Knight, Kelvin James Nicholas

The idea that Aristotelianism constitutes a distinct strand in the history of political thought has followed argument in the history of ethics, especially since Alasdair MacIntyre opposed an Aristotelian “tradition of the virtues” to “the Enlightenment project” in moral philosophy epitomized by Kant. MacIntyre’s historicization of Aristotelian ethics and politics is itself opposed by the rival Thomistic Aristotelianism of Terence Irwin, whose melding of Aristotelianism with modern theories, to which he offers it as a theoretical corrective, follows an Oxonian tradition in the history of political thought.

In this chapter we demonstrate how the insights from contemporary Aristotelian ethical and political thought might inform urban planning and challenge its utilitarian norms. We propose the Aristotelian concepts of eudaimonia —which we translate as human well-being or flourishing and of the virtues (excellences of character and understanding) and civic friendship as guiding concepts for today’s urban development, especially in the design and programming of urban public space.

In the foreword to Gerardine Hall's book 'Virtue and Social Enterprise' Kelvin Knight argues for the importance of social enterprises and social economy as the alternatives to nationalization and free collective bargaining. It shows how Alasdair MacIntyre's philosophy can be of great importance for thinking about social alternatives to capitalism.