Kant and the Ethics of Humility
A Story of Dependence, Corruption and Virtue

Using literary and philosophical examples, Grenberg explores Kantian virtue theory in which humility is central.

Jeanine Grenberg (Author)

9780521131216, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 11 February 2010

284 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.6 cm, 0.42 kg

Review of the hardback: 'Kant and the Ethics of Humility is an excellent book, one that should be taken seriously by Kant scholars, virtue ethicists, and contemporary moral philosophers generally. It offers a compelling example of Kantian virtue ethics in practice, one that can be a model for similar studies in the future.' Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews

In previous years, philosophers have either ignored the virtue of humility or found it to be in need of radical redefinition. But humility is a central human virtue, and it is the purpose of this book to defend that claim from a Kantian point of view. Jeanine Grenberg argues that we can indeed speak of Aristotelian-style, but still deeply Kantian, virtuous character traits. She proposes moving from focus on action to focus on person, not leaving the former behind, but instead taking it up within a larger, more satisfying Kantian moral theory. Using examples from literature as well as philosophy, she shows that there is a Kantian virtue theory to be explored in which humility plays a central role. Her book will have a wide appeal to readers not only in Kant studies but also in theological ethics and moral psychology.

Introduction
Part I. Kantian Virtue: 1. Dependent and corrupt rational agency
2. Constraints on any possible Kantian account of virtue
3. A Kantian account of virtue
Part II. A Kantian Response to Recent Accounts of Humility: 4. A Kantian response to recent accounts of humility
Part III: The Kantian Virtue of Humility: 5. The Kantian virtue of humility
6. Humility and self-respect
7. The humble person
Part IV. The Virtues of Kantian Humility: 8. The humble pursuit of self-knowledge
9. The humble pursuit of respect for persons
Conclusion.

Subject Areas: History of ideas [JFCX], Ethics & moral philosophy [HPQ], History of Western philosophy [HPC]