The Wrong of Rudeness

Learning Modern Civility from Ancient Chinese Philosophy

Datos Bibliográficos

ID20007984
AutoresAmy Olberding (Presidential Professor of Philosophy, University of Oklahoma, autor de correspondencia)
Año2019
Páginas200
Fecha de publicación2019-08-21
Open AccessNo
TipoBOOK
RevistaWrong of Rudeness (SOURCE_BOOK)
EditorialOxford University PressNew York (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1093/oso/9780190880965.001.0001
OpenAlexW4249885097
Open LibraryOL28895070M
ISBN9780190880965
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas12
Referencias citadas9

Being rude is often more gratifying and enjoyable than being polite. Likewise, rudeness can be a more accurate and powerful reflection of how I feel and think. This is especially true in a political environment that can make being polite seem foolish or naive. Civility and ordinary politeness are linked both to big values, such as respect and consideration, and to the fundamentally social nature of human beings. This book explores the powerful temptations to incivility and rudeness, but argues that they should generally be resisted. Drawing on early Chinese philosophers who lived during great political turmoil but nonetheless sought to “mind their manners,” it articulates a way of thinking about politeness that is distinctively social. It takes as a given that we can feel profoundly alienated from others, and that other people can sometimes be truly terrible. Yet because we are social neglecting the social and political courtesies comes at great cost. The book considers not simply why civility and politeness are important, but how. It addresses how small insults can damage social relations, how separation of people into tribes undermines our better interests, and explores how bodily and facial expressions can influence how life with other people goes. It is especially geared toward anyone who feels the temptation of being rude and wishes it were easier to feel otherwise. It seeks to answer a question of great contemporary urgency: When so much of public and social life with others is painful and fractious, why should I be polite

Sociology · Emotions and Moral Behavior · Psychology · Psychology of Moral and Emotional Judgment · Psychology of Social Influence · Social Psychology · chinese · Chinese Philosophy · Confucian Philosophy · Courtesy · Ethics · Philosophy