Books Quote by Rod Dreher
““In his book After Virtue, philosopher Alasdair MacIntyre likened the present cultural moment to the fall of the Roman Empire in the West. He argued that the West has abandoned reason and the tradition of the virtues in giving itself over to the relativism that is now flooding our world today. We are governed not by faith, or by reason, or by any combination of the two. We are governed by what MacIntyre called emotivism: the idea that all moral choices are nothing more than expressions of what the choosing individual feels is right. MacIntyre””
About This Quote
Source Book: After Virtue by Alasdair MacIntyre, 1981
The modern West has moved away from rational, virtue‑based ethics toward a subjective, feeling‑based moralism called emotivism.
In simple terms: Western morality is now driven by personal feelings, not reason or faith.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and challenge emotivist thinking.
Themes
ethics
culture
relativism
virtue
reason
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
philosophical
analytical
When to use this quote
- political discourse
- education curricula
- public policy debates
- media commentary
Key Concepts
moral philosophy
cultural decline
emotivism
virtue ethics
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we balance personal feelings with communal standards?
- Can reason coexist with emotivist values?
A Different Perspective
Emotivism can ignore objective harms and justify harmful actions.
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