Enjoyment

The Moral Significance of Styles of Life
1. Auflage 2010
ISBN: 978-0-19-959249-4
Verlag: OUP Oxford

Buch, Englisch, 304 Seiten, Format (B × H): 156 mm x 234 mm, Gewicht: 465 g

A refreshingly humane philosophy of life
Written in a clear, accessible style
Focuses on life and actions not on academic theories, addressing common concerns shared by most people
Features fascinating and illuminating discussions of literary works and what we can learn from them about life

In this book John Kekes examines the indispensable role enjoyment plays in a good life. The key to it is the development of a style of life that combines an attitude and a manner of living and acting that jointly express one's deepest concerns. Since such styles vary with characters and circumstances, a reasonable understanding of them requires attending to the particular and concrete details of individual lives. Reflection on works of literature is a better guide to this kind of understanding than the futile search for general theories and principles that preoccupies much of contemporary moral thought.

Enjoyment proceeds by the detailed examination of particular cases, shows how this kind of reflection can be reasonably conducted, and how the quest for universality and impartiality is misguided in this context. Central to the argument is a practical, particular, pluralistic, and yet objective conception of reason that rejects the pervasive contemporary tendency to regard reasons as good only if they are binding on all who aspire to live reasonably and morally. Reason in morality is neither theoretical nor general. Reasons for living and acting in particular ways are individually variable and none the worse for that.

Kekes aims to reorient moral thought from deontological, contractarian, and consequentialist preoccupations toward a reasonable but pluralistic reflection on what individuals can do to make their lives better.

Zielgruppe

Students and scholars of philosophy and literature; readers in other disciplines interested in human well-being.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Kekes, John

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Philosophie Ethik, Moralphilosophie
• Geisteswissenschaften Philosophie Philosophie: Sachbuch
• Geisteswissenschaften Philosophie Moderne Philosophische Disziplinen Existenzphilosophie, Lebensphilosophie

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Part One: Introduction
1: A Grace to be Cultivated
Part Two: Styles of Life
2: Pursuing Our Own Good
3: Personal Evaluation
4: The Importance of Manner
Part Three: The Evaluation of Styles of Live
5: A Great and Rare Art
6: Three-Dimensional Morality
7: The Uses of Reason in Morality
Part Four: Some Particular Styles of Life
8: A Most Perfect Gentleman
9: A Morbid Romantic
10: An Enemy of Happiness
11: A Wise and Virtuous Man
12: A Certain Gaiety of Heart
13: The Rightful Enjoyment of Our Being
Part Five: Conclusion
14: The Felicity We Make or Find
Notes
Work Cited
Index

Über Autor(innen)

John Kekes, Professor Emeritus, University at Albany, SUNY