Famous Quotes by Alasdair C. MacIntyre

“Imprisoning philosophy within the professionalizations and specializations of an institutionalized curriculum, after the manner of our contemporary European and North American culture, is arguably a good deal more effective in neutralizing its effects than either religious censorship or political terror”

Our moral understanding is shaped by our participation in practices that constitute our lives.

The moral life is a life of striving for the good in a community.

In modern moral philosophy, there has been a decline in the concept of virtue.

A moral philosophy that is not grounded in the historical and social context is inadequate.

The virtues are acquired by habit; they are not innate.

Philosophy is a kind of conversation that takes place over time.

Rationality is not a simple matter of rules; it requires understanding the context of the traditions we inherit.

The decline of the virtues in modern society leads to a loss of meaning.

The tradition of the virtues is that it requires us to locate ourselves within the context of a community.

I can only answer the question, 'What am I to do?' if I can answer the prior question, 'Of what story or stories do I find myself a part?'

Tradition is the living faith of the dead; traditionalism is the dead faith of the living.

Reason must be anchored in a tradition that has its own history.

The self is not an abstract individual; it is always a member of a community.

The good life is a life of practice and community.

To understand ourselves, we must first understand the narratives that shape us.

The challenge of ethics is to find a way of living that is good for the self and good for the community.

A moral philosophy without a narrative is an empty abstraction.

To be human is to be engaged in practices that shape our understanding of the good.

A true moral inquiry must engage with the complexities of human life.

To act justly is to respond to the demands of one's community and tradition.