The Ties That Bind
Julius M. Moravcsik, Professor of Philosophy,
Stanford University.
This book, like in classical times of Plato and Aristotle,
treats individual and communal ethics as intertwined.
At its heart lies the quartet of respect, concern for
welfare of others, trust, and care as the basic communal
ties. The community needs to be built on these. Acquisition
and practice of other values and goods are within the
frame of the four underlying "pillars." The
four basic notions are attitudes and as such consist
of both rational and emotional elements. Thus our ethics
is neither based purely on sentiment nor purely on reason.
As such they will yield us guidelines, to be filled
in contextually, not rigid rule systems. Moravcsik's
proposal for ethics is pluralistic but not relativistic.
It does not deny some objective ground for sound communal
life, but leaves many alternatives within which the
four basic ties can be implemented.
We live in a chaotic world, not only on the practical
but also on the conceptual plane. This seems to be a
good time for exploring radically different foundations
for communal and individual ideals; foundations that
have some of their roots in ancient times.
Contents
Introductory
Remarks in Face of Today's Problems; Preface;
Introduction; Part I The Ethics of Ideals
Chapter I. The Outline of the Ethics of Ideals;
Chapter II. Ideals and Attitudes; Chapter
III. Individual and Social-Political Ethics Intertwined,
Part II. Communal Ties in an value-based Community
Introduction to Part II.; Chapter IV.
Developing Adequate Communal Ties; Chapter V.
Freedom, Responsibility, Work and communal Life; Chapter
VI. The Roots of Justice; Sharing and Good Ties;
Epilogue; Bibliography
2004
308 pages
ISBN 978-963-9241-79-4 cloth $47.95 / €42.95 / £40.00
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