Episode #244 ... After Virtue - Alasdair MacIntyre (why moral conversations feel unsatisfying)

The podcast explores Alasdair MacIntyre's critique of modern moral discourse, arguing that the Enlightenment's rejection of teleology has led to emotivism, where moral claims lack grounding and conversations become unproductive. MacIntyre traces the history of moral thought, highlighting the shift from virtue ethics centered on societal roles to Plato's concept of a universal good and Aristotle's teleological view, where human actions have inherent purposes. The Enlightenment thinkers' attempts to rebuild morality on secular foundations are seen as failures, resulting in a moral landscape dominated by persuasion and coercion. MacIntyre suggests shared practices with internal goods, like farming or chess, can serve as modern teleologies, enabling meaningful moral conversations within communities.