DESCRIPTION: This is a doctoral level seminar, open at the 500-level to a limited number of advanced master's students. It consists of close reading and discussion of writings of Alasdair MacIntyre, who has been described as the most important philosopher in the English-speaking world of the past fifty years. He has contributed to a variety of branches of philosophy. In our readings we will focus mainly on his later writings, and on issues in philosophy of religion, philosophical ethics, and epistemology. We will attend to the theological relevance of all of these readings. The course is of relevance to both philosophy and ethics students.

COURSE OBJECTIVES/LEARNING OUTCOMES: Knowledge: the development of MacIntyre's thought will provide a significant insight into the history of Western thought and will also introduce students to one of the most significant moves in philosophical ethics in the past generation. Skills: enhanced ability in moral reasoning and debate. Attitudes: increased optimism in face of the relativism that infects current culture.

RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: In addition to the ministry objectives listed above, MacIntyre provides the best account so far of how moral and theoretical relativism can be avoided.

COURSE FORMAT: This is a bi-level course for advanced master's students and for PhD and ThM students. The class will meet weekly for a three-hour session. Most of class time will be devoted to discussion of the readings.

REQUIRED READING:

MacIntyre, Alasdair. After Virtue. 2nd ed. University of Notre Dame Press, 1984.

__________. Dependent Rational Animals. Open Court, 1999.

__________. Whose Justice? Which Rationality? University of Notre Dame Press, 1989.

__________. Three Rival Versions of Moral Enquiry. University of Notre Dame Press, 1990.

__________. First Principles, Final Ends, and Contemporary Philosophical Issues. Marquette University Press, 1990.

_________. Against the Self-Images of the Age. University of Notre Dame Press, 1971.

Brief photocopied reader.