A3 Book section, Chapters in research books
Is Socrates Permitted to Kill Plato? (2024)

Toivanen, J. (2024). Is Socrates Permitted to Kill Plato?. In H. Haara, & J. Toivanen (Eds.), Common Good and Self-Interest in Medieval and Early Modern Philosophy (78, pp. 149-168). Springer. The New Synthese Historical Library. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-55304-2_9

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Toivanen, Juhana

Parent publication: Common Good and Self-Interest in Medieval and Early Modern Philosophy

Parent publication editors: Haara, Heikki; Toivanen, Juhana

ISBN: 978-3-031-55303-5

eISBN: 978-3-031-55304-2

Journal or series: The New Synthese Historical Library

ISSN: 1879-8578

eISSN: 2352-2585

Publication year: 2024

Volume: 78

Pages range: 149-168

Number of pages in the book: 286

Publisher: Springer

Place of Publication: Cham

Publication country: Switzerland

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-55304-2_9

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/94338

Abstract

This chapter analyses how one thirteenth century Parisian philosopher, Nicholas of Vaudémont (fl. 1370s), understood the tension between the common good in the sense of the good of the community as a whole, and individual good in his commentary of Aristotle’s Politics. The analysis proceeds in relation to two of Nicholas’ questions. The first of them concerns the classical problem of whether or not a virtuous person should sacrifice his life for the sake of his community; and the second question is related to the justification of capital punishment for the sake of the common good. It is claimed that Nicholas entertains at least a theoretical possibility that virtuous action may not necessarily entail the common good and that he further distinguishes the concern for the common good from the private sphere by arguing that responsibility of the common good rests solely with the political ruler. As a result, the tension becomes a fracture as the theoretical distance between the good of an individual and the common good widens.

Keywords: philosophy; ethics

Free keywords: Nicolas of Vaudémont; self-sacrifice; eudaemonist ethics; virtue ethics; commentaries on Aristotle; capital punishment; self-denial; common good; individual good

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Related projects

Ministry reporting: Yes

VIRTA submission year: 2024

Preliminary JUFO rating: 2