Přehled o publikaci

Ethics and Metis by Petr Slováček deals with issues of ethics, human nature and social cooperation. The key concept of the book is metis – practical, flexible wisdom, which in ancient thought symbolises the ability to adapt to complex situations. The author develops this concept in the context of moral dilemmas that appear not only in individual ethics, but also in social and political structures. Slováček connects ancient intellectual traditions with modern challenges, such as the polarization of society, the relationship between individual and collective interests and the problem of justice. He critically defines himself against excessive moralising and emphasises the importance of empathy, imagination and intuition in decision-making in uncertain conditions. The book draws on a wide range of sources – from Greek tragedy and Plato’s philosophy to current findings from neuroscience and evolutionary biology. Through the analysis of human action, he shows that ethics should not be a dogmatic system, but a dynamic search for a balance between universal principles and specific situations.