Adorno's Aristotle Critique and Ethical Naturalism. (17th March 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Whyman, Tom
• Is Part Of: European journal of philosophy. Volume 25:Number 4(2017:Dec.)
• Page Start: 1208
• Page End: 1227
• Publication Date: 2017-03-17
• Subjects: Philosophy -- Periodicals; Philosophy, European -- Periodicals; Philosophy, Modern -- 20th century -- Periodicals; 190
• DOI: 10.1111/ejop.12243
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0966-8373

Abstract

Abstract: In this paper, I do three things. First, I unpack and outline an intriguing but neglected aspect of the thought of the Frankfurt School critical theorist Theodor W. Adorno—namely, his critique of Aristotle, which can be found in two of his lecture series: the unpublished 1956 lectures on moral philosophy and the 1965 lectures published as Metaphysics: Concept and Problems. Second, I demonstrate how Adorno's Aristotle critique constitutes a powerful critique of contemporary neo‐Aristotelian ethical naturalism, of the sort advocated by thinkers such as Philippa Foot, Michael Thompson and John McDowell. Third, I expound upon where this critique leaves the prospect of formulating a robust ethical naturalism more generally.