Human Life, Action and Ethics: Essays

by G E M Anscombe, Mary Geach, Luke Gormally

Overview

Presents a collection of essays by the celebrated philosopher Elizabeth Anscombe. This collection includes papers on human nature and practical philosophy, together with the classic 'Modern Moral Philosophy'.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781845400613
Publisher:	Imprint Academic (Ips)
Publication date:	04/01/2006
Series:	St Andrews Studies in Philosophy and Public Affairs , #4
Pages:	300
Product dimensions:	5.41(w) x 8.32(h) x 0.98(d)

About the Author

Anscombe (1919–2001) read classics and philosophy at St Hugh's College, Oxford from 1937 to 1941 in which year she married the philosopher Peter Geach. She subsequently researched in philosophy at Newnham College, Cambridge where she became a student and friend of Ludwig Wittgenstein. One of his literary executors, she played a large part in editing his unpublished works and was their principal English translator. In 1946 she returned to Oxford as a UniversityLecturer in 1951. From 1970 until her retirement in 1986 she held the Chair of Philosophy at Cambridge.

Editorial Reviews

"One hopes that this very fine selection of essays will be an encouragement to engage in such work."

Acta Philosophica - Kevin L. Flannery

"Her work witnesses of a great intellectual honesty in dealing with moral problems. The language is sometimes quite technical, but her arguments are exceptionally clear."

Ethical Perspectives - Tomas Folens

"'One of the most distinguished professional philosophers of her generation."

The Tablet - Michael Dummett

"The editors and the publishers have done philosophy a great service."

Alasdair MacIntyre

"'Superb collection of Anscombe's writings."

First Things - Robert George

"'Truly one of the great philosophers of the twentieth century."

Hilary Putnam

"Elizabeth Ancsombe thought deeply, wrote beautifully, and was never taken in by pretence."

Roger Scruton

"Anscombe carried out the work that is widely and reasonably judged the twentieth century's outstanding English Catholic philosophical achievement."

The National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly - John Finnis

"A collection of splendid essays, all of which repay repeated reading and which should also have pride of place on the bookshelves of all self-respecting contemporary philosophers."

Philosophical Books - David Carr

"The essays in Human Life, Action and Ethics provide both guidance concerning such concepts as intention and murder, and a challenging, articulate presentation of a rival traditional ethic ... All philosophers working on ethics and intention should read these essays."

Journal of Value Inquiry - Duncan Richter

"Demonstrates a refreshing willingness to go to the heart of the philosophical issues underlying some of the most hotly disputed moral questions of our time."

Journal of Markets and Morality - Samuel Gregg

"Philosophy as she does it is fresh; her arguments take unexpected turns and make unexpected connections, and show always how much there is that had not been seen before."

Cora Diamond

"Anscombe's fusion of the Aristotelian and analytical traditions is one of the highest peaks of 20th century philosophy; it has lost none of its power to destroy philosophical complacency and excite new philosophical thought."

Michael Thompson

"However well-versed anyone might be in the literature of ethics, no one can possibly fail to learn a great deal, both as regards moral philosophy as well as about what the moral life involves, from this hugely rich, profound and absorbing collection of articles and lectures by Anscombe. ... It should be compulsory reading for all students of applied ethics."

Philosophy - David Conway

"In the latter half of the twentieth century Anscombe could hold her own with any philosopher in the world."

Anthony Kenny

"The most brilliant of Wittgenstein's students... an original and formidable philosopher."

Times Literary Supplement - Simon Blackburn

"The undoubted giant among women philosophers, a writer of immense breadth, authority and penetration ... a truly original philosopher."

Mary Warnock

"The essays reprinted here show the extraordinary originality and great interest of Anscombe's work in action theory and moral philosophy."

Philippa Foot