Book on Immanuel Kant

Duty and Reason as the Ultimate Principle – a short reading from Kant’s ‘Groundwork’

Lennox Johnson reading

Introduction Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) is a towering figure in the history of philosophy. In this passage from The Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals, Kant outlines his conception of the good will, his conception of duty, and how these ideas can be used to form a foundational principle of morality. Reading Nothing can possibly be conceived in the world, or even out of it, which can be called good, without qualification, except a good will. Intelligence, wit, judgement, and the other talents of the mind, however they may be named, …

Virtue as a Mean Between Two Vices – A short reading from Aristotle’s ‘Nicomachean Ethics’

Lennox Johnson reading

The Nicomachean Ethics, written by Aristotle, is widely regarded as one of the most influential books of moral philosophy. In this passage, Aristotle examines what it means for humans to live a good life. He sees the good life as the fulfillment of the human potential to live well. To live well means to live in accordance with virtue. Aristotle makes a distinction between intellectual virtue and moral virtue. Moral virtue is formed by habit; one becomes good by doing good. Intellectual virtue, one the other hand, requires intelligence and …

The Misery of Tyrants – a short reading from Plato’s Republic

Lennox Johnson reading

“He who is the real tyrant, whatever men may think, is the real slave, and is obliged to practise the greatest adulation and servility, and to be the flatterer of the vilest of mankind.” In this passage from book nine of Plato’s Republic, Socrates finally responds to the challenge set by Glaucon in book two; speaking as devil’s advocate, Glaucon claimed that people want nothing to restrict their desire for more and more of everything. If anyone could profit from acting unjustly and guarantee that they could get away with …

The Ring of Gyges and the Advantages of Injustice – a short reading from Plato’s Republic

Lennox Johnson reading

“Gods and men are said to unite in making the life of the unjust better than the life of the just.” This passage from Book II of Plato’s Republic raises a number of questions about human nature and the nature of justice: Is the life of the unjust man happier than man who is just? Are people inherently selfish? Is justice good for it’s own sake or because it leads to good consequences? What exactly is justice? The two speakers in this section of the dialogue are Glaucon and Socrates. …

Can Virtue Be Taught? – a short reading from Plato’s Meno

Lennox Johnson reading

“Once more, I suspect, friend Anytus, that virtue is not a thing which can be taught?” Introduction This week’s reading is about whether virtue can be taught. Now you may have noticed that there are some good people, or as Socrates would say, virtuous people, and there are some not so good people, or as I would say, arseholes. So we might ask: how did the good or virtuous people become virtuous? One possibility was that they were born that way; they’re just naturally good. Another possibility is that they …