-
442Virtue and EudaimonismSocial Philosophy and Policy 15 (1): 37. 1998.The two most important and central concepts in ancient ethical theory are those of virtue and happiness. This is well-known by now, as is the way that many scholars and philosophers have in recent years investigated the structure of ancient ethical theories, at least partly in the hope that this would help us in our modern ethical thinking by introducing us to developed theories which escape the problems that have led to so much frustration with deontological and consequentialist approaches. And…Read more
-
92The Good Life and the Good Lives of OthersSocial Philosophy and Policy 9 (2): 133. 1992.It is well-known that in recent years, alongside the familiar forms of modern ethical theory, such as consequentialism, deontology, and rights theory, there has been a resurgence of interest in what goes by the name of “virtue ethics” — forms of ethical theory which give a prominent status to the virtues, and to the idea that an agent has a “final end” which the virtues enable her to achieve. With this has come an increase of theoretical interest in ancient ethical theories, particularly Aristot…Read more
-
15The Hellenistic Version of Aristotle’s EthicsThe Monist 73 (1): 80-96. 1990.From the Hellenistic period we have two extensive texts of great interest which draw on Aristotle’s ethical works. One is Antiochus’ system of ethics in Cicero’s De Finibus V; the other is the long account of “the ethics of Aristotle and the other Peripatetics” in Stobaeus’ Eclogae II, 116-152, plausibly ascribed to Arius Didymus. Antiochus’ ethics is consciously “eclectic” in the sense that he is using a variety of ethical material and approaches, Aristotelian and other, to create something of …Read more
-
52The Euthyphro Laszlo Versényi: Holiness and Justice. An Interpretation of Plato's Euthyphro. Pp. vi + 157. Washington, DC: University Press of America, 1982. $19.75 (paper, $9.50) (review)The Classical Review 33 (01): 56-58. 1983.
-
30Reply to CooperPhilosophy and Phenomenological Research 55 (3): 599-610. 1995.‘The matter will hinge on this point: what will be established is the ideal wise and virtuous person either of the Stoics or of the Old Academy [Platonists and Aristotelians]. You can’t have both; the dispute between them is not about boundaries but about complete ownership, since all rationale for living is involved in one’s definition of the final good, and dispute about that is dispute about all rationale for living. So it can’t be both, since they disagree so deeply; it must be one or the ot…Read more
-
57Plato, Republic V–VIIRoyal Institute of Philosophy Lecture Series 20 3-18. 1986.The long section on knowledge and the philosopher in books V–VII of the Republic is undoubtedly the most famous passage in Plato's work. So it is perhaps a good idea to begin by stressing how very peculiar, and in many ways elusive, it is. It is exciting, and stimulating, but extremely hard to understand.
-
20Precis of The Morality of HappinessThe Morality of Happiness (review)Philosophy and Phenomenological Research 55 (4): 909. 1995.There is now, I think, widespread consensus that the field of ethical theory would benefit from taking more into account a tradition of ethical thinking which is best represented in ancient ethics: that of eudaimonism. These theories take the agent’s final end as primary, and hold that to be happiness. There has been a renewal of interest in Aristotle’s ethics, and a development of various forms of what is called ‘virtue ethics’. However, a true appraisal of the interest and importance for us of…Read more
-
15Platone come scrittore filosofico. Saggi sull' ermeneutica dei dialoghi platonici (review)The Classical Review 35 (2): 401-402. 1985.
-
41Platonic Ethics, Old and NewCornell University Press. 1999.Julia Annas here offers a fundamental reexamination of Plato's ethical thought by investigating the Middle Platonist perspective, which emerged at the end of Plato's own school, the Academy. She highlights the differences between ancient and modern assumptions about Plato's ethics--and stresses the need to be more critical about our own. One of these modern assumptions is the notion that the dialogues record the development of Plato's thought. Annas shows how the Middle Platonists, by contrast, …Read more
-
74Plato and Common MoralityClassical Quarterly 28 (02): 437-. 1978.In the Republic, Socrates undertakes to defend justice as being in itself a benefit to its possessor. Does he do this, or does he change the subject? In a well-known article, David Sachs pointed out that there seems to be a shift in what Plato is defending. The challenge to Socrates is put by Thrasymachus, who admires the successful unjust man, and by Glaucon and Adeimantus, who do not, but are worried that justice has no adequate defence against Thrasymachus. In all these passages justice is di…Read more
-
310Prudence and morality in ancient and modern ethicsEthics 105 (2): 241-257. 1995.Examines prudential and moral reasoning in ancient and modern ethics. Ancient ethical theories' task of articulating the agent's overall goal; Structural differences between ancient eudaemonist theories and modern theories; Virtue as a complex intellectual kind of understanding
-
3Women in Western Political Thought By Susan Moller Okin Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1980, 371 pp., £13.60, £2.50 paper (review)Philosophy 55 (214): 564-565. 1980.
-
527. Politics and Ethics in Plato’s RepublicIn 7. Politics and Ethics in Plato’s Republic, . pp. 105-120. 2011.
-
61PlatoRoyal Institute of Philosophy Lectures 20 (2): 1-2. 1986.Plato (c. 427-347 BC) was born into a wealthy and aristocratic Athenian family. He cherished the ambition of entering politics when he came of age, but was disillusioned first by the injustices of the oligarchic government in which his relatives Charmides and Critias were involved, and later by the action of the democracy which succeeded it, particularly the trial and execution of Socrates in 399 BC. In his best-known dialogue, The Republic, he sought to provide a theoretical foundation for a go…Read more
-
265Moral Knowledge as Practical KnowledgeSocial Philosophy and Policy 18 (2): 236. 2001.In the area of moral epistemology, there is an interesting problem facing the person in my area, ancient philosophy, who hopes to write a historical paper which will engage with our current philosophical concerns. Not only are ancient ethical theories very different in structure and concerns from modern ones, but the concerns and emphases of ancient epistemology are very different from those of modern theories of knowledge. Some may think that they are so different that they are useful to our ow…Read more
-
14[III] becoming like God: Ethics, human nature, and the divineIn Platonic Ethics, Old and New, Cornell University Press. pp. 52-71. 1999.
-
4[I] many voices: Dialogue and development in PlatoIn Platonic Ethics, Old and New, Cornell University Press. pp. 9-30. 1999.
-
4Introduction: Discovering a traditionIn Platonic Ethics, Old and New, Cornell University Press. pp. 1-8. 1999.