The Tradition and the Subject in MacIntyre’s Theory. A Critical Study

Abstract

The article analyses Alasdair MacIntyre’s philosophical views on the relationship between community and tradition and the subject. The author presents MacIntyre’s anti-individualist concept related to the ethical dimension of the individual’s actions within the community and the importance of tradition and social practices in the constitution of the subject’s identity. According to this concept, moral actions are not isolated from the social context but are conditioned by community values and goals. The author critically analyses the way MacIntyre defines the importance of the community as the moral foundation through which man finds his place, acquires a subjective dimension and defines his actions. This article aims to show how MacIntyre defines the roles of tradition and community in shaping an individual’s identity and character. Additionally, it seeks to highlight some troubling aspects of his philosophy that raise questions about specific elements of his ideas.