John Kekes is the author of many books, including The Roots of Evil, The Illusions of Egalitarianism, and The Art of Life, all from Cornell.

Kekes advances a broad, nontechnical argument that considers the adversities inherent in the human condition and assists in the achievement of good lives. The possession of moral wisdom is according to him a matter of degree: more of it makes life better, less makes it worse.... Kekes calls attention to aspects of our inner life that have been neglected because of our cultural inattention to moral wisdom.(International Journal of Psychology) Drawing upon insights from both philosophy and literature—key writers deployed by Kekes include Sophocles, Aristotle, Plato, and Stuart Hampshire—the whole book is characterized by clarity in exposition, a firm sense of direction, judicious use of examples, and a wonderful blend of realism about limitations of all kinds together with a disciplined optimism about the possibilities still open to us in building lives which are both moral and fulfilling.... Moral philosophers and moral educators have much to gain from a careful reading of this work.(The Heythrop Journal) John Kekes's project has been to encourage others to be realistic about what it takes to make good lives for themselves in a troubled, flawed, and apparently contingent universe.- Preston Jones, Cambridge School of Dallas (Touchstone) Kekes argues in this finely crafted book that moral wisdom is the most important virtue for human beings today. In the absence of a generally shared conception of Good, each of us must devise his or her own plan for a good life. To achieve one's plan is no easy task, and to confront the obstacles that inevitably ensue, wisdom is essential. This virtue consists, Kekes thinks, of three modes: moral imagination, self-knowledge, and moral depth. Kekes addresses with insight topics that have often been neglected.(Library Journal) One of the most important and incisive contributions to the current retrieval of virtue ethics.(Theological Studies)

John Kekes is the author of many books, including The Roots of Evil, The Illusions of Egalitarianism, and The Art of Life, all from Cornell.

Kekes advances a broad, nontechnical argument that considers the adversities inherent in the human condition and assists in the achievement of good lives. The possession of moral wisdom is according to him a matter of degree: more of it makes life better, less makes it worse.... Kekes calls attention to aspects of our inner life that have been neglected because of our cultural inattention to moral wisdom.(International Journal of Psychology) Drawing upon insights from both philosophy and literature—key writers deployed by Kekes include Sophocles, Aristotle, Plato, and Stuart Hampshire—the whole book is characterized by clarity in exposition, a firm sense of direction, judicious use of examples, and a wonderful blend of realism about limitations of all kinds together with a disciplined optimism about the possibilities still open to us in building lives which are both moral and fulfilling.... Moral philosophers and moral educators have much to gain from a careful reading of this work.(The Heythrop Journal) John Kekes's project has been to encourage others to be realistic about what it takes to make good lives for themselves in a troubled, flawed, and apparently contingent universe.- Preston Jones, Cambridge School of Dallas (Touchstone) Kekes argues in this finely crafted book that moral wisdom is the most important virtue for human beings today. In the absence of a generally shared conception of Good, each of us must devise his or her own plan for a good life. To achieve one's plan is no easy task, and to confront the obstacles that inevitably ensue, wisdom is essential. This virtue consists, Kekes thinks, of three modes: moral imagination, self-knowledge, and moral depth. Kekes addresses with insight topics that have often been neglected.(Library Journal) One of the most important and incisive contributions to the current retrieval of virtue ethics.(Theological Studies)

John Kekes is the author of many books, including The Roots of Evil, The Illusions of Egalitarianism, and The Art of Life, all from Cornell.

Kekes advances a broad, nontechnical argument that considers the adversities inherent in the human condition and assists in the achievement of good lives. The possession of moral wisdom is according to him a matter of degree: more of it makes life better, less makes it worse.... Kekes calls attention to aspects of our inner life that have been neglected because of our cultural inattention to moral wisdom.(International Journal of Psychology) Drawing upon insights from both philosophy and literature—key writers deployed by Kekes include Sophocles, Aristotle, Plato, and Stuart Hampshire—the whole book is characterized by clarity in exposition, a firm sense of direction, judicious use of examples, and a wonderful blend of realism about limitations of all kinds together with a disciplined optimism about the possibilities still open to us in building lives which are both moral and fulfilling.... Moral philosophers and moral educators have much to gain from a careful reading of this work.(The Heythrop Journal) John Kekes's project has been to encourage others to be realistic about what it takes to make good lives for themselves in a troubled, flawed, and apparently contingent universe.- Preston Jones, Cambridge School of Dallas (Touchstone) Kekes argues in this finely crafted book that moral wisdom is the most important virtue for human beings today. In the absence of a generally shared conception of Good, each of us must devise his or her own plan for a good life. To achieve one's plan is no easy task, and to confront the obstacles that inevitably ensue, wisdom is essential. This virtue consists, Kekes thinks, of three modes: moral imagination, self-knowledge, and moral depth. Kekes addresses with insight topics that have often been neglected.(Library Journal) One of the most important and incisive contributions to the current retrieval of virtue ethics.(Theological Studies)