The Virtues - Böcker

What is hope? In the history of western philosophy to the present day, there is tremendous disagreement about the answer to this seemingly simple question. Contemporary philosophical literature on hope on the subject is robust, complex, and full of interesting debates. Whether hope is good or bad, and whether we should focus not on hope, but on hopes, hoping, or hopefulness, as some contemporary philosophers argue, are contested questions. This volume features eleven chapters by scholars from different disciplines, each providing a unique perspective on hope. It includes discussion and analysis of classical texts, Judeo-Christian traditions, non-religious contexts, epistemology, existentialism, Black oppression, Zen Buddhism, eschatology, theological anthropology, psychology and optimism, culture, education theory, and climate change. Hardly any stones are left unturned in this interdisciplinary collection of one of philosophy's most vexing virtues. The study of hope is ongoing in many fields. This volume will be useful to scholars in a variety of disciplines who wish to learn more about hope, and to contribute to the myriad discussions currently taking place.

What is hope? In the history of western philosophy to the present day, there is tremendous disagreement about the answer to this seemingly simple question. Contemporary philosophical literature on the subject is robust, complex, and full of interesting debates. Whether hope is good or bad, and whether we should focus not on hope, but on hopes, hoping, or hopefulness, as some contemporary philosophers argue, are contested questions. This volume features eleven chapters by scholars from different disciplines, each providing a unique perspective on hope. It includes discussion and analysis of classical texts, Judeo-Christian traditions, non-religious contexts, epistemology, existentialism, Black oppression, Zen Buddhism, eschatology, theological anthropology, psychology and optimism, culture, education theory, and climate change. Hardly any stones are left unturned in this interdisciplinary collection of one of philosophy's most vexing virtues. The study of hope is ongoing in many fields. This volume will be useful to scholars in a variety of disciplines who wish to learn more about hope, and to contribute to the myriad discussions currently taking place.

It is hard to underestimate the value and influence that open-mindedness can have on our lives. Indeed, our success often depends crucially on our ability to interact with others, and the quality of those interactions. We are, after all, not the generic, abstract, isolated, self-sufficient agents assumed by a classically Cartesian theoretical framework. It is in our best interest to realize this falsehood, and act with our true selves to rectify that, to live better.Yet of course open-mindedness and perspective can also be responsible for some of our most catastrophic epistemic failures. Conspiracy theories, group-think, echo chambers, charismatic charlatans, identity politic-s-these are all phenomena by which individuals can be led astray precisely by being open to the influence of others. Being epistemically successful as a human, in our particular predicament, requires being "appropriately" open to the influence of others. This multi-disciplinary volume of new essays shows us a path forward. Bringing to bear a variety of perspectives, the essays examine cognitive and conceptual architecture, popular culture, colonialization, and arts training. Together they redefine the boundaries of open-mindedness and perspective in favor of a rich and complex conception of these ever-important virtues.

It is hard to underestimate the value and influence that open-mindedness can have on our lives. Indeed, our success often depends crucially on our ability to interact with others, and the quality of those interactions. We are, after all, not the generic, abstract, isolated, self-sufficient agents assumed by a classically Cartesian theoretical framework. It is in our best interest to realize this falsehood, and act with our true selves to rectify that, to live better.Yet of course open-mindedness and perspective can also be responsible for some of our most catastrophic epistemic failures. Conspiracy theories, group-think, echo chambers, charismatic charlatans, identity politic-s-these are all phenomena by which individuals can be led astray precisely by being open to the influence of others. Being epistemically successful as a human, in our particular predicament, requires being "appropriately" open to the influence of others. This multi-disciplinary volume of new essays shows us a path forward. Bringing to bear a variety of perspectives, the essays examine cognitive and conceptual architecture, popular culture, colonialization, and arts training. Together they redefine the boundaries of open-mindedness and perspective in favor of a rich and complex conception of these ever-important virtues.

A blindfolded woman holding a balance and a sword personifies one of our most significant virtues. We find Lady Justice in statues and paintings that adorn courts and other institutions of law, symbolizing strength and impartiality. Yet why do we valorize this virtue primarily as a quality of societies, and secondly as one of individual character? We can trace the virtue of justice to ancient Greece, where virtue ethics began its long evolution. There justice was seen as one of the most prominent virtues - and arguably the most important of the social virtues. With time, political philosophy diverted focus to understanding justice as a property of societies, and discussion of justice as a virtue of individuals diminished. But justice as a virtue of individual character has, along with the other virtues, reasserted itself not only in philosophy but in social psychology and other empirical fields of study. This volume aims to demonstrate the breadth of that thinking and research. It comprises new essays solicited from philosophers and political theorists, psychologists, economists, biologists, and legal scholars. Each contribution focuses on some aspect of what makes people just, either by examining the science that explains the development of justice as a virtue, by highlighting virtue cultivation within distinctive traditions of empirical or philosophical thought, or by adopting a distinctive perspective on justice as an individual trait. As the volume shows, justice begins with the individual, and flows outward to make just laws and just societies.

A blindfolded woman holding a balance and a sword personifies one of our most significant virtues. We find Lady Justice in statues and paintings that adorn courts and other institutions of law, symbolizing strength and impartiality. Yet why do we valorize this virtue primarily as a quality of societies, and secondly as one of individual character? We can trace the virtue of justice to ancient Greece, where virtue ethics began its long evolution. There justice was seen as one of the most prominent virtues - and arguably the most important of the social virtues. With time, political philosophy diverted focus to understanding justice as a property of societies, and discussion of justice as a virtue of individuals diminished. But justice as a virtue of individual character has, along with the other virtues, reasserted itself not only in philosophy but in social psychology and other empirical fields of study. This volume aims to demonstrate the breadth of that thinking and research. It comprises new essays solicited from philosophers and political theorists, psychologists, economists, biologists, and legal scholars. Each contribution focuses on some aspect of what makes people just, either by examining the science that explains the development of justice as a virtue, by highlighting virtue cultivation within distinctive traditions of empirical or philosophical thought, or by adopting a distinctive perspective on justice as an individual trait. As the volume shows, justice begins with the individual, and flows outward to make just laws and just societies.

We tend to admire people who stay true to their convictions in the face of opposition, who are not tempted to twist or withhold the truth for selfish reasons, and who seek the truth even when it means giving up their cherished views. Indeed, integrity, honesty, and truth seeking are crucial virtues on both intimate and global scales, significant in everything from our relationships to our politicians' accountability. The past forty years have witnessed a dramatic resurgence of philosophical interest in the virtues. And yet there has been surprisingly little work among philosophers aimed at helping us better understand these three truth-related virtues. Edited by philosophers Christian B. Miller and Ryan West, this interdisciplinary volume significantly advances the discussion of integrity, honesty, and truth seeking by incorporating the insights and perspectives of experts in philosophy, law, communication and rhetorical studies, theology, psychology, history, and education. Each of the volume's three sections is devoted to one virtue, and comprises a conceptual chapter about the nature of the virtue in question, an application chapter that explores the virtue's central role in an area of human life, and a developmental chapter covering some of the ways people can foster the virtue. Additionally, the volume addresses experimental work on honest and dishonest behavior, one of the fastest growing and most important research areas in the field of moral psychology today. Every reader will come away from this volume with a deepened knowledge of and appreciation for the essential roles of these three virtues in our world, and rich resources for developing and sustaining them in life.

We tend to admire people who stay true to their convictions in the face of opposition, who are not tempted to twist or withhold the truth for selfish reasons, and who seek the truth even when it means giving up their cherished views. Indeed, integrity, honesty, and truth seeking are crucial virtues on both intimate and global scales, significant in everything from our relationships to our politicians' accountability. The past forty years have witnessed a dramatic resurgence of philosophical interest in the virtues. And yet there has been surprisingly little work among philosophers aimed at helping us better understand these three truth-related virtues. Edited by philosophers Christian B. Miller and Ryan West, this interdisciplinary volume significantly advances the discussion of integrity, honesty, and truth seeking by incorporating the insights and perspectives of experts in philosophy, law, communication and rhetorical studies, theology, psychology, history, and education. Each of the volume's three sections is devoted to one virtue, and comprises a conceptual chapter about the nature of the virtue in question, an application chapter that explores the virtue's central role in an area of human life, and a developmental chapter covering some of the ways people can foster the virtue. Additionally, the volume addresses experimental work on honest and dishonest behavior, one of the fastest growing and most important research areas in the field of moral psychology today. Every reader will come away from this volume with a deepened knowledge of and appreciation for the essential roles of these three virtues in our world, and rich resources for developing and sustaining them in life.

The 21st century has seen a renewed interest in cultivating positive character traits, or virtues, to foster personal growth. Humility is a virtue that has long been understood--especially by early theological thinking and Western philosophers--through its associations with meekness and servility. Even in more recent, secular contexts, humility is associated with low-mindedness, self-denigration, and even self-loathing. While it seems paradoxical that this virtue can be developed to achieve a sense of well-being, this volume provides a comprehensive exploration of humility as an admirable and desirable trait that allows us to place the needs of others before our own, keep our accomplishments in perspective, and fully realize our small place in the world.In a series of multidisciplinary essays spanning religious and secular traditions, this volume introduces readers to the many facets of humility. Essays explore perspectives from Christianity, Judiasm, and Islam on the role of humility in determining how we should align ourselves with a higher spiritual power. Other essays examine the epistemic value of humility in the development of knowledge, and the applied nature of this virtue within the professional fields of politics, business management, nursing and hospice care, and competitive sports. This collection concludes by considering the possibility of humility as the most important virtue, foundational to the moral development and expression of all other virtues.

The 21st century has seen a renewed interest in cultivating positive character traits, or virtues, to foster personal growth. Humility is a virtue that has long been understood--especially by early theological thinking and Western philosophers--through its associations with meekness and servility. Even in more recent, secular contexts, humility is associated with low-mindedness, self-denigration, and even self-loathing. While it seems paradoxical that this virtue can be developed to achieve a sense of well-being, this volume provides a comprehensive exploration of humility as an admirable and desirable trait that allows us to place the needs of others before our own, keep our accomplishments in perspective, and fully realize our small place in the world.In a series of multidisciplinary essays spanning religious and secular traditions, this volume introduces readers to the many facets of humility. Essays explore perspectives from Christianity, Judaism, and Islam on the role of humility in determining how we should align ourselves with a higher spiritual power. Other essays examine the epistemic value of humility in the development of knowledge, and the applied nature of this virtue within the professional fields of politics, business management, nursing and hospice care, and competitive sports. This collection concludes by considering the possibility of humility as the most important virtue, foundational to the moral development and expression of all other virtues.

From climate change to species extinction, and habitat loss to soil degradation, a stark awareness of the often devastating impacts of human actions is growing. People around the world are urgently seeking sustainable ways of life for themselves and their communities. But what do these calls for a sustainable future mean for our current values and ways of life, and what kind of people will we need to become? Though sustainability is a ubiquitous concept with a range of meaning and applications, this volume shows that it can be significantly understood and sought through the notion of virtue, in the tradition of virtue ethics. Approaches to ethical living that emphasize good character and virtue are resurgent, and especially well-suited to addressing our present challenges. From rethinking excessive consumption, to appropriately respecting nature, to finding resilience in the face of environmental injustice, our characters will be frequently tested. The virtues of sustainability--character traits enabling us to lead sustainable, flourishing lives--will be critical to our success.This volume, divided into three sections, brings together newly-commissioned essays by leading scholars from multiple disciplines--from philosophy and political science, to religious studies and psychology. The essays in the first section focus on key factors and structures that support the cultivation of the virtues of sustainability, while those in the second focus in particular on virtues embraced by non-Western communities and cultures, and the worldviews that underlie them. Finally, the essays in the third section each address further particular virtues of sustainability, including cooperativeness, patience, conscientiousness, creativity, and open-mindedness.Together, these essays provide readers with a rich understanding of the importance and diversity of the virtues of sustainability, and practical guidance towards their cultivation.

From climate change to species extinction, and habitat loss to soil degradation, a stark awareness of the often devastating impacts of human actions is growing. People around the world are urgently seeking sustainable ways of life for themselves and their communities. But what do these calls for a sustainable future mean for our current values and ways of life, and what kind of people will we need to become? Though sustainability is a ubiquitous concept with a range of meaning and applications, this volume shows that it can be significantly understood and sought through the notion of virtue, in the tradition of virtue ethics. Approaches to ethical living that emphasize good character and virtue are resurgent, and especially well-suited to addressing our present challenges. From rethinking excessive consumption, to appropriately respecting nature, to finding resilience in the face of environmental injustice, our characters will be frequently tested. The virtues of sustainability--character traits enabling us to lead sustainable, flourishing lives--will be critical to our success.This volume, divided into three sections, brings together newly-commissioned essays by leading scholars from multiple disciplines--from philosophy and political science, to religious studies and psychology. The essays in the first section focus on key factors and structures that support the cultivation of the virtues of sustainability, while those in the second focus in particular on virtues embraced by non-Western communities and cultures, and the worldviews that underlie them. Finally, the essays in the third section each address further particular virtues of sustainability, including cooperativeness, patience, conscientiousness, creativity, and open-mindedness.Together, these essays provide readers with a rich understanding of the importance and diversity of the virtues of sustainability, and practical guidance towards their cultivation.

The virtues of endurance -- perseverance, patience, resilience, and constancy -- are central to success in any goal-oriented challenging activity that a person undertakes. Gaining a rich understanding of these virtues requires insights from multiple areas of study, but most treatments of the virtues of endurance to date have remained within narrow disciplinary boundaries. No longer. In this volume, philosophers, psychologists, legal scholars, educational theorists, medical practitioners, military theorists, and theologians have labored together to advance our understanding of endurance. Written with scholars in mind, this volume is nevertheless accessible to students and general readers. This volume is divided into two sections: Explorations and Applications. The first section considers the nature of a given virtue, while the second section showcases the relevance of endurance to important areas of our lives. Taken as a whole, this volume provides a comprehensive overview of this ever-important virtue, offering both a theoretical and practical roadmap to working through challenging activities.

The virtues of endurance -- perseverance, patience, resilience, and constancy -- are central to success in any goal-oriented challenging activity that a person undertakes. Gaining a rich understanding of these virtues requires insights from multiple areas of study, but most treatments of the virtues of endurance to date have remained within narrow disciplinary boundaries. No longer. In this volume, philosophers, psychologists, legal scholars, educational theorists, medical practitioners, military theorists, and theologians have labored together to advance our understanding of endurance. Written with scholars in mind, this volume is nevertheless accessible to students and general readers. This volume is divided into two sections: Explorations and Applications. The first section considers the nature of a given virtue, while the second section showcases the relevance of endurance to important areas of our lives. Taken as a whole, this volume provides a comprehensive overview of this ever-important virtue, offering both a theoretical and practical roadmap to working through challenging activities.

Harmony, the bringing together of dissimilar elements in a manner that coordinates these as parts of an organic whole, is central to different aspects of human existence. In many cultures, harmony is considered an important virtue. As a personal, social, or environmental accomplishment, harmony has a place in everyday conversation, political discourse, as well as academic scholarship. In most Western societies, however, it has no such presence. This volume introduces the virtue of harmony as a central aspect of the good life into global ethics discourse, and shapes the trajectory of ethics research in a manner that draws upon the resources of a broad variety of cultural traditions. The volume comprises thirteen essays that examine harmony against different cultural and disciplinary backgrounds. A broad variety of cultural traditions are represented, including the Confucian, Daoist, Buddhist, Judaist, Greek, Christian, Islamic, African, and Native American traditions. The volume's essays also represent different disciplinary approaches, such as philosophy, religious studies, linguistics, psychology, and political theory. Each contribution focuses on some aspect of what harmony as a personal trait, social disposition, or environmental outlook entails and describes how the virtue may be cultivated-either by examining the way in which it has been discussed in specific traditions of ethical, religious, or political thought, or by developing a cross-cultural analysis of the theory and practice of the virtue of harmony.

Harmony, the bringing together of dissimilar elements in a manner that coordinates these as parts of an organic whole, is central to different aspects of human existence. In many cultures, harmony is considered an important virtue. As a personal, social, or environmental accomplishment, harmony has a place in everyday conversation, political discourse, as well as academic scholarship. In most Western societies, however, it has no such presence. This volume introduces the virtue of harmony as a central aspect of the good life into global ethics discourse, and shapes the trajectory of ethics research in a manner that draws upon the resources of a broad variety of cultural traditions. The volume comprises thirteen essays that examine harmony against different cultural and disciplinary backgrounds. A broad variety of cultural traditions are represented, including the Confucian, Daoist, Buddhist, Judaist, Greek, Christian, Islamic, African, and Native American traditions. The volume's essays also represent different disciplinary approaches, such as philosophy, religious studies, linguistics, psychology, and political theory. Each contribution focuses on some aspect of what harmony as a personal trait, social disposition, or environmental outlook entails and describes how the virtue may be cultivated-either by examining the way in which it has been discussed in specific traditions of ethical, religious, or political thought, or by developing a cross-cultural analysis of the theory and practice of the virtue of harmony.

Loyalty is a highly contested virtue. One the one hand, some have wondered whether it is really a virtue at all. On the other, we might doubt whether a person who was not loyal to anything could be said to have a defined moral character. Loyalty is so fundamental to so many of our relationships and commitments that it is hard to imagine a world without it. Because it structures our lives by setting horizons and limits within which we make choices and conduct our affairs, it is difficult to appreciate how significant, profound, and pervasive its influence is. That said, loyalty is a particularly salient moral concept in the public sphere, where demands for loyalty of various sorts, not to mention accusations of disloyalty, often inspire fervently passionate responses. Although loyalty invites moral objections and poses philosophical puzzles, it is undeniably held in high regard and viewed with great significance by many people. This volume presents ten new academic essays on the topic of loyalty considered as a virtue, written by scholars in philosophy, law, religious studies, empirical psychology, and child development, and approached from a diverse array of backgrounds and perspectives. The Virtue of Loyalty aims to help readers attain a greater understanding of this complex and multifaceted virtue.

Loyalty is a highly contested virtue. One the one hand, some have wondered whether it is really a virtue at all. On the other, we might doubt whether a person who was not loyal to anything could be said to have a defined moral character. Loyalty is so fundamental to so many of our relationships and commitments that it is hard to imagine a world without it. Because it structures our lives by setting horizons and limits within which we make choices and conduct our affairs, it is difficult to appreciate how significant, profound, and pervasive its influence is. That said, loyalty is a particularly salient moral concept in the public sphere, where demands for loyalty of various sorts, not to mention accusations of disloyalty, often inspire fervently passionate responses. Although loyalty invites moral objections and poses philosophical puzzles, it is undeniably held in high regard and viewed with great significance by many people. This volume presents ten new academic essays on the topic of loyalty considered as a virtue, written by scholars in philosophy, law, religious studies, empirical psychology, and child development, and approached from a diverse array of backgrounds and perspectives. The Virtue of Loyalty aims to help readers attain a greater understanding of this complex and multifaceted virtue.

This is an open access title available under the terms of a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license. It is free to read at Oxford Scholarship Online and offered as a free PDF download from OUP and selected open access locations.Many today are worried about the global spread of divisive politics, rampant inequality, social alienation, and political apathy. They are hungry for meaningful action that will bring about change, yet they are uncertain of how to achieve this. It is often repeated that people must come together, in displays of solidarity, but fundamental questions about this political catchword--what solidarity is, when (or if) it is a virtue, and its potential dangers--have not received the attention they deserve. They have certainly received less attention than solidarity's closest relatives: liberty and equality.The Virtue of Solidarity brings together twelve world-leading philosophers to reflect on the nature, history, and virtue of solidarity. Topics discussed include race, class, Catholic understandings of solidarity, and the social theories of Émile Durkheim, Léon Bourgeois, and Jürgen Habermas as they relate to present disputes of solidarity. These essays present and debate solidarity's many forms and roles--as a virtue, a sacrifice, an egalitarian commitment, or even something pernicious--where it belongs within a just society, and its relationship to justice. The Virtue of Solidarity is a comprehensive volume of the most recent thinking regarding this topic, ranging from the philosophical to the sociological, the religious to the political, presenting solidarity's many justifications and exploring the most urgent questions that surround it.

This is an open access title available under the terms of a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license. It is free to read at Oxford Scholarship Online and offered as a free PDF download from OUP and selected open access locations.Many today are worried about the global spread of divisive politics, rampant inequality, social alienation, and political apathy. They are hungry for meaningful action that will bring about change, yet they are uncertain of how to achieve this. It is often repeated that people must come together, in displays of solidarity, but fundamental questions about this political catchword--what solidarity is, when (or if) it is a virtue, and its potential dangers--have not received the attention they deserve. They have certainly received less attention than solidarity's closest relatives: liberty and equality.The Virtue of Solidarity brings together twelve world-leading philosophers to reflect on the nature, history, and virtue of solidarity. Topics discussed include race, class, Catholic understandings of solidarity, and the social theories of Émile Durkheim, Léon Bourgeois, and Jürgen Habermas as they relate to present disputes of solidarity. These essays present and debate solidarity's many forms and roles--as a virtue, a sacrifice, an egalitarian commitment, or even something pernicious--where it belongs within a just society, and its relationship to justice. The Virtue of Solidarity is a comprehensive volume of the most recent thinking regarding this topic, ranging from the philosophical to the sociological, the religious to the political, presenting solidarity's many justifications and exploring the most urgent questions that surround it.

Civility is a paradoxical virtue. For some, civility is not a virtue at all, but rather is an important civic duty, operating as a synonym for other civic dispositions generally valued, such as respect or tolerance. For others, civility has a dark side and is used by those with power to question and silence the voices and interests of others. On the other hand, and more positively, civility is a vital and often-invoked virtue for political life and debate--a virtue that also holds moral relevance. It is certainly the case that a (real or perceived) lack of civility and a prevalence of incivility is generally regarded as a vice and as damaging to healthy civic discourse and relationships. Despite repeated calls for greater civility in public life, the concept remains contested and hard to pin down precisely. The key question is whether--and if so, precisely why--civility should be considered a virtue.In The Virtue of Civility, a diverse group of leading scholars offer their insights and analysis into civility as a virtue. They bring a wide range of cultural and philosophical perspectives as they think through and define civility within democracies today. The result is a comprehensive, critical, and compelling account of civility as a virtue.

Civility is a paradoxical virtue. For some, civility is not a virtue at all, but rather is an important civic duty, operating as a synonym for other civic dispositions generally valued, such as respect or tolerance. For others, civility has a dark side and is used by those with power to question and silence the voices and interests of others. On the other hand, and more positively, civility is a vital and often-invoked virtue for political life and debate--a virtue that also holds moral relevance. It is certainly the case that a (real or perceived) lack of civility and a prevalence of incivility is generally regarded as a vice and as damaging to healthy civic discourse and relationships. Despite repeated calls for greater civility in public life, the concept remains contested and hard to pin down precisely. The key question is whether--and if so, precisely why--civility should be considered a virtue.In The Virtue of Civility, a diverse group of leading scholars offer their insights and analysis into civility as a virtue. They bring a wide range of cultural and philosophical perspectives as they think through and define civility within democracies today. The result is a comprehensive, critical, and compelling account of civility as a virtue.

In many ways, the virtue of courage seems to be one of the most ubiquitous and simple virtues, and that apparent simplicity may result in courage garnering less attention than many other virtues. Another reason could be the ancient focus on courage as a masculine and martial virtue, which brings into question its relevance in contemporary society. However, the contributors to this volume show, in vibrant and compelling ways, that all these presumptions are invalid. They demonstrate that courage is anything but simple, as important to women as to men, far broader than the martial realm, and that it has great relevance to many contemporary concerns.The Aristotelian perspective is the most well-known philosophical approach to virtues. According to this approach, courage is flanked by the vices of deficiency (cowardice) and excess (rashness) and can be understood in terms of the values it maintains or protects, with greater risks justified by greater importance of the value at stake. But this is not the only way to understand courage: While some chapters follow a neo-Aristotelian line in their presentation, others also offer Stoic, Confucian, Christian or Thomist, Jewish, and African perspectives, which bring other important insights about courage in personal, political, and spiritual realms to the fore-such as the communal, ethnic, and religious elements of courage. Other chapters ask what place courage has in healthcare or contemporary career development, and how courage might be applied to ordinary citizens as well as leaders in contemporary liberal democracies. These essays make it clear that reflections on courage are highly salient in the wake of the recent COVID-19 pandemic, ongoing global political unrest, and profound uncertainty about the future, as it is courage that enables people to advance and protect so many human values, whether the risks are physical, psychological, or social.

In many ways, the virtue of courage seems to be one of the most ubiquitous and simple virtues, and that apparent simplicity may result in courage garnering less attention than many other virtues. Another reason could be the ancient focus on courage as a masculine and martial virtue, which brings into question its relevance in contemporary society. However, the contributors to this volume show, in vibrant and compelling ways, that all these presumptions are invalid. They demonstrate that courage is anything but simple, as important to women as to men, far broader than the martial realm, and that it has great relevance to many contemporary concerns.The Aristotelian perspective is the most well-known philosophical approach to virtues. According to this approach, courage is flanked by the vices of deficiency (cowardice) and excess (rashness) and can be understood in terms of the values it maintains or protects, with greater risks justified by greater importance of the value at stake. But this is not the only way to understand courage: While some chapters follow a neo-Aristotelian line in their presentation, others also offer Stoic, Confucian, Christian or Thomist, Jewish, and African perspectives, which bring other important insights about courage in personal, political, and spiritual realms to the fore-such as the communal, ethnic, and religious elements of courage. Other chapters ask what place courage has in healthcare or contemporary career development, and how courage might be applied to ordinary citizens as well as leaders in contemporary liberal democracies. These essays make it clear that reflections on courage are highly salient in the wake of the recent COVID-19 pandemic, ongoing global political unrest, and profound uncertainty about the future, as it is courage that enables people to advance and protect so many human values, whether the risks are physical, psychological, or social.

Forgiveness is at one and the same time a very ordinary and quite challenging moral phenomenon. It is expected of children as a part of their moral development and of our moral exemplars. At the same time, we debate whether we could or even should forgive in certain circumstances. It is deeply personal, but also important to attempt to affect social and political healing. The Virtue of Forgiveness brings a diverse set of concerns to bear on forgiveness and forgiveness seeking. The chapters include insights from neuroscience, speech act theory, psychological research on both victims and perpetrators, social science, legal anthropology, holistic measures of health, interdisciplinary approaches to theology, the study of forgiveness tropes in literature, the philosophy of human action, and the study of value. Comprehensive reviews and conceptual arguments are complemented by case studies and data-driven hypothesis testing. The volume provides a singularly rich interdisciplinary conversation about forgiveness that covers traditional topics in the moral psychology of forgiveness while exploring new territory and incorporating new disciplinary voices. As these essays illustrate, forgiveness is vitally important to our mental and physical health, to our agency, and to the social structures that promote reconciliation in the face of conflict at different social scales. It is an especially apt subject for multi-disciplinary engagement, and this collection provides a representative sample of projects in the existing dialogue between psychology and philosophy while broadening the disciplines represented to include neuroscience, anthropology, social science, literature, and theology.