The virtue of modesty and the egalitarian ethos

Book chapter


Braun, S. Stewart. (2017). The virtue of modesty and the egalitarian ethos. In In N. Birondo and Braun, S. Stewart (Ed.). Virtue's reasons: New essays on virtue, character and reasons pp. 168 - 188 Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315314259
AuthorsBraun, S. Stewart
EditorsN. Birondo and Braun, S. Stewart
Abstract

This chapter discusses an interpretation of modesty can be developed that explains what modesty is, how it functions, and why it is valuable in a way that accommodates the insights of the other accounts. The 'Egalitarian Account' shows that modesty is admirable because it reflects a broad commitment to social equality. It explains why modest individuals may underestimate, play-down their achievements, believe that those achievements are of limited value when fit into a larger perspective, or not care what other people think about those achievements, since all of these dispositions are consistent with efforts to maintain equal social relationships and standing. The Egalitarian Account provides a unique approach to the issue of knowledge that splits the difference between Driver's ignorance account and the various awareness accounts. The account also explains why modest agents act in the diverse ways highlighted by the competing theories.

Page range168 - 188
Year2017
Book titleVirtue's reasons: New essays on virtue, character and reasons
PublisherRoutledge
Place of publicationUnited States of America
ISBN9781138231733
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315314259
Research GroupSchool of Philosophy
Publisher's version
File Access Level
Controlled
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