Character

ISBN-13: 9780195096545 / Angielski / Miękka / 1995 / 208 str.

Joel J. Kupperman

Opis

We often speak of a person's character--good or bad, strong or weak--and think of it as a guide to how that person will behave in a given situation. Oddly, however, philosophers writing about ethics have had virtually nothing to say about the role of character in ethical behavior. What is character? How does it relate to having a self, or to the process of moral decision? Are we responsible for our characters? Character answers these questions, and goes on to examine the place of character in ethical philosophy. Both the Kantian and utilitarian traditions, Kupperman argues, have largely ignored the ways in which decisions are integrated over time, and instead provide a "snapshot" model of moral decision. Kupperman demonstrates the deficiencies of a number of classic and contemporary ethical theories that do not take account of the idea of character, and offers his own character-based theory. Along the way he touches on such subjects as personal identity, the importance of happiness, moral education, and the definition of a valuable life.

Recenzje

'It is a rare pleasure to find a work in moral philosophy that connects so straightforwardly with questions asked by ordinary persons in ordinary life. This subtle and sensible book has much to offer anyone who wants to think more clearly about character and who is concerned with strategies for instilling strong and good character in the young.' Times Literary Supplement