtues at all, physical strength being the most obvious example.
If my account of our moral condition is correct, we ought also to conclude that for some time now we too have reached that turning point. What matters at this stage is the construction of local forms of community within which civility and the intellectual and moral life can be sustained through the new dark ages which are already upon us.
To say that a belief is rational is to talk about how it stands in relation to other beliefs.
Imprisoning philosophy within the professionalizations and specializations of an institutionalized curriculum, after the manner of our contemporary European and North American culture, is arguably a good deal more effective in neutralizing its effects than either religious censorship or political terror.
I have confronted theoretical positions whose protagonists claim that what I take to be historically produced characteristics of what is specifically modern are in fact the timelessly necessary characteristics of all and any moral judgment, of all and any selfhood.
To cry out that the emperor had no clothes on was at least to pick on one man only to the amusement of everyone else; to declare that almost everyone is dressed in rags is much less likely to be popular.
The exercise of the virtues is itself a crucial component of the good life for man.
