Radical ethical naturalism

In this article, I identify - and clear up - two problems for contemporary neo-Aristotelian ethical naturalism. The first I call the problem of alienation; the second the problem of conservatism. I argue that these problems will persist, both for hard' and soft' forms of ethical naturalism, unless ethical naturalists adopt what I call Practical Realism' about essential human form. Such a Practical Realism leaves open the possibility of radical social and political criticism - I therefore suggest that contemporary ethical naturalists ought to be more interested in exploring the affinities their view shares with Marxist political thought.