From Action to Ethics - by Constantine Sandis (Paperback)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

Over the course of the last 15 years, Constantine Sandis has advanced our understanding of the role that action plays in shaping our moral thought. In this collection of his best essays in the philosophy of action, Sandis brings together updated versions of his writings, accompanied by a new introduction. Read collectively they demonstrate the breadth of his interests and ability to relate to broader issues within the culture, connecting debates in philosophical psychology about motivation, negligence, and moral responsibility with Greek tragedy, social psychology and literature.

Along this path from action to ethics, Sandis engages with Hegel, Wittgenstein, Anscombe, Ricoeur, Davidson, and Dretske, together with contemporary authors such as Jennifer Hornsby and Jonathan Dancy. As he responds to each thinker and theme, he develops his own philosophical position, the key thesis of which is that philosophy of action without ethics is empty, ethics without philosophy of action is blind.

Review Quotes

"An engaging and demanding book, richly rewarding attention to detail, keeping up a positive tension throughout the discussions ... The book should be read by everyone invested in philosophy of action, metaethics, moral psychology, normative ethics, and is recommended to all who work in connected fields like social and cognitive psychology, or sociology and history." --Istvan Zardai, Lecturer of Philosophy and Ethics, Juntendo University, Japan

"These essays show Sandis at his wide-ranging best. Homer and Anthony Powell rub shoulders with Hegel and Davidson in a series of imaginative and thought-provoking discussions of practical reason, action and ethics." --Roger Teichmann, Lecturer in Philosophy, St Hilda's College, University of Oxford, UK

"This excellent collection brings together Constantine Sandis' recent works on responsibility for action. It presses the claim that to understand this complex issue, ethics and action theory should be recognized as complementary. This compelling claim builds upon an impressively eclectic history of ideas, from the Bhagavad Gita and Sophocles to Freud, G.E.M. Anscombe, and Paul Ricoeur. A must-read." --Carla Bagnoli, Professor of Theoretical Philosophy, University of Modena & Reggio Emilia, Italy

"A highly original collection with illuminating reflections from literature, Greek religion, and from an unusually wide range of writing on morals and psychology. Anscombe's Intention is recast, in relation both to her predecessors and to current work. A book for any philosopher interested in action or in ethics." --Thomas Pink, Professor of Philosophy, King's College London, UK

"Quietly radical, this collection provides a synoptic introduction to the field and multi-directional illuminations for its future. Sandis has a keen pluralism, a fine sensitivity to the history of philosophy, and an instinct for what's interesting." --Naomi Goulder, Dean for Academic Development & Innovation and Associate Professor in Philosophy, Northeastern University London, UK

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