Personal Destinies: A Philosophy of Ethical Individualism (Paperback)

~ (Author) "These words by Carl Jung have a twofold significance..." (more)
Key Phrases: consequent sociality, antecedent sociality, classical eudaimonism, Don Juan, New York, British Absolute Idealism (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

Decades of painstaking and sometimes agonizing work in philosophy prove to be worth it all when a book like David Norton's comes along. Moreover, this book provides that philosophy need by no means be a dry and bloodless affair.... One is hard-pressed to think of any other recent or near-recent book that is scholarly yet speaks to laymen so directly, accessibly, and, as a great bonus, beautifully. -- Review

Review

Decades of painstaking and sometimes agonizing work in philosophy prove to be worth it all when a book like David Norton's comes along. Moreover, this book provides that philosophy need by no means be a dry and bloodless affair.... One is hard-pressed to think of any other recent or near-recent book that is scholarly yet speaks to laymen so directly, accessibly, and, as a great bonus, beautifully.
(Reason )

Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Princeton University Press (February 1, 1977)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0691019754
• ISBN-13: 978-0691019758
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #990,747 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An inspiring and wonderful, yet analytical work on ethics., October 1, 1997

By A Customer

David Norton's book is an long overdue corrective on years of abuse heaped upon ethical individualism in text books on ethics. Norton develops the case for an individualism that sees human nature along lines of such classical thinkers as Socrates, Plato and Aristotle, instead of Thomas Hobbes (who is usually named as the founder of modern individualism). The good human life is, by Norton's account, not manifest is constant, relentless desire- satisfaction, so an ethical individualist does not amount to a cruel, self-indulgent person but someone who realizes in himself the full measure of potentiality as a human being, including a robust sociality. This necessarily leads to a virtuous life, especially a life of moral integrity. Norton has given us a wonderful alternative to the ethics of altruism or self-denial without the silly alternative of the asocial bully standing in for individualism. This book should be a must read for anyone really interested in moral philosophy. Tibor R. Machan