Julia E Annas

Interests

Teaching

Ancient philosophy (general), Ancient ethics, Ancient political thought, Ancient philosophy of religion, Ancient epistemology, History of ethics, Virtue ethics, Philosophy of Happiness.

Research

Ancient ethics, Virtue ethics (ancient and contemporary), Eudaimonism, Philosophy of happiness.

Courses

Scholarly Contributions

Books

• Annas, J. E. (2015). Ancient Philosophy, a Very Short Introduction, Spanish translation. Editorial Oceano de Mexico.
• Annas, J. E. (2015). Ancient Philosophy, a Very Short Introduction, Turkish translation. Turkey
  More info

  My book Ancient Philosophy, a Very Short Introduction, has been translated into Turkish.
• Annas, J. E. (2015). Plato, a Very Short Introduction, translation into Modern Greek. Athens, Greece
  More info

  My book Plato, a Very Short Introduction, has been translated into Modern Greek.
• Annas, J. E. (2014). Ancient Philosophy - a Very Short Introduction - Greek translation. Oxford University Press.
  More info

  A Greek translation of my Very Short Introduction to Ancient Philosophy.
• Annas, J. E. (2014). Ancient Philosophy - a Very Short Introduction - Slovene translation. Oxford University Press.
  More info

  A translation into Slovene of my Very Short Introduction to Ancient Philosophy,
• Annas, J. E. (2014). The Modes of Scepticism - revised Japanes translation. Revised Japanese translation: Iwanami Shoten.
  More info

  Iwani Shoten are bringing out a second, revised edition of the Japanese translation of *The Modes of Scepticism*, written together with Jonathan Barnes. I have been in contact with the original translator about some issues in the text,
• Annas, J. E. (2013). Ancient Philosophy: a Very Short Introduction.
  More info

  This book was translated into Malaysian. It also became part of the Oxford Very Short Introduction Online Series.
• Annas, J. E. (2013). Plato: a Very Short Introduction.
  More info

  This book was translated into Malaysian. It also became part of the Oxford Very Short Introductions Online Series
• Annas, J. E. (2012). Ancient Philosophy, a Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press.
  More info

  This has now been translated into Turkish.;Your Role: Sole author;Full Citation: Ancient Philosophy, a Very Short Introduction;
• Annas, J. E. (2012). Plato, A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press.
  More info

  This has now been translated into Malay;Your Role: Sole author;Full Citation: Plato, a Very Short Introduction;

Chapters

• Annas, J. E. (2012). Law in Plato's Republic. In Presocratics and Plato. Parmenides Press.
  More info

  This is a chapter in the Festschrift for Charles Kahn, *Presocratics and Plato*.;Your Role: Sole author;
• Annas, J. E. (2012). Plato's *Laws* and Cicero's *De Legibus*. In Plato, Aristotle and the Pythagoreans. Cambridge University Press.
  More info

  This is a chapter of *Plato, Aristotle and Pythagoras in the 1st Century BC*, edited by David Sedley and Malcolm Schofield, Cambridge University Press.;Your Role: Sole author;
• Annas, J. E. (2016). 'Which Variety of Virtue Ethics?'. In Varieties of Virtue Ethics(pp 35-52.). Pakgrace/Macmillan.
  More info

  Compares the accounts of virtue in Aristotle and in Nietzsche with a view to determining which, if either, of them, is consistent with the teachability of virtue.
• Annas, J. E. (2016). Learning Virtue Rules: the Issue of Thick Concepts'. In Developing the Virtues: Integrating Perspectives(pp 224-234). Oxford University Press.
  More info

  Discusses how virtue rules figure in the application of virtue-ethical theories, showing why some philosophical objections fail.
• Annas, J. E. (2015). Plato's Defence of Justice: the Wrong Kind of Reason?. In The Quest for the Good Life(pp 49-65). Oxford University Press.
• Annas, J. E. (2014). Introduction. In Cicero's *De Finibus*. Cambridge University Press.
  More info

  This is the Introduction to the collection of essays on Cicero's *De Finibus* which I am coediting with Gabor Betegh. The introduction discusses the recent rediscovery of philosophically central issues in this long neglected work, and also introduces each of the contributors.
• Annas, J. E. (2014). Varieties of Virtue Ethics. In Varieties of Virtue Ethics.
  More info

  This is the presentation I gave at the Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtue conference in Oxford (Jan 2015). It is now bing revised for submission to a Proceedings of the conference.
• Annas, J. E. (2014). Why Virtue Ethics Has No Problem with Right Action. In Oxford Studies in Normative Ethics.
  More info

  This paper follows up from my book *Intelligent Virtue* by considering in more depth the issue of right action and virtuous action, and meets criticisms that virtue ethics does not provide an adequate account of the kind of demand made on the agent by right action.;Full Citation: Why Virtue Ethics Has No Problem With Right Action;Status: Paper in Preparation;
• Annas, J. E., & Annas, J. E. (2014). Varieties of Virtue. In Varieties of Virtue Ethics.

Journals/Publications

• Annas, J. E. (2015). Applying Virtue. Journal of Applied Philosophy, 32(1).
• Annas, J. E. (2015). Precis and Reply to Comments on my book Intelligent Virtue. Journal of Ethics.
• Annas, J. E. (2015). Virtue and Duty: Negotiating Between Different Ethical Traditions. Journal of Value Inquiry, 49(4), 605-618.
• Annas, J. E. (2015). Virtue, Skill and Vice. Etica e Politica (Ethics and Politics).
• Annas, J. E. (2012). Law in Plato's Political Thought. Korean Journal of Ancient Philosophy.
  More info

  This is the published version of a paper I gave at Seoul National University in 2011. It was not refereed, but I had discussed and improved it since its delivery.;Full Citation: Law in Plato's Political Thought;

Proceedings Publications

• Annas, J. E. (2013, June). Virtue and Law in Plato's *Republic*. In Presocratics and Plato: Festschrift at Delphi for Charles Kahn.

Presentations

• Annas, J. E. (2016, January). Varieties of Virtue. Conference on Virtue Education. Oxford, England: Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtue, University of Birmingahm.
  More info

  See above on published paper, which resulted from this presentation.
• Annas, J. E. (2016, October). 'Virtue and Heroism' and 'Virtue, Vice and Evil'. Classics and Philosophy Annual Lectures. University of Michigan Classics and Philosophy Departments: University of Michigan.
  More info

  The two lectures are in a series given annually to an audience of both philosophers and classicists. Each discusses how a virtue ethics on Aristotelian lines deals with an issue in ethical philosophy.
• Annas, J. E. (2016, October). Comments on Christopher Gill's work on Stoic Ethics. Workshop on the work of Christopher Gill. Yale University: Yale University.
  More info

  Comments and discussion at a seminar on a MS by Christopher Gill on Stoic Ethics.
• Annas, J. E. (2016, October). Is Stoic Virtue as Off-putting as it Seems?. Stoicon 2016. New York City: Modern Stoicism/Stoic Week 2016.
  More info

  A presentation at the New York Stoicon, an event for members of the public interested in Stoicism as an available way of life.
• Annas, J. E. (2016, September). Comments on meaning in life and eudaimonism. Workshop on the work of Susan Wolf. Oslo, Norway: Centre for the Study of Mind in Nature, University of Oslo.
  More info

  Comments on the work of Susan Wolf in her publications on meaning in life, at a workshop I organized through the Centre.
• Annas, J. E. (2016, September). Plato on Law. Lecture at the Law School, University of Athens, Greece. Law School, University of Athens, Greece: University of Athens.
• Annas, J. E. (2016, September). Plato on law and the origin of law. Seminar at the University of Oslo. Oslo, Norway: University of Oslo.
  More info

  Plato's evolving attitude to the relation of law to virtue and virtue education, and he origins of natural law.
• Annas, J. E. (2013, January). Why virtue ethics has no problem with right action. 5th Arizona Symposium on Normative Ethics. Tucson.
  More info

  This is one of three keynote addresses to the conference
• Annas, J. E. (2013, January). Why virtue ethics has no problem with right action. Invited lecture at the Philosophy Department, University of California, Davis. Davis, California.
• Annas, J. E. (2013, March). Plato's Defense of Justice in the *Republic*: the Wrong Kind of Reason?. The Rosamund Kent Sprague Lecture for 2013, University of South Carolina. Colulmbia, S Carolina.
• Annas, J. E. (2013, May). Why virtue ethics has no problem with right action. University of Toronto annual philosophy graduate student conference. University of Toronto.
  More info

  I was invited by the graduates in the Philosophy Department at the University of Toronto to give the keynote lecture at their annual conference, which was organized round virtue ethics.
• Annas, J. E. (2013, September). Changing from within: Plato's later political thinking. The Hall Lecture for 2013, Department of Philosophy, University of Iowa. University of Iowa.
• Annas, J. E. (2013, Septemebr). Law, virtue and religion in Plato and Beyond. The two O'Neill Lectures for 2013, University of New Mexico, Philosophy Department. Albuquerque, New Mexico.
  More info

  These were two connected lectures given to the Philosophy Department and the wider university audience.
• Annas, J. E. (2014, June). Learning Virtue Rules: the Issue of Thick Concepts. Conference on Developing Virtue. University of Notre Dame: Notre Dame.
  More info

  This was a contribution to an interdisciplinary conference on virtue development, with philosophers and psychologists, at the University of Notre Dame. It will be published in revised form in the Proceedings of the conference.
• Annas, J. E. (2015, January). Which variety of virtue?. Varieties of Virtue. Oriel College, Oxford: Jubilee Centre for the Study of Character and Virtue, University of Birmingham, UK.
• Annas, J. E. (2015, October). Applying Virtue to Ethics. Annual Conference of the Society for Applied Philosophy. Oxford, England: Society for Applied Philosophy.
  More info

  This paper shows how virtue ethics provides 'action guidance' and show how to do the right thing. It also shows how virtue ethics can meet the objection that it cannot account for duty and obligation.
• Annas, J. E. (2015, October). Virtue and Heroism. Annual Lindley Lecture, University of Kansas. University of Kansas: The Lindley Lecture Foundation.
• Annas, J. E. (2012, 2012-04-01). Author Meets Critics: Intelligent Virtue. Pacific Division Meeting of the American Philosophical Association. San Diego.
  More info

  This was an Author Meets Critics session at the Pacific Division on my book *Intelligent Virtue*. I was honored to have Christine Swanton, Robert Adams and Nancy Snow comment on my book. Neera Badhwar organized the session and was the chair.;Invited: Yes;Type of Presentation: Academic Conference;
• Annas, J. E. (2012, 2012-04-01). Dewey Lecture 2012. Pacific Division Meeting, American Philosophical Association. San Diego.
  More info

  The Dewey Lecture is an invited lecture in each Division each year, in which a senior philosopher is asked to present an intellectual autobiography and reflections on philosophy.;Your Role: Sole Author;Invited: Yes;Type of Presentation: Invited/Plenary Speaker;
• Annas, J. E. (2012, 2012-06-01). Virtue Ethics and Feeling an Obligation. Center for the Study of Mind in Nature, University of Oslo/ Swedish Collegium for Advanced Study. Swedish Collegium for Advanced Study, Uppsala, Sweden.
  More info

  This was a more developed version of a project which had a preliminary presentation in Oslo last year. The project is a cross-cultural and cross-disciplinary one on expressions of normativity in different cultures.;Invited: Yes;Type of Presentation: Academic Conference;
• Annas, J. E. (2012, 2012-08-01). Why Virtue Ethics Has No Problem with Right Action. RoME - Rocky Mountains Ethics Workshop. Boulder, Colorado.
  More info

  I was one of three keynote speakers at the RoME annual ethics conference in Boulder.;Your Role: Sole Author;Invited: Yes;Type of Presentation: Invited/Plenary Speaker;
• Annas, J. E. (2012, 2012-09-01). Cicero: virtue and the law of Rome. The Benedict Lectures 2012. Boston University.
  More info

  This is the second Benedict Lecture on Virtue and the Rule of Law in Plato and Beyond;Invited: Yes;Type of Presentation: Invited/Plenary Speaker;
• Annas, J. E. (2012, 2012-09-01). Philo of Alexandria: virtue and the Law of Moses. The Benedict Lectures 2012. Boston University.
  More info

  This is the third Benedict Lecture, on Virtue and the Rule of Law in Plato and Beyond;Invited: Yes;Type of Presentation: Invited/Plenary Speaker;
• Annas, J. E. (2012, 2012-09-01). Plato: virtue under the rule of law. The Benedict Lectures 2012, Boston University. Boston University.
  More info

  This is the first of 3 Benedict Lectures at Boston University, Virtue and the Rule of Law in Plato and Beyond;Your Role: Sole author;Invited: Yes;Type of Presentation: Invited/Plenary Speaker;
• Annas, J. E. (2012, 2012-12-01). Charles Kahn, George Grote and Plato's Later Political Thought. Conference in honor of Charles Kahn's retirement. University of Pennsylvania.
  More info

  This lecture discussed the work of Charles Kahn in historical perspective as a great Platonic scholar.;Invited: Yes;Type of Presentation: Invited/Plenary Speaker;
• Annas, J. E. (2012, 2012-12-01). Plato's Defense of Justice: the Wrong Kind of Reason?. The Minnestoa (Minnesota Ancient Philosophy Group). University of Minnesota Twin Cities.
  More info

  This was a paper given to the annual meeting of the Minnestoa (the annual ancient philosophy workshop of philosophers in the Twin Cities area).;Invited: Yes;Type of Presentation: Invited/Plenary Speaker;
• Annas, J. E. (2012, 2012-12-01). Why Virtue Ethics Has No Problem with Right Action. The Philip Quinn Lecture 2012. University of Notre Dame.
  More info

  This is the annual lecture at Notre Dame in honor of Philip Quinn;Invited: Yes;Type of Presentation: Invited/Plenary Speaker;

Reviews

• Annas, J. E. (2008. Law and Value in the Stoics.
  More info

  'Law and Value in the Stoics": a discussion review of Katja Maria Vogt, *Law, Reason and the Cosmic City*. ;Your Role: Sole researcher and author;
• Annas, J. E. (2013. Review of F. Fontanella, *Politica e diritto naturale nel De Legibus di Cicerone. Classical Review.
  More info

  This is a review for *Classical Review*.