Abstract

This project is designed to introduce counselors to classical moral philosophy using selections from Aristotle and Plato. Counselor education often omits moral philosophy altogether, even though counselors' work is constantly caught up with the themes which moral philosophers discuss. What does it mean to be good, what is a good life, how do we distinguish the good from the pleasant and what is happiness are questions philosophers consider, and which also arise, sometimes invisibly or unacknowledged, in the counseling interaction. Ample introductory material about ancient Greek culture and philosophy is presented in a congenial tone which encourages readers to tackle a kind of reading and thinking which may not be familiar. Selections from Plato and Aristotle and their commentators are then set into a context of themes and questions which relate to counseling practice. Substantial footnotes offer suggestions for further reading