Developing virtue and rehabilitating vice

Worries about self-cultivation and self-reform

Bibliographic Data

ID8089217
AuthorsHeather Battaly (0009-0005-4011-6248, corresponding author)
Year2016
Volume45
Issue2
Pages207-222
Publication date2016-04-02
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Moral Education (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0305-7240 • E-ISSN: 1465-3877
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/03057240.2016.1195732
OpenAlexW2467922827
LanguageEN
Citations received12
References cited21

Aristotelian virtue theorists have emphasized the role of the self in developing virtue and in rehabilitating vice. But this article argues that, as Aristotelians, we have placed too much emphasis on self-cultivation and self-reform. Self-cultivation is not required for developing virtue or vice. Nor will sophia-inspired self-reform jumpstart change in the vicious person. In each case, the external environment has an important role to play. One can unwittingly acquire virtues or vices from one’s environment. Likewise, a well-designed environment may be the key ingredient for jumpstarting change in the vicious person. Self-cultivation and late-stage self-reform are not ruled out, but the role of the self in character development and rehabilitation is not as exalted as we might have thought

Economics · Environmental ethics · Epistemology · Management · Pedagogy · Self · Self reliance · Self-Actualization · Self-governance · Sociology · Virtue · Virtuous circle and vicious circle · Ethics in medical practice · Philosophical Ethics and Theory · Political Philosophy and Ethics · Psychology · Philosophy · Social Psychology

Tools

Open DOISci-Hub