A philosophical tradition has its own repertoire of moral concepts, and even its own conception of rationality. When they disagree, how can you decide between them? And what if we're so intellectually disconnected from the traditions that gave us our moral concepts that we're actually morally bankrupt? Alasdair MacIntyre has written extensively and thoughtfully about how one philosophical and moral tradition can emerge rightly victorious in competition with another. We will read our way through MacIntyre's engagement with these questions, with an eye to developing a toolkit not just for understanding and assessing theoretical and ethical practices, but for converting and putting to use components of foreign conceptual systems.
PHIL 5500/6500
Fall 2025
Time: Mon 4:35-7:05
Location: CTIHB 459