Tracing the views on moral life of such past philosophers as Plato, Aristotle and Kant, as well as of such theorists as Durkheim, Freud, Piaget and Kohlberg, the author sets forth a full discussion of the nature and educational implications of the idea of moral virtue.

Introduction. Part 1: Ideas of Virtue in Moral Philosophy. 1. Virtue as Knowledge: Socrates and Plato. 2. Virtue as Character: Aristotle’s Ethics. 3. Virtue as Self-Determination: Rousseau and Kant. 4. Modern Moral Philosophy: Two Concepts of Morality. Part 2: Social Science and Moral Development 5. Moral Education as Socialisation: Emile Durkheim. 6. Psychoanalysis and Moral Character: Freud, Lane and Neill. 7. Cognitive Development: Piaget and Kohlberg. 8. Moral Development in Progressive and Traditional Educational Thought. Part 3: Virtue, Reason and Education. 9. Virtue and Passion: Self-Control and Expression. 10. Virtue and Motivation: Obligation and Aspiration. 11. Virtue and Reason: Problem-Solving and Clarification. 12. Education and the Virtues: Objectivity, Subjectivity and Teaching. Notes and References. Bibliography. Index.