What It Takes to be Great

Faith and Philosophy 15 (4):415-444 (1998)
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Abstract

The revival of virtue ethics is largely inspired by Aristotle, but few---especially Christians---follow him in seeing virtue supremely exemplified in the “magnanimous” man. However, Aristotle raises a matter of importance: the character traits and type of psychological stance exemplified in those who aspire to acts of extraordinary excellence. I explore the accounts of magnanimity found in both Aristotle and Aquinas, defending the intelligibility and acceptability of some central elements of a broadly Aristotelian conception of magnanimity. Aquinas, I argue, provides insight into how Christian ethics may appropriate central elements of a broadly Aristotelian conception of extraordinary virtue.

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David Horner
Biola University

Citations of this work

Why Old Things Matter.Simon P. James - 2015 - Journal of Moral Philosophy 12 (3):313-329.
Why Old Things Matter.Simon James - 2013 - Journal of Moral Philosophy 10 (4):313-329.
Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics on virtue competition.Bradford Jean-Hyuk Kim - 2023 - British Journal for the History of Philosophy 32 (1):1-21.
MODERN LIBERALISM AND PRIDE An Augustinian Perspective.Michael P. Krom - 2007 - Journal of Religious Ethics 35 (3):453-477.

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References found in this work

Aristotle's much maligned megalopsychos.Howard J. Curzer - 1991 - Australasian Journal of Philosophy 69 (2):131 – 151.
A Great Philosopher’s Not So Great Account of Great Virtue.Howard J. Curzer - 1990 - Canadian Journal of Philosophy 20 (4):517-537.
Common Sense and Uncommon Virtue.Nancy Sherman - 1988 - Midwest Studies in Philosophy 13 (1):97-114.
Aristotle's Crowning Virtue.Neil Cooper - 1989 - Apeiron 22 (3):191 - 205.

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