Aristotle Against Neoliberalism: Aristotelian Ethics and the Western crisis

This seminar is organised by the Centre for Contemporary Aristotelian Studies in Ethics and Politics (CASEP). It will take place on 30 June at 16:00 at City St George's, University of London. The event is free and open to the public. Those interested are invited to register here; details of the specific room will be provided closer to the date of the event.

Speaker: Francesco Rigoli

Title: Aristotle Against Neoliberalism: How Aristotelian Ethics Can Lead the West Out of Crisis

Abstract: The work of social scientists like Thomas Piketty, Robert Putnam, and Peter Turchin has shown that Western societies are experiencing a profound, multi-layered crisis—economic, social, environmental, geopolitical, and perhaps even moral. In this talk, I argue that understanding the true nature of this crisis requires interpreting it through a philosophical and ethical framework. Specifically, I contend that a Thomistic-Aristotelian perspective offers crucial insight into the deeper social, economic, and cultural roots of the crisis, while also suggesting a possible path beyond it. I argue that a Thomistic-Aristotelian ethical analysis is essential for grasping the underlying dynamics of the present crisis, and that this framework is preferable to alternative ethical approaches such as postmodernism, utilitarianism, and neo-Kantian philosophy, among others. More broadly, I emphasise the central importance of ethical theory both for social analysis and for the reconstruction of a political narrative capable of responding meaningfully to contemporary challenges. Finally, I examine how a Thomistic-Aristotelian framework can provide a robust ethical foundation for an ambitious yet realistic democratic socialist political programme adapted to the conditions of contemporary Western societies.