Paul Woodruff is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Texas at Austin. His main goal is to make the ethical and political thinking of ancient Greeks accessible to modern readers. His work includes books on the virtues of reverence and justice, as well as on the ideas behind democracy. He has translated most of Thucydides' History, several Platonic dialogues, and a number of ancient Greek plays. He served in the U.S. Army as an officer during the American war in Vietnam, in 1969-70, gaining experience of both physical and moral danger. That experience informs this book.

• PrefaceTable of ContentsAcknowledgementsAbout the Author 1. Practical Ethics 1.1. Epimeleisthai1.2. Ignorance1.3. Injury: The Wounded Soul1.4. Impractical VirtueAppendix to Chapter 1: Moral Injury 2. The Spirit of Socrates2.1. Socrates' Approach2.2. Socrates' Way2.3. Going Beyond Socrates 3. The Shape of Virtue 3.1. An Impossible Assignment: Confucius3.2. An Activity Good in Itself: Socrates3.3. The Adverb Problem3.4. Virtues of Imperfection3.5. Degrees of Human Virtue3.6. Self-examination3.7. Bad Luck and Moral Failure3.8. The Tragic View of Human Life 4. Aiming at Virtue4.1. Moral Holidays4.2. Grand Aims4.3. Aiming Well: Commitments4.4. Competing Virtues4.5. Avoidance: Dilemmas and Injuries4.6 The Nature of Human VirtueAppendix to Chapter 4: Moral Dilemmas 5. Human Wisdom and Practical Knowledge5.1. Ignorance and Aporia5.2 Self-knowing5.3. The Limits of Knowledge in Ethics5.4. The Theory Trap5.5 Judgment5.6. Virtues of ImperfectionAppendix 1 to Chapter 5: The Rectification of NamesAppendix 2 to Chapter 5: Socrates on Human Wisdom 6. Resources 6.1. Using Resources6.2. Internal vs. External Resources6.3. Community 6.4. Human Nature and Virtue6.5. Justice6.6. Differences in Human Environment 6.7. Friendship6.8. Love6.9. Expert Advice and Example6.10. Emotions6.11. Intuitions vs. Judgments6.12. Orientation to the GoodAppendix 1 to Chapter 5: The Jewish-Christian Ethics of LoveAppendix 2 to Chapter 5: How Elenchus Succeeds 7. Living Toward Virtue 7.1. The Beautiful Soul7.2. Love7.2. Other-regarding Virtues7.4 Rounding Up the Virtues7.5 Growth 7.6. Self-repair7.7. Looking Behind7.8. Looking Ahead7.9. Happiness: "Paradise within Thee" Bibliography

This engaging, challenging, and timely book will be good supplementary reading for those interested in introductory ethics and ancient philosophy.

Paul Woodruff is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Texas at Austin. His main goal is to make the ethical and political thinking of ancient Greeks accessible to modern readers. His work includes books on the virtues of reverence and justice, as well as on the ideas behind democracy. He has translated most of Thucydides' History, several Platonic dialogues, and a number of ancient Greek plays. He served in the U.S. Army as an officer during the American war in Vietnam, in 1969-70, gaining experience of both physical and moral danger. That experience informs this book.

• PrefaceTable of ContentsAcknowledgementsAbout the Author 1. Practical Ethics 1.1. Epimeleisthai1.2. Ignorance1.3. Injury: The Wounded Soul1.4. Impractical VirtueAppendix to Chapter 1: Moral Injury 2. The Spirit of Socrates2.1. Socrates' Approach2.2. Socrates' Way2.3. Going Beyond Socrates 3. The Shape of Virtue 3.1. An Impossible Assignment: Confucius3.2. An Activity Good in Itself: Socrates3.3. The Adverb Problem3.4. Virtues of Imperfection3.5. Degrees of Human Virtue3.6. Self-examination3.7. Bad Luck and Moral Failure3.8. The Tragic View of Human Life 4. Aiming at Virtue4.1. Moral Holidays4.2. Grand Aims4.3. Aiming Well: Commitments4.4. Competing Virtues4.5. Avoidance: Dilemmas and Injuries4.6 The Nature of Human VirtueAppendix to Chapter 4: Moral Dilemmas 5. Human Wisdom and Practical Knowledge5.1. Ignorance and Aporia5.2 Self-knowing5.3. The Limits of Knowledge in Ethics5.4. The Theory Trap5.5 Judgment5.6. Virtues of ImperfectionAppendix 1 to Chapter 5: The Rectification of NamesAppendix 2 to Chapter 5: Socrates on Human Wisdom 6. Resources 6.1. Using Resources6.2. Internal vs. External Resources6.3. Community 6.4. Human Nature and Virtue6.5. Justice6.6. Differences in Human Environment 6.7. Friendship6.8. Love6.9. Expert Advice and Example6.10. Emotions6.11. Intuitions vs. Judgments6.12. Orientation to the GoodAppendix 1 to Chapter 5: The Jewish-Christian Ethics of LoveAppendix 2 to Chapter 5: How Elenchus Succeeds 7. Living Toward Virtue 7.1. The Beautiful Soul7.2. Love7.2. Other-regarding Virtues7.4 Rounding Up the Virtues7.5 Growth 7.6. Self-repair7.7. Looking Behind7.8. Looking Ahead7.9. Happiness: "Paradise within Thee" Bibliography

This engaging, challenging, and timely book will be good supplementary reading for those interested in introductory ethics and ancient philosophy.

Paul Woodruff is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Texas at Austin. His main goal is to make the ethical and political thinking of ancient Greeks accessible to modern readers. His work includes books on the virtues of reverence and justice, as well as on the ideas behind democracy. He has translated most of Thucydides' History, several Platonic dialogues, and a number of ancient Greek plays. He served in the U.S. Army as an officer during the American war in Vietnam, in 1969-70, gaining experience of both physical and moral danger. That experience informs this book.

• PrefaceTable of ContentsAcknowledgementsAbout the Author 1. Practical Ethics 1.1. Epimeleisthai1.2. Ignorance1.3. Injury: The Wounded Soul1.4. Impractical VirtueAppendix to Chapter 1: Moral Injury 2. The Spirit of Socrates2.1. Socrates' Approach2.2. Socrates' Way2.3. Going Beyond Socrates 3. The Shape of Virtue 3.1. An Impossible Assignment: Confucius3.2. An Activity Good in Itself: Socrates3.3. The Adverb Problem3.4. Virtues of Imperfection3.5. Degrees of Human Virtue3.6. Self-examination3.7. Bad Luck and Moral Failure3.8. The Tragic View of Human Life 4. Aiming at Virtue4.1. Moral Holidays4.2. Grand Aims4.3. Aiming Well: Commitments4.4. Competing Virtues4.5. Avoidance: Dilemmas and Injuries4.6 The Nature of Human VirtueAppendix to Chapter 4: Moral Dilemmas 5. Human Wisdom and Practical Knowledge5.1. Ignorance and Aporia5.2 Self-knowing5.3. The Limits of Knowledge in Ethics5.4. The Theory Trap5.5 Judgment5.6. Virtues of ImperfectionAppendix 1 to Chapter 5: The Rectification of NamesAppendix 2 to Chapter 5: Socrates on Human Wisdom 6. Resources 6.1. Using Resources6.2. Internal vs. External Resources6.3. Community 6.4. Human Nature and Virtue6.5. Justice6.6. Differences in Human Environment 6.7. Friendship6.8. Love6.9. Expert Advice and Example6.10. Emotions6.11. Intuitions vs. Judgments6.12. Orientation to the GoodAppendix 1 to Chapter 5: The Jewish-Christian Ethics of LoveAppendix 2 to Chapter 5: How Elenchus Succeeds 7. Living Toward Virtue 7.1. The Beautiful Soul7.2. Love7.2. Other-regarding Virtues7.4 Rounding Up the Virtues7.5 Growth 7.6. Self-repair7.7. Looking Behind7.8. Looking Ahead7.9. Happiness: "Paradise within Thee" Bibliography

This engaging, challenging, and timely book will be good supplementary reading for those interested in introductory ethics and ancient philosophy.