Heroic Society Recalled Through Stories Three Interlocking Elements in Heroic Culture: – Requirements of Social roles – Virtues – Human Condition

Key Features of the Elements of Heroic Society Kinship and Households Central to Social Structure “Ought” Close to its Etymological Root “Owes” Human Condition Centrally Involves Fate, Death and Friendship Evaluative Questions are Questions of Social Fact Human Lives have a Narrative Structure Morality=Social Structure=Virtues “Heroic social structure is enacted epic narrative.” Alasdair MacIntyre, After Virtue, 3d ed. (Notre Dame, IN: University of Notre Dame Press, 2007), 129.

The Virtues in Athens The Sophists – Virtues=What Ensures Success – Close Connection to Educational Goals Plato – Virtues=What Ensures Genuine Happiness – Defined within Ideal State – Strong Commitment to Unity of the Virtues The Tragedians – Virtues are both Anchored in Heroic Cosmology and Transcend Social Roles – Deny Unity of Virtues and Affirm Tragic Conflict

Aristotle on the Virtues Ethics Rooted in Search for Human Good Good=Eudaimonia Candidates for Eudaimonia – Wealth – Honor – Pleasure – Virtue Virtue Tied (1) to Polis and (2) to Cosmic Order Eudaimonia= Activity in Accord with Virtue