The Book “Dependent Rational Animals

The book “Dependent Rational Animals: Why Human Beings Need the Virtues” is written by Alasdair C. Macintyre. The author has used the book to convey different messages about human beings. For example, the author presents positive arguments   about human beings. The book helps people understand why human beings are   considered to be animals. Human beings are animals like other animals and they should be treated with care like other animals. The author compares human beings and other animals. For example, the author begins by viewing human beings as animals. The human beings dependent on their bodies and are linked biologically in different way   with other animals or members of the animal kingdom (MacIntyre, 2001).

In addition, human beings are venerable like other animals. Some people are disabled like the sick. The author has used the book to differentiate the “virtue of acknowledged dependence” and the most common virtue, “the virtue of independent practical   reasoners”. In the book, the author analyzes man in details in relation to the animal kingdom. The author has highlighted various things in the book that can help human beings function as rational beings. For example, the author has analyzed how human beings are vulnerable   to various things like physical dangers and harm. He has also analyzed how human beings are vulnerable to dependence. People should understand the issues listed in the book as they help human being become rational beings.

Moreover, Macintyre argues that a person should be both independent and dependent. This helps one exist in the human social order. It also helps one contribute to common   good in the society. Macintyre believes that the dependent and independent behaviors result from our social relationships (MacIntyre, 2001).The author has also shown how people behave and react to situations. He argues that people learn how to behave and react to situations. Learning is a new way of acquiring ideas from the outside world. People learn how to behave and react from the outside word. The author claims that the learning begins at infancy and extends over ones life time. Hence, human beings learn how to behave and react continuously. The author has used various examples to illustrate how human beings learn how to behave and react. For example, the author has used language to illustrate the concept of learning. Learning language begins as mimicry. Young children mimic the conversation of the care givers and learn how to talk.

The author argues that people learn behaviors differently from languages. The author analyzes the difference between human beings and animals in the first six chapters. For example, animas lack intelligence and they lack language and   beliefs .In addition, animas lack practical reason. On the other hand, human beiges are intelligent and have language and beliefs. Also, human beings have practical reason. This makes it easy for human beings to function effectively unlike other animals. The   seventh chapter through the eleventh chapter focuses on the disability of human beings. Human beings are disabled or need help from other people. For example, young   children, the sick and old people need help. Also, people who are permanently disabled need help from other people. The author argues that an account that does not support the disability in human beings is not useful. Instead, an account that supports the virtues of human dependence on other people and independence is useful (MacIntyre, 2001).

Reference

MacIntyre, A. (2001).Dependent Rational Animals: Why Human Beings Need the Virtues. Open Court Publishing

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