Customer Reviews

Macintyre Reader

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Kelvin Knight provides a concise, but adequate sample of MacIntyre's work. The articles contained in the text are sufficient for a novice of philosophy to gain a light grasp on MacIntyre's main points, especially concerning Machiavelli in response to Strauss's analysis of the topic. The articles collected, especially "The Claims of 'After Virtue'", contain a counterpoint to much of Strauss and Mansfield's work. This is very valuable considering the proliferation of the historian and his prodigy's opinions on the topic.

This is a reader, but it is---I am grateful--- not characterized by abridgments, brief summaries, or short excerpts. It is a great point of entry to A. MacIntyre and is intended more to present MacIntyre's mature thought than it is to trace his changes in perspective over time. Knight has also written for this volume a very good intro to MacIntyre that is well worth reading.

This is a reader for those who need to become familiar with MacIntyre and do not have the time to dedicate to actually reading his complete works. This is *not* a reader for those who want to really know MacIntyre's thought. Not only do you miss out on recent MacIntyre since this was this published before Dependent Rational Animals: Why Human Beings Need the Virtues (The Paul Carus Lectures) etc. it has all of the typical shortcomings of a reader. Ultimately you're making the choice to save time by accepting the editor's version of what is important.

Buy this if you need basic MacIntyre fast. Skip this if it is going to infuriate you to only know half the story.