After Virtue emerges as a seminal commentary on contemporary society through the lens of Aristotelian philosophy, sparking vigorous debate across multiple academic disciplines such as linguistics, rhetoric, political science, religion, and ethics. By the late 1980s, the book's influence extended into undergraduate ethics curricula, marking a renewed interest in the virtue tradition. Yet, the discussion about the essence of virtues and the sustainability of the virtue tradition continues unabated.

MacIntyre redefines virtues by anchoring them in the continuum of human history, diverging significantly from the traditional Aristotelian view, which hinges on an ahistorical understanding of human nature. His approach invites criticism of historicism and relativism, acknowledging that virtues are one among many human traditions. Despite this, MacIntyre argues for the virtue tradition's superiority through dialectical exchanges with competing ideologies. Although his portrayal of philosophers like Kant, Hume, and even Aristotle has met with criticism, MacIntyre believes that ongoing dialogue will illuminate and rectify any shortcomings in his theory. A crucial aspect of his argument involves understanding the transition from the classical-Christian medieval synthesis to the Age of Reason, which led to the displacement of the virtue tradition.

MacIntyre's earlier works, such as Marxism: An Interpretation (later revised to Marxism and Christianity) and Against the Self-Images of the Age: Essays on Ideology and Philosophy, lay the groundwork for his cultural critique and narrative exploration. In Whose Justice? Which Rationality?, a follow-up to After Virtue, MacIntyre deepens his investigation into how different traditions perceive rationality and justice, particularly contrasting Aristotelian and Humean frameworks. He ultimately champions the Aristotelian-Thomistic synthesis for its resilience in addressing critiques and its vindication through extended dialectical discourse.