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Sarsila, Juhani
Being a Man
The Roman Virtus as a Contribution to Moral Philosophy
Series: Europäische Studien zur Ideen- und Wissenschaftsgeschichte / European Studies in the History of Science and Ideas - Volume 14
Year of Publication: 2006
Frankfurt am Main, Berlin, Bern, Bruxelles, New York, Oxford, Wien, 2006. 245 pp., 1 fig.
ISBN 978-3-631-55192-9 pb.
(Softcover)
Weight: 0.320 kg, 0.705 lbs
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Discipline
Book synopsis
This study approaches virtus as a moral value concept. The author argues that it is only through conceptual analysis that the meaning and value of virtus are given adequate illustration, and that philology should be regarded as a part of practical philosophy. The study covers Roman literature from the beginnings until Livy. During the Roman Republican Age, virtus was considered a man's contribution to his society and state, in terms of collectivism. Virtus ('manliness') was thought to be more real than any of its particular and transitory representations, i.e. individual male citizens. On the other hand, as an existentialist value concept, virtus at a relatively early stage denoted a man's intrinsic or ontic value or his true self, without regard to any worldly success whatsoever. The final analysis shows that virtus ('virtue') is congruous with or even synonymous to individualism. This book also presents a contribution to gender studies from the standpoint of a man.
Contents
Contents: History of virtus ('manliness', 'virtue') in Republican Rome - Moral philosophy (ethics) - Virtue ethics - Conceptual content of virtus in individual authors - Good - bad (evil) - Virtue - vice - Man's virtue - woman's virtue - Virility - Military efficiency - Heroism - Unremitting action - Virtus and fortuna ('good luck') - Humanism - Stoicism (existentialism) - Epicureanism (nominalism) - Intellectual faculties - «Elitism» - Commitment and dedication to immanent reality - Man's intrinsic value (worth), or ontic value, or his or her conscience.
About the author(s)/editor(s)
The Author: Juhani Sarsila teaches Latin and history at the University of Tampere, with particular emphasis on the history of ideas and learning, and philosophical humanism, or existentialism. He has published various monographs and articles on early Finnish nationalism, the role of forgery in history, and rhetoric.
Series
European Studies in the History of Science and Ideas. Vol. 14
Edited by Georg Gimpl and Juha Manninen