Character

by Joel J. Kupperman

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.

Paperback

First published October 24, 1991

Reviews

[Ben Thomas · Rating 1 out of 5]

The two greatest skills a humanities degree can give you are to a) BS effectively and b) take apart other people’s overintellectualized BS effectively. This book reminded me how useful the first one can be and how much I adore doing the second.