The book offers a comparative analysis of virtue ethics as presented by Aristotle and Confucius, examining how their cultural backgrounds and philosophical views shape their concepts of human good and virtue. By treating each philosopher as a mirror to the other, it aims to uncover fresh interpretations and insights into their ethical frameworks, highlighting the unique contributions of both thinkers while fostering a deeper understanding of virtue ethics as a whole.
The Blackwell Dictionary of Western Philosophy offers a clear and concise overview of Western philosophical history, covering key concepts from ancient Greece to today. Each entry includes relevant quotations and encourages critical engagement with philosophical questions across various disciplines.
Aristotle's exploration of being categorizes it into four distinct types: accidental being, being as truth, potential/actual being, and per se being, the latter encompassing intrinsic qualities such as substance, quantity, and quality. He refers to these as the "categories of being," emphasizing their significance in understanding existence. While he briefly addresses accidental being and being as truth, he largely dismisses accidental being due to its indeterminate nature, focusing instead on the more concrete aspects of being.