The growth of virtues: MacIntyre and Dewey on ethics (Alasdair MacIntyre, John Dewey)

Alasdair MacIntyre is a central figure in the resurgence of interest in the virtues; however, many of his ideas were anticipated by John Dewey. This dissertation is a comparison of Maclntyre and Dewey focusing on the validity of an approach to ethics through the virtues and their impact on social relations in our culture. Several other points of comparison include their views on human practices, the nature of the self, a conception of human flourishing, moral inquiry, and the value of liberalism in the modern world. Despite Maclntyre's ability to draw upon a tremendous scope of historical thought, I argue that Dewey has a more comprehensive view on the virtues and that a close comparison of their ideas will reveal significant weaknesses in Maclntyre's position.