Exemplarist Moral Theory
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This paper summarizes my new moral theory, which is based on direct reference to exemplars of goodness, identified through the emotion of admiration. Since a motivating emotion is at the root of the theory, it is intended to serve both the theoretical purpose of mapping the main moral terms by reference to features of exemplars, and the practical purpose of making us want to act morally and showing us how to do so through emulation of exemplars. The theory links the a priori side of ethics with empirical work in psychology and neuroscience, and it gives narratives a key function in the theory. Since it tracks a natural process of moral development in the emulation of exemplars, it also connects with moral education.
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Dao can still be a model for virtues, because emulation need not take the intersubjective form presupposed by Zagzebski.
“But this does not rule out the possibility of Dào as a model for virtues, since emulation need not take the intersubjective form presupposed by Zagzebski ( , ch. ).”
From Daoism, humanity, and the Way of Heaven (2020) · cites this paper as Zagzebski (2017)
Zagzebski's exemplarism contains a latent sensitivity to the aesthetics of exemplarity, specifically to the concept of moral beauty.
“I argue that her account contains a latent sensitivity to the aesthetics of exemplarity, of a sort worth drawing out.”
From Beautiful Bodhisattvas: The Aesthetics of Spiritual Exemplarity (2017) · cites this paper as Zagzebski 2017
Within Zagzebski's account of moral persuasion, encounters with exemplars must enable emulation of the exemplar.
“The second aim of the encounters, then, is to enable emulation of the exemplar.”
From Beautiful Bodhisattvas: The Aesthetics of Spiritual Exemplarity (2017) · cites this paper as Zagzebski 2017
Admiration is a central component of exemplarism, a moral theory based on the emotion of admiration, with exemplars as supremely admirable persons.
“Admiration is a central component of exemplarism, which is, says Zagzebski, 'a moral theory based on the emotion of admiration' , with exemplars as 'supremely admirable persons' (2017, 31, 2).”
From Beautiful Bodhisattvas: The Aesthetics of Spiritual Exemplarity (2017) · cites this paper as Zagzebski 2017, 31, 2
Within Zagzebski's account of moral persuasion, encounters with exemplars must activate our admiration for the exemplar.
“First, activate our admiration for the exemplar, provoking an emotional reaction to them.”
From Beautiful Bodhisattvas: The Aesthetics of Spiritual Exemplarity (2017) · cites this paper as Zagzebski 2017
Zagzebski's account of admiration is sometimes characterised in terms of attraction, a term with overt aesthetic connotations.
“Interestingly, Zagzebski's account of admiration is sometimes characterised in terms of attraction , a term with overt aesthetic connotations.”
From Beautiful Bodhisattvas: The Aesthetics of Spiritual Exemplarity (2017) · cites this paper as Zagzebski 2017, 55, 35
The ‘Exemplarist Moral Theory’ section describes admiration as an emotion that identifies exemplars and motivates emulation. Searches for attraction and being attracted to admirable people found no passage characterising admiration in those terms or discussing aesthetic connotations. (LLM, conf=0.72)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredCynicism about the admirable occludes one's capacity to experience moral attraction.
“Such cynicism will also occlude one's capacity to experience moral attraction, too.”
From Beautiful Bodhisattvas: The Aesthetics of Spiritual Exemplarity (2017) · cites this paper as Zagzebski 2017
In “Exemplarist Moral Theory” (page unavailable), Zagzebski says admiration of exemplars can inspire moral improvement. The passages found when searching for cynicism and impaired moral attraction do not address whether cynicism diminishes the capacity to experience that attraction. (LLM, conf=0.72)
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Research works printed but not linked: 3
- Lear J. (2008), Radical Hope: Ethics in the Face of Cultural Devastation, Harvard University Press, Cambridge (Mass.).
- Putnam H. (1975), The Meaning of 'Meaning', in «Minnesota Studies in the Phi- losophy of Science», 7, pp. 131-193; reprinted in H. Putnam, Mind, Language, and Reality (Philosophical Papers, vol. 2),Cambridge University Press, Cam- bridge 1975.
- Zagzebski L. (2017), Exemplarist Moral Theory, Oxford University Press, New York.
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- Authors
- Zagzebski, L.
- Affiliations
- University of Oklahoma (US)
- Corresponding author
- Zagzebski, Linda
- ORCID
- Zagzebski, Linda
- Venue
- Oxford University Press eBooks
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press
- Published
- 2017-04-27
- OpenAlex
- W2603037642
- Cited by
- 758
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 65 · 2025: 102 · 2024: 129 · 2023: 90 · 2022: 92 · 2021: 88 · 2020: 68 · 2019: 73 · 2018: 36 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 1
- FWCI
- 73.62
- Type
- book
- Language
- en
- Open access
- diamond
- www.rivistateoria.eu
- Licence
- cc-by-nc-nd
- Locations
- Oxford University Press eBooks (publishedVersion)
- Teoria. Rivista di filosofia (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Funders
- Wake Forest University
- Templeton Religion Trust
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Philosophy › Philosophical Ethics and Theory
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Psychology of Moral and Emotional Judgment
- Social Sciences › Education › Values and Moral Education
- Keywords
- exemplarism, moral theory, admiration, moral exemplars, virtue, moral motivation, moral development, moral education, narrative, heroes, saints, sage, moral language
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