Ethics of Anger

Court D. Lewis is associate professor of philosophy at Pellissippi State Community College.Gregory L. Bock is assistant professor of philosophy and religion and program director of the Philosophy, Religion and Asian Studies Programs at UT Tyler.

Lewis and Bock assemble a diverse array of reflections on the place of anger in moral life. Seven of the 12 essays address Martha Nussbaum’s work on transitional anger, a morally necessary form of non-retributive anger that combines a heightened sensitivity to wrongdoing and an invigorating motivation to redress harms. Several authors offer arguments in defense of the moral necessity of anger to fight oppression, promote political change, and overcome helplessness, humiliation, and despair. Others argue that anger is not morally necessary and that human beings are capable of cultivating alternatives to anger, such as forgiveness, tolerance, forbearance, and humility.... Other essays discuss feminist perspectives, punishment, the treatment of rage in popular culture, "mind viruses," and practical strategies for anger management in moral psychology. Highly recommended.

• ContentsIntroductionCourt D. Lewis and Gregory L. BockPart One: The Human Experience of Anger1. The Nature and Ethics of Vengeful AngerCharles L. Griswold, Boston University2. The Psychology of Anger: Implicit and Explicit Choices for Ethical Experiences, Expressions, and Control of AngerEverett L. Worthington, Jr., Virginia Commonwealth University Part Two: Moral Responses3. The Moral Necessity of AngerKrista K. Thomason, Swarthmore College4. Understanding Joseph Butler’s Sermons on Resentment and ForgivenessGregory L. Bock, The University of Texas at Tyler5. Anger as an Unnecessary ResponseCourt D. Lewis, Owensboro Community and Technical College6. Moral Anger in Classical ConfucianismColin Lewis, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs7. Is Anger Ever Required? Arya Santideva on Anger and its AntidotesWill Barnes, Curry CollegePart Three: Practical Responses8. Stoking Anger and Weaponizing Untruth: How Mind Viruses Undermine Social JusticePaula Smith