Much of the work that has been done on virtue has been devoted to getting virtue ethics a seat at the theoretical table. It has been concerned with showing that virtue ethics can provide a satisfactory account of right action to rival accounts offered by consequentialism and deontology.
This volume of essays explores the nitty-gritty details of particular virtues. It includes original contributions from a number of leading scholars in virtue ethics. Most of the virtues discussed – such as ambition, cheerfulness, creativity, magnificence, pride, wit, and wonder – have been almost wholly neglected by contemporary ethicists. The volume also includes coverage of other virtues that have received a fair amount of attention in recent years, such as charity, hope, justice, practical wisdom, and temperance. Here the essays address largely ignored dimensions of these virtues and show how these discussions can enrich our understanding of neglected virtues.
Neglected Virtues is a welcome addition to the scholarly literature on virtue ethics. Its focus on individual virtues, while not meant to be exhaustive, will open new avenues for future research in this rapidly growing area of ethics and moral philosophy.
Introduction
Glen Pettigrove and Christine Swanton
I. Neglected Virtues
1. The Virtue of Ambition
Julia Annas
2. The Perils of Magnificence
Nancy E. Snow
3. Is Pride a Crown of Virtue?
Michelle Mason Bizri
4. Wonder and Environmental Virtue
Liezl van Zyl
5. Creativity as a Virtue
Christine Swanton
6. The Comic Sword of Truth and Justice: Humor as a Moral Virtue
Micah Lott
7. Cheerfulness
Glen Pettigrove
II. Neglected Dimensions of Virtue
8. The Aesthetic Dimension of Practical Wisdom
Tal Brewer
9. Aristotle on Being Unjust to Oneself
Daniel C. Russell and Mark LeBar
10. Temperance: Self-Control or Self-Possession?
Jennifer A. Frey
11. Charity and Ethical Naturalism
John Hacker-Wright
12. The Virtue of Hope
Nicholas Ryan Smith
Biography
Glen Pettigrove holds the Chair in Moral Philosophy at the University of Glasgow, UK. His research focuses on virtues and moral emotions. He is the author of Forgiveness and Love (2016) and numerous articles in academic journals, including Ethics, Nous, and Philosophy and Phenomenological Research.
Christine Swanton is an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Auckland, New Zealand. She is the author of The Virtue Ethics of Hume and Nietzsche (2015), Virtue Ethics: A Pluralist View (2005), and Freedom: A Coherence Theory (1992).
"This excellent book makes an important and timely contribution to the virtue ethics literature by focussing on under-theorized virtues such as creativity, ambition, wonder, and humour. The contributors include many of the world’s leading theorists in virtue ethics. It is highly recommended reading for scholars and students in moral philosophy." – Alfred Archer, Tilburg University, The Netherlands
"With the renewed emphasis on the virtues, most recent work has focussed attention on the typical Aristotelian moral virtues. This volume presents a delightfully fresh approach, addressing neglected – but important – virtues that also deserve the attention of those working in the virtue and vice tradition." – Craig A. Boyd, Saint Louis University, USA
