Leben und Vernunft

The attempt by neo-Aristotelian naturalists such as Philippa Foot and Michael Thompson to ground the objective validity of ethical principles in human nature has met with significant criticism. In particular, critics often reject the concept of life-form central to this view as incompatible with modern scientific biology. Both critics and proponents of the neo-Aristotelian program, however, operate with deeply divergent conceptions of nature – one scientistic and one idealist – and thus tend to talk past each other. This book explicates both conceptions of nature and investigates their respective theoretical presuppositions. Drawing on the philosophy of John McDowell, it thereby develops a defense of neo-Aristotelian naturalism.