When Conscience Calls: Moral Courage in Times of Confusion and Despair

Moral courage is the ability to speak out against injustice, even in the face of adversity. It is important because it shapes the world around us and can lead to positive change. When Conscience Calls explores the reasons why some individuals find the courage to speak out, while others do not, and argues that moral courage stems from one's identity, core values, and capacity to believe in the possibility of change.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 27 October 2023
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

What is moral courage? Why is it important and what drives it? An argument for why we should care about moral courage and how it shapes the world around us.

War, totalitarianism, pandemics, and political repression are among the many challenges and crises that force us to consider what humane people can do when the world falls apart. When tolerance disappears, truth becomes rare, and civilized discourse is a distant ideal, why do certain individuals find the courage to speak out when most do not?

When Conscience Calls offers powerful portraits of ordinary people performing extraordinary acts—be it confronting presidents and racist mobs or simply caring for and protecting the vulnerable. Uniting these portraits is the idea that moral courage stems not from choice but from one’s identity. Ultimately, Kristen Renwick Monroe argues bravery derives from who we are, our core values, and our capacity to believe we must change the world. When Conscience Calls is a rich examination of why some citizens embrace anger, bitterness, and fearmongering while others seek common ground, fight against dogma, and stand up to hate.

Dimension: 229 x 152 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780226829098