Description
Book SynopsisIntegrating psychological and philosophical perspectives, this book provides a conceptually rich, real-world program for virtue science. It offers numerous empirically testable hypotheses to inspire future research among scholars and students studying virtues, drawing on positive, personality, and developmental psychology, and moral philosophy.
Trade Review'Despite the proliferation of virtue research within psychology, the field remains fragmented and lacking in engagement with philosophical and developmental theories. This book is a game-changer. Not only is it informed by philosophical virtue theory, it gives a plausible social-scientific account of virtue and its surrounding conceptual parish. Highly recommended.' Kristján Kristjánsson, University of Birmingham
'Can there be a science of virtue? Should there be a science of virtue? In this remarkable book, Fowers, Cokelet, and Leonhardt answer both questions with a resounding: 'yes!'. Then, they provide a detailed theoretical framework, full of testable hypotheses, to show us the way. The book is both rich and rigorous, and sophisticated enough philosophically to inspire confidence that the science of virtue will develop as a psychology–philosophy partnership. It is a major achievement.' Barry Schwartz, University of California, Berkeley, and co-author of Practical Wisdom: The Right Way to Do the Right Thing
'The Science of Virtue is a major contribution to the emerging literature on virtue measurement. Co-authored by psychologists and a philosopher, it showcases the richness of interdisciplinary collaboration. Of the many interesting discussions it offers, let me mention only four: the development of the STRIVE-4 model, insights on moral development and virtue, an analysis of personality and virtue, and a treatment of values in psychological science. Anyone interested in virtue and psychology will learn a great deal from reading this book.' Nancy Snow, University of Kansas
Table of ContentsIntroduction: why study moral virtue; Part I. Philosophical Resources and Prospects: 1. Virtue theory; 2. A philosophically informed virtue science; Part II. Psychological Resources and Prospects: 3. Toward reconciling the fragmentation of virtue science; 4. The psychology of moral development and virtue; 5. Personality and virtue; 6. The place of values in virtue science; Part III. Organizing Virtue Research with the STRIVE-4 Model: 7. Virtues as scalar traits; 8. The role sensitivity of virtues; 9. Virtue trait by situation interactions; 10. Values and eudaimonia as guideposts for virtues; 11. The four components of virtue; Part IV. The Science and Practice of Virtue: 12. Virtue science and moral philosophy; 13. Virtue science and psychology.
