On February 9, a discussion of the book by the representative of American political philosophy and ethics, Alasdair MacIntyre, “A Short History of Ethics”, took place at the Gaidar Institute library.
The discussion was attended by:
- Irina Dudenkova, Candidate of Philosophical Sciences, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Moscow School of Social and Economic Sciences (Shaninka)
- Maria Sidorova, Candidate of Philosophical Sciences, employee of the Moscow School of Social and Economic Sciences (Shaninka)
- Ivan Baranov, postgraduate student at the Stasis Center, European University in St. Petersburg
- Nikita Borkunov, master’s student at the European University in St. Petersburg
At the event, experts discussed why Alasdair MacIntyre's A Short History of Ethics remains an important book for contemporary readers, especially in Russia. They emphasized that this work is not just a textbook, but a living challenge in which the author shows that moral ideas are born in historical development—from Homer and the formation of ancient polis thought through the Middle Ages, the Modern Era, and up to 20th-century philosophy. MacIntyre calls on us to critically reflect on past experience in order to find guidance in the complex present. According to the speakers, such a historical approach to ethics is particularly relevant today.
Special attention was paid to the author's personality. Participants noted that in the 1960s, when the book was written, MacIntyre was considered a philosophical “superstar” thanks to his innovation. However, later his ideas, criticism of abstract morality, and turn to tradition made him an “outsider” in philosophical circles. The book was written as a direct response to what the author disliked about contemporary ethics—its detachment from real life and history. Therefore, it is worth reading not only for knowledge, but also as a fascinating intellectual debate.
