Alasdair MacIntyre: Traditional Virtues

Alasdair MacIntyre’s primary argument centers around the assertion that modern society’s moral ethics lack a coherent framework due to its detachment from the tradition of virtue. MacIntyre argues that this has made us lose our ties with philosophical thinkers of the past. He argues modern emotivism is a significant issue where moral judgements are reduced to just expressions of personal preference rather than virtue. Emphasizing that individualism is the overall problem. His solution to this problem is the return of traditional virtue— the return of philosophical thinkers’ teachings to bring back moral virtues, the development of virtuous character, and the importance of moral reasoning within the context of specific communities and traditions, providing a framework for meaningful ethical consideration. Otherwise, moral discussion becomes meaningless without a shared understanding of virtues and a coherent moral framework.

MacIntyre states, “We do not know how to respond; we do not know how to explain; we do not even know how to characterize minimally as an intelligible action; our distinction between the humanly accountable and the merely natural seems to have broken down.” (p. 300) This highlights the significant challenges we encounter when addressing complex issues that affect us and society. It speaks to our inability to agree or offer coherent explanations/meanings in our modern world — this loss of moral clarity messes up our efforts to navigate ethical dilemmas effectively.