Non relative virtues martha nussbaum biography

Part of the Philosophy Papers series

Nussbaum, in her publication, ‘Non-Relative Virtues: An Aristotelian Approach’ (1988), discusses how virtues can be grounded on an objective and universal account of the human good.

She argues that a relativist view of virtue ethics couldn’t rationally criticise the norms and traditions of other cultures. Nussbaum highlights out that negative cultural conditions, traditions, and norms such as slavery, racial inequality, and economic inequality couldn’t be improved with relativistic ethics.

Yet, we can rationally criticise these norms, and Aristotle himself used the virtues to criticise other cultures.

Non relative virtues martha nussbaum biography

Nussbaum references Aristotle’s criticisms of the Spartans, the Cretans, and the Carthaginians in his Politics as examples (1981, pp. 139-158). He criticises their cultural practices by appealing to a universal framework for defining virtues.

This framework, N