Making Men Moral

Making Men Moral explores fundamental questions about law, morality, and the role of government in shaping citizens' character and conduct. Robert P. George examines key debates in political and legal philosophy while engaging with critics of legal moralism. The book analyzes arguments from classical thinkers like Aristotle and Aquinas alongside contemporary liberal theorists. George investigates whether laws should aim to make people morally better or simply prevent harm to others, focusing on issues like obscenity, gambling, and private consensual conduct. Through analysis of legal cases and philosophical arguments, George defends the traditional view that law has a legitimate role in moral education and character formation. The work challenges modern liberal assumptions about state neutrality and individual autonomy. The text contributes to ongoing discussions about the relationship between personal freedom and community standards, raising questions about how democratic societies balance individual rights with collective moral development.

Readers view this as a scholarly defense of legal moralism and critique of liberalism. Law professors and philosophy students frequently assign and reference it in academic work. Positive reviews focus on: - Clear arguments for government's role in moral education - Strong engagement with liberal theorists like Hart and Dworkin - Historical analysis of laws shaping public morality - Rigorous philosophical reasoning Common criticisms: - Dense academic writing style - Assumes familiarity with political philosophy - Some find arguments for morals legislation unconvincing Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (23 ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (12 ratings) Notable reader comments: "Excellent philosophical argumentation, though requires careful reading" - Goodreads reviewer "Too theoretical for practical application" - Amazon reviewer "Best contemporary defense of legal enforcement of morality" - Philosophy professor on Academia.edu The book generates more discussion in academic circles than among general readers.

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🔹 Robert P. George has been called "America's most influential conservative Christian thinker" by The New York Times Magazine and serves as McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence at Princeton University. 🔹 The book challenges John Stuart Mill's harm principle and argues that law can and should play a role in making citizens moral, not just preventing harm to others. 🔹 Making Men Moral (1993) sparked significant debate in legal philosophy by defending legal moralism - the view that law can legitimately be used to prohibit immoral conduct even when it doesn't directly harm others. 🔹 The work draws heavily on natural law theory, which was developed by classical thinkers like Aristotle and Thomas Aquinas, applying these ancient principles to modern legal and moral debates. 🔹 Though published nearly 30 years ago, the book's arguments remain highly relevant to contemporary debates about issues like drug legalization, pornography regulation, and same-sex marriage.