Philosophies of Work: Virtue Ethics I
Mon, Feb 12
In order to understand more deeply the issues we face in the contemporary philosophy of work, we'll turn finally to ancient Greece to further examine the context in which our fundamental attitudes toward work and the good life emerged. Interestingly, we'll see connections between the way thinkers during this period saw connections between the individual quest to live a good life, and the flourishing of the communities in which one found oneself.
Goals - by the end of today's class, you will:
- Understand what Aristotle (and the Greeks more generally) mean when they talk about the “division of labor,” and why they advocate for it;
- Why and how how one might object to this reasoning; and
- How Aristotle sought balance between the individual's needs and the common good in the Politics.
Read This:
(Access readings through Perusall)
Primary reading: Selections from Aristotle's Politics
Secondary reading: Selections from Pope John Paul II, "Veritatis Splendor"
Do This:
After completing the readings for today, consider the following questions (which we will talk about in class):
- Greek virtue ethicists emphasize the interdependence of an individual and her community, sometimes going so far as to say that it is impossible to consider one's flourishing apart from one's social context. What reasons do we get from today's readings to think that this is true?
- In our own society, what do you think are the most significant or important ways in which we have a "division of labor"? Do such divisions make sense practically, economically, and morally?