A Kantian theory of moral character
What is moral character, and how does it unfold over time? This book offers a fresh Kantian alternative to the dominant Aristotelian paradigm, which defines character as a stable set of virtues and vices. Drawing on Kant's moral philosophy, A Kantian Theory of Moral Character reframes character...
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| Format: | Book/Monograph |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge, United Kingdom New York, NY, USA
Cambridge University Press
2026
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| DOI: | 10.1017/9781009620369 |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | Resolving-System, lizenzpflichtig: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009620369
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| Author Notes: | Julia Peters, Heidelberg University |
| Summary: | What is moral character, and how does it unfold over time? This book offers a fresh Kantian alternative to the dominant Aristotelian paradigm, which defines character as a stable set of virtues and vices. Drawing on Kant's moral philosophy, A Kantian Theory of Moral Character reframes character as a first-person commitment to moral principles - not a fixed trait, but a freely chosen, evolving practical orientation that shapes and is shaped by an agent's life as a whole. Central to this view is Kant's notion of Gesinnung: a person's fundamental moral disposition, constituted through free choice and the continuous reaffirmation of moral commitment. Bridging contemporary debates in ethics with historical insights from Kant, this study offers a compelling account of how freedom, moral commitment, temporality, and moral identity intertwine. It will interest scholars and students of philosophy, ethics, and moral psychology seeking a deeper understanding of character and moral agency. |
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| Item Description: | Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 10 Apr 2026) |
| Physical Description: | Online Resource |
| ISBN: | 9781009620369 9781009620314 9781009620338 |
| DOI: | 10.1017/9781009620369 |