Virtue ethics focuses upon the `character' of moral agents more than upon the moral status of their actions or of the consequences of those actions. Aristotle's ethical theory is the major inspiration for the current revival of interest in virtue ethics, outlining how practical problems of moral complexity can be approached from a virtue perspective. After presenting a broad overview of the history of the subject, Understanding Virtue Ethics explores virtues in the context of contemporary moral theory to analyse how many of today's intractable moral dilemmas might be overcome by responsible, virtuous agents. Stan van Hooft is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Deakin University, Australia.
