Rational Man: A Modern Interpretation of Aristotelian Ethics by Henry B. Veatch (review)

BOOK REVIEWS 337 confer his greatest favors on those who love and honor their intellect preferring its good to all other goods ...'' "Now all these attributes clearly belong to the philosopher: he loves and honors his intellect, the most pleasing to God of all human things; he also acts honorably and rightly. It remains then that he is dearest to God. But that man is happiest who is loved most by God, the source of all good. Likewise, since man's happiness is said to consist in the fact that he is loved by God, we conclude that the philosopher is happy in the highest degree." The foregoing passage is a fitting close to the discussion of the problem of man's natural terrestrial happiness. It is also a typical specimen of the quality of Fr. Litzinger's translation. University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, Indiana JoHN A. OESTERLE Rational Man: A Modern Interpretation of Aristotelian Ethics. By HENRY B. VEATCH. Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press, 1965. pp. 226. Paper $1.95. Samuel Johnson praised authors by whom "new things are made familiar, and familiar things are made new.'' Dr. Henry B. Veatch is that kind of writer. Professor of Philosophy at Indiana University since 1937 and a contributor to many periodicals, including THE THOMIST, Dr. Veatch presents, with the Nichomachean Ethics as his chief source, the case for rationality in personal conduct as opposed to the Irrational Man described by William Barrett. Disclaiming all intention of polemic, he writes with clarity and conviction the kind of popularization that only one who is completely in control of the literature could produce. Confining himself solely to individual ethics, and excluding religious as well as political and social questions, he uses the moral doctrine and the method of Aristotle in a modern effort to set forth and justify a rational system of ethics. Especially helpful are the abundant examples from literature, both classical and current, as well as from everyday experience. In eight chapters he presents Aristotle's teaching on man's last end, the moral and intellectual virtues, the passions, impediments to free choice, and at the same time exposes the flaws and intrinsic contradictions of ethical relativism ("the badge of the modern intellectual''), determinism, and existentialism. Dr. Veatch writes 338 BOOK REVIEWS better than professors are expected to and brightens every chapter with illustrations ranging from Plato to the comic strips. On some points not all Aristotelians will agree with Dr. Veatch, as, for example, the limitations he imposes on the doctrine of the mean of virtue. There is an unexpected touch of scepticism on p. 203. But this work belongs on all the booklists handed out to undergraduate students of moral philosophy. It is highly recommended as an extremely valuable supplement, not as a text. It will be better appreciated by the students than by their teachersDr . Veatch is not awed by academic position, and he offers some frank comments on professors of ethics that many will not relish. Rational Man is far superior to most of the recent works on reading lists for ethics. Dominican House of Studies Washington, D. 0. DAVID A. O'CONNELL, O.P. ...