A new sub-category of virtues motivated by kindness

What is it about?

Moral philosophers and to some extent moral psychologists tend to assume that there is an essential difference between morals and manners. Ordinary people, arguably, do not make such a strict distinction and consider various norms-and-manner-driven behaviour highly morally relevant. This paper argues for an account of some significant manner-driven virtues as a sub-category of moral virtues of kindness.

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Photo by Adam Nemeroff on Unsplash

Photo by Adam Nemeroff on Unsplash

Why is it important?

With increasing polarisation and harshness of public debate, the idea of a ‘civility deficit’ in contemporary society has become a popular discursive theme. We need civic or political virtues of civility more than ever, it is commonly argued. I agree, although the present article contributes to that discourse more by indirect implication than explicit engagement. But what about moral modes of civility in smaller-scale personal encounters? Those are less discussed in academic circles, or even written off in some academic quarters (as distinct from lay discourses) as having to do with ‘mere manners’, not ‘morality proper’. I argue that the small-scale moral virtues of kindness are more important than that.

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