The Place of Pleasure in Neo-Aristotelian Ethics

Richard Kraut argues that Neo-Aristotelian ethics should include a com­mitment to "diluted hedonism," according to which the exercise of a developed life-capacity is good for S only if and partly because S enjoys it. I argue that the Neo-Aristotelian should reject diluted hedonism for two...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Butler, Travis (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Philosophy Documentation Center 2023
In: American catholic philosophical quarterly
Year: 2023, Volume: 97, Issue: 1, Pages: 101-119
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Summary:Richard Kraut argues that Neo-Aristotelian ethics should include a com­mitment to "diluted hedonism," according to which the exercise of a developed life-capacity is good for S only if and partly because S enjoys it. I argue that the Neo-Aristotelian should reject diluted hedonism for two reasons: first, it compro­mises the generality and elegance of the initial developmentalist account; second, it leads to mistaken evaluations of some of the most important and ennobling capacities and activities in human life. Finally, I argue that a more plausible ac­count of the place of pleasure in the good life derives from Aristotle’s discussion in book X of the Nicomachean Ethics: pleasure is a supervenient good that signifies the value of the underlying capacity and activity, but it is not a necessary condition for their goodness.
ISSN:2153-8441
Contains:Enthalten in: American catholic philosophical quarterly
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.5840/acpq2023329266