Alasdair Chalmers MacIntyre (born 1929) is a Scottish philosopher primarily known for his contribution to moral and political philosophy but known also for his work in history of philosophy and theology. He is Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Contemporary Aristotelian Studies in Ethics and Politics (CASEP) at London Metropolitan University, and an Emeritus Professor of Philosophy at the University of Notre Dame. During his lengthy academic career, he also taught at Brandeis University, Duke University, Vanderbilt University, and Boston University. Macintyre's After Virtue (1981) is widely recognised as one of the most important works of Anglophone moral and political philosophy in the 20th century.
MacIntyre was born on 12 January 1929 in Glasgow, to John and Emily (Chalmers) MacIntyre. He was educated at Queen Mary College, London, and has a Master of Arts from the University of Manchester and from the University of Oxford. He began his teaching career in 1951 at Manchester University. He taught at the University of Leeds, the University of Essex and the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, before moving to the US in around 1969. MacIntyre has been something of an intellectual nomad, having taught at many universities in the US. He has held the following positions:
- Professor of History and Ideas, Brandeis University (1969 or 1970),
- Dean of the College of Arts and Professor of Philosophy, Boston University (1972),
- Henry Luce Professor, Wellesley College (1980),
- W. Alton Jones Professor, Vanderbilt University (1982),
- Professor of Philosophy, University of Notre Dame (1985),
- Professor of Philosophy, Vanderbilt University (1985),
- Visiting scholar, Whitney Humanities Center, Yale University (1988),
- McMahon-Hank Professor of Philosophy, Notre Dame (1989), and
- Arts & Sciences Professor of Philosophy, Duke University (1995–1997).
From 2000 he was the Rev. John A. O'Brien Senior Research Professor in the Department of Philosophy (emeritus since 2010) at the University of Notre Dame, Indiana USA. He is also Professor Emerit and Emeritus at Duke University. In April 2005 he was elected to the American Philosophical Society, and in July 2010 became Senior Research Fellow at London Metropolitan University's Centre for Contemporary Aristotelian Studies in Ethics and Politics.
- Alasdair MacIntyre Rev. John A. O'Brien Senior Research Professor of Philosophy Emeritus. University of Notre Dame Dept. of Philosophy. (Faculty website)
- Political Philosophy of Alasdair MacIntyre Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, by Ted Clayton. Central Michigan University.
- MacIntyre Against Morality, by John Haldane. First Things May 2017.
- The Achievement of Alasdair MacIntyre, by Edward T. Oakes, SJ. First Things August 1996.
- Daniel Keating: The Ethical Project Of Alasdair MacIntyre LYCEUM (ISSN number 1934-2438).
- The Only Vote Worth Casting in November by Alasdair MacIntyre.
- PLSC 118: THE MORAL FOUNDATIONS OF POLITICS Open Yale Courses. "The main focus of this lecture is the communitarianism of Alasdair MacIntyre. Professor Shapiro introduces this school by exploring the symptoms of the problem wrought by the Enlightenment. One is the rise of emotivism and complete moral subjectivism--that is, the abandonment of the instruments for making moral judgments as a consequence of trying to justify philosophy from the ground up."
- International Society for MacIntyrean Enquiry. "ISME’s work is inspired by Alasdair MacIntyre’s critique of contemporary ideas and institutions. ISME is dedicated to the theoretical and practical pursuit of the human good and seeks to bring together the different traditions that are informed by this Aristotelian principle."
