Plato's Ethics

Plato's Ethics by Irwin, Terence. paperback edition. ISBN: 9780195086454.

This exceptional book examines and explains Platos answer to the normative question, "How ought we to live?" It discusses Platos conception of the virtues; his views about the connection between the virtues and happiness; and the account of reason, desire, and motivation that underlies his arguments about the virtues. Platos answer to the epistemological question, "How can we know how we ought to live?" is also discussed. His views on knowledge, belief, and inquiry, and his theory of Forms, are examined, insofar as they are relevant to his ethical view. Terence Irwin traces the development of Platos moral philosophy, from the Socratic dialogues to its fullest exposition in the Republic. Platos Ethics discusses Platos reasons for abandoning or modifying some aspects of Socratic ethics, and for believing that he preserves Socrates essential insights. A brief and selective discussion of the Statesmen, Philebus, and Laws is included. Replacing Irwins earlier Platos Moral Theory (Oxford, 1977), this book gives a clearer and fuller account of the main questions and discusses some recent controversies in the interpretation of Platos ethics. It does not presuppose any knowledge of Greek or any extensive knowledge of Plato.