The Morality of Happiness

“A richly nuanced and exceptionally clear historical study….A learned, provocative study that will redefine current debates about ‘virtue-ethics’ and its differences from moral theory. Strongly recommended for all college and university libraries.”–Choice”Annas presents both a brilliant analysis of ancient ethical theory and a powerfully argued defense of the priorities and approaches taken by ancient philosophers to ethical questions. Her mastery of a wide range of ancient (and modern) texts along with her skilled exposition of philosophical argument makes this an outstanding book…It will be required reading for any scholar of ancient ethical thought, and contemporary moral philosophers will find richinsights to bring back to their work as well….The Morality of Happiness will generously repay thoughtful reading. It is distinguished both by the comprehensive scope of its general thesis and by thesubtlety of its details.” –Bryn Mawr Classical Review”[An] admirable book….This is an important book. Many of Annas’s claims will provoke scholarly controversy for some time to come; in the meantime, the book will be a tremendous help to those who want to understand the development of ancient ethics as a whole.“–Times Educational Supplement”[An] extremely worthwhile book.“–International Philosophical Quarterly”This ambitious, detailed survey…is at once unusually broad in its treatment of the varieties of Greek ethics, satisfyingly deep in its analysis of individual theories, and appropriately systematic throughout.“–Religious Studies Review”A richly nuanced and exceptionally clear historical study….A learned, provocative study that will redefine current debates about ‘virtue-ethics’ and its differences from moral theory. Strongly recommended for all college and university libraries.“–Choice”Annas presents both a brilliant analysis of ancient ethical theory and a powerfully argued defense of the priorities and approaches taken by ancient philosophers to ethical questions. Her mastery of a wide range of ancient (and modern) texts along with her skilled exposition of philosophical argument makes this an outstanding book…It will be required reading for any scholar of ancient ethical thought, and contemporary moral philosophers will find richinsights to bring back to their work as well….The Morality of Happiness will generously repay thoughtful reading. It is distinguished both by the comprehensive scope of its general thesis and by thesubtlety of its details.” –Bryn Mawr Classical Review”[An] admirable book….This is an important book. Many of Annas’s claims will provoke scholarly controversy for some time to come; in the meantime, the book will be a tremendous help to those who want to understand the development of ancient ethics as a whole.“–Times Educational Supplement”[An] extremely worthwhile book.“–International Philosophical Quarterly”This ambitious, detailed survey…is at once unusually broad in its treatment of the varieties of Greek ethics, satisfyingly deep in its analysis of individual theories, and appropriately systematic throughout.“–Religious Studies Review”This is a splendid and important book….Her discussions of particular issues are often novel and always stimulating….This is a most valuable contribution to the history of ancient ethics and, more generally, to the history of ancient philosophy. It will surely receive the close attention and discussion it deserves.“–The Philosophical Review”The pick of the bunch this year….What is interesting and refreshing about it is not so much what Annas says (important though that is) as the approach she adopts….Every classicist who believes that our subject is the study not of the dead past but of a living part of our culture needs to read this book.“–Greece and Rome

Julia Annas is Regents Professor of Philosophy at the University of Arizona.