Jeevan Mendonsa’s work is very helpful in bringing together the perspective of a contemporary Aristotelian, Alasdair MacIntyre, noted in this respect for his Dependent Rational Animals, and the positions debated in evolutionary ethics. From his reading of MacIntyre, Mendonsa argues that our rationality as thinking beings is founded upon, but not completely determined by, our animality; rationality and animality are related to each other. Exploring the complexity of this relationship of grounding without determination is a major challenge, once the reality of an evolutionary process has been accepted. Some authors use the term ‘emergence’ to speak of this, and while appropriate language and formulation is crucial, the solution cannot be purely verbal, but must provide a genuine understanding of the relationship. The transdisciplinary conversation provided in Mendonsa’s work is a welcome and valuable contribution to developing the required understanding.
Dr. Patrick Riordan, SJ
TITLE: Alasdair MacIntyre’s Views and Biological Ethics: Exploring the Consistency
AUTHOR: Mendonsa, Sherel Jeevan Joseph
PUBLISHER: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, Newcastle upon Tyne
PAGES: 260
PRICE: £ 67,99
