Attention to Virtues: An Affective Grammar

by Robert C. Roberts

Overview

In Attention to Virtues, Robert C. Roberts offers a view of moral philosophical inquiry reminiscent of the ancient Greek concern that philosophy improve a practitioner's life by improving her character. The book divides human virtues into three groups: virtues of caring (generosity and truthfulness, for example, are direct, while justice and the sense of duty are indirect), enkratic virtues (courage, self-control), and humility, which is in a class by itself. The virtues are individuated by their conceptual structure, which Roberts calls their 'grammar.' Well-illustrated accounts of generosity, gratitude, compassion, forgivingness, truthfulness, patience, courage, justice, and a sense of duty relate such traits to human concerns and the emotions that express them in the circumstances of life. The book provides a comprehensive account of excellent moral character, and yet treats each virtue in enough detail to bring it to life.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781009570909
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	08/14/2025
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

Robert C. Roberts is Emeritus Distinguished Professor of Ethics at Baylor University, Texas. He is the author of Emotions: An Essay in Aid of Moral Psychology (Cambridge, 2003), Emotions in the Moral Life (Cambridge, 2013), and (with Jay Wood) Intellectual Virtues: An Essay in Regulative Epistemology (2007).

Table of Contents

Part I. Introductory: 1. Attention to virtues; 2. The elements of moral character; Part II. Virtues of Direct Caring: 3. Generosity and gratitude; 4. Compassion; 5. Forgivingness; 6. Truth and truthfulness; Part III. The Enkratic Virtues: 7. Self-control, courage, patience, and perseverance; Part IV. Virtues of Indirect Caring: 8. Justice; 9. The sense of duty; 10. Temperance; Part V. A Virtue of Indifference: 11. Humility; Conclusion: 12. Practical wisdom and the rationality of emotions; Bibliography; Index.