Character as Moral Fiction

Character as Moral Fiction PDF Author: Mark Alfano
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1139620096
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 237

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Book Description
Everyone wants to be virtuous, but recent psychological investigations suggest that this may not be possible. Mark Alfano challenges this theory and asks, not whether character is empirically adequate, but what characters human beings could have and develop. Although psychology suggests that most people do not have robust character traits such as courage, honesty and open-mindedness, Alfano argues that we have reason to attribute these virtues to people because such attributions function as self-fulfilling prophecies - children become more studious if they are told that they are hard-working and adults become more generous if they are told that they are generous. He argues that we should think of virtue and character as social constructs: there is no such thing as virtue without social reinforcement. His original and provocative book will interest a wide range of readers in contemporary ethics, epistemology, moral psychology and empirically informed philosophy.

Character as Moral Fiction

Character as Moral Fiction PDF Author: Mark Alfano
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1139620096
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 237

Get Book Here

Book Description
Everyone wants to be virtuous, but recent psychological investigations suggest that this may not be possible. Mark Alfano challenges this theory and asks, not whether character is empirically adequate, but what characters human beings could have and develop. Although psychology suggests that most people do not have robust character traits such as courage, honesty and open-mindedness, Alfano argues that we have reason to attribute these virtues to people because such attributions function as self-fulfilling prophecies - children become more studious if they are told that they are hard-working and adults become more generous if they are told that they are generous. He argues that we should think of virtue and character as social constructs: there is no such thing as virtue without social reinforcement. His original and provocative book will interest a wide range of readers in contemporary ethics, epistemology, moral psychology and empirically informed philosophy.

Fictional Characters, Real Problems

Fictional Characters, Real Problems PDF Author: Garry Hagberg
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0198715714
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 402

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Book Description
These new essays explore central aspects of the ethical content of literature: character, its formation, and its role in moral discernment; poetic vision in the context of ethical understanding; self-identity and self-understanding; literature's role in moral growth and change; and the historical background of the ethical dimension of literature.

Character as Moral Fiction

Character as Moral Fiction PDF Author: Mark Alfano
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1107026725
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 237

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Book Description
This provocative contribution to ethics and epistemology argues that virtue attributions are self-fulfilling prophecies.

Books That Build Character

Books That Build Character PDF Author: William Kilpatrick
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 0671884239
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 340

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Book Description
William Kilpatrick's recent book Why Johnny Can't Tell Right from Wrong convinced thousands that reading is one of the most effective ways to combat moral illiteracy and build a child's character. This follow-up book--featuring evaluations of more than 300 books for children--will help parents and teachers put his key ideas into practice.

On Moral Fiction

On Moral Fiction PDF Author: John Gardner
Publisher: Open Road Media
ISBN: 1480409219
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 258

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Book Description
“Fearless, illuminating” criticism from a New York Times–bestselling author and legendary teacher, “proving . . . that true art is moral and not trivial” (Los Angeles Times). Novelist John Gardner’s thesis in On Moral Fiction is simple: “True art is by its nature moral.” It is also an audacious statement, as Gardner asserts an inherent value in life and in art. Since the book’s first publication, the passion behind Gardner’s assertion has both provoked and inspired readers. In examining the work of his peers, Gardner analyzes what has gone wrong, in his view, in modern art and literature, and how shortcomings in artistic criticism have contributed to the problem. He develops his argument by showing how artists and critics can reintroduce morality and substance to their work to improve society and cultivate our morality. On Moral Fiction is an essential read in which Gardner presents his thoughtfully developed criteria for the elements he believes are essential to art and its creation. This ebook features an illustrated biography of John Gardner, including original letters, rare photos, and never-before-seen documents from the Gardner family and the University of Rochester Archives.

Character and Moral Psychology

Character and Moral Psychology PDF Author: Christian B. Miller
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN: 0199674361
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 286

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Book Description
Christian Miller explores ethical implications of his new theory of character, which holds that our characters are made up of mixed traits with some morally positive and some morally negative aspects. He examines whether judgements of character are systematically erroneous, and assesses the challenge to virtue ethics from scepticism about virtue.

The Character Gap

The Character Gap PDF Author: Christian B. Miller
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0190264225
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 297

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Book Description
We like to think of ourselves and our friends and families as pretty good people. The more we put our characters to the test, however, the more we see that we are decidedly a mixed bag. Fortunately there are some promising strategies - both secular and religious - for developing better characters.

The Moral Premise

The Moral Premise PDF Author: Stanley D. Williams
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Performing Arts
Languages : en
Pages : 228

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Book Description
'The Moral Premise: Harnessing Virtue and Vice for Box Office Success' reveals the foundational concept at the heart of all successful box office movies and other stories. It is a principle that has been passed down from ancient times. It is a principle that modern research has shown is in all great stories that connect with audiences. If you ignore this principle, your story is doomed. But if you consistently apply it to each character, scene, and dramatic beat, it is the principle that will empower your storytelling, and illuminate all the other techniques you bring to the craft. It is the guiding principle of writing that allows films and all stories to be great.

The Emotional Wound Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to Psychological Trauma

The Emotional Wound Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to Psychological Trauma PDF Author: Becca Puglisi
Publisher: JADD Publishing
ISBN: 0999296302
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 612

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Book Description
Readers connect to characters with depth, ones who have experienced life’s ups and downs. To deliver key players that are both realistic and compelling, writers must know them intimately—not only who they are in the present story, but also what made them that way. Of all the formative experiences in a character’s past, none are more destructive than emotional wounds. The aftershocks of trauma can change who they are, alter what they believe, and sabotage their ability to achieve meaningful goals, all of which will affect the trajectory of your story. Identifying the backstory wound is crucial to understanding how it will shape your character’s behavior, and The Emotional Wound Thesaurus can help. Inside, you’ll find: * A database of traumatic situations common to the human experience * An in-depth study on a wound’s impact, including the fears, lies, personality shifts, and dysfunctional behaviors that can arise from different painful events * An extensive analysis of character arc and how the wound and any resulting unmet needs fit into it * Techniques on how to show the past experience to readers in a way that is both engaging and revelatory while avoiding the pitfalls of info dumps and telling * A showcase of popular characters and how their traumatic experiences reshaped them, leading to very specific story goals * A Backstory Wound Profile tool that will enable you to document your characters’ negative past experiences and the aftereffects Root your characters in reality by giving them an authentic wound that causes difficulties and prompts them to strive for inner growth to overcome it. With its easy-to-read format and over 100 entries packed with information, The Emotional Wound Thesaurus is a crash course in psychology for creating characters that feel incredibly real to readers.

Nietzsche's Moral Psychology

Nietzsche's Moral Psychology PDF Author: Mark Alfano
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1107074150
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 317

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Book Description
Examines Nietzsche's thinking on the virtues using a combination of close reading and digital analysis.