Honesty: The Philosophy and Psychology of a Neglected Virtue

The book "Honesty: The Philosophy and Psychology of a Neglected Virtue" by Christian B. Miller explores the concept of honesty, its motives, and its connection to practical wisdom. It examines the empirical psychology of honesty, suggesting that most people have a long way to go to reach an honest character.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 336 pages
Publication date: 14 June 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

Honesty is a vital virtue that holds immense significance in various aspects of life. Parents strive to instill it in their children, as it forms the foundation of trust and respect in relationships. Employers highly value honesty in their employees, as it fosters a culture of integrity and reliability. Surprisingly, philosophers have paid relatively little attention to the virtue of honesty over the past fifty years. In his book, "Honesty: The Philosophy and Psychology of a Neglected Virtue," Christian B. Miller aims to bring much-needed attention to this overlooked virtue.

The first part of the book delves into the concept of honesty. It raises questions such as: What does honesty entail? What motivates an honest person? How does practical wisdom connect to honesty? Miller explores the various facets of honesty, including the absence of lying, stealing, breaking promises, misleading others, and cheating. He argues that the honest individual consistently avoids intentionally distorting the facts as they perceive them.

Miller then examines the empirical psychology of honesty. He explores the question of whether most people are honest, dishonest, or somewhere in between. Drawing extensively on recent studies on cheating and lying, Miller develops a model that suggests that most of us have a long way to go in developing an honest character.

Honesty: The Philosophy and Psychology of a Neglected Virtue offers a deeper understanding of what constitutes our character and what the true goal of being an honest person entails. Miller leaves it up to us to decide whether we want to take steps to narrow the character gap between our current selves and the ideal of honesty.

Dimension: 210 x 140 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197696040