Episode #246 ... The Myth of the Self-Made Person - Alasdair Macintyre
Summary
Host Stephen West explores Alasdair MacIntyre’s *Dependent Rational Animals*, challenging the modern myth of the autonomous, self-sufficient individual. Drawing on Aristotelian-Thomistic philosophy, MacIntyre argues that humans are inherently dependent creatures whose rationality and virtues like mercy and generosity develop through communal care. The episode contrasts this view with Enlightenment liberalism, suggesting that true flourishing and political health depend on acknowledging our shared vulnerability and interdependence.
Topics discussed
Introduction: The myth of the self-sufficient good person
Human dependence from infancy to old age
Virtues of dependence: Justice, courage, and mercy
Aquinas on mercy as practical reason, not just passion
Rationality as a developed capacity through care
Humans as dependent rational animals
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Networks of giving and receiving vs. individualism
Reframing altruism and sacrifice in relationships
Common goods and the nature of true friendship
Politics and measuring societal success by the vulnerable
Conclusion: Market logic vs. moral tradition
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