A Kantian Theory of Moral Character

A fresh take on moral character grounded in Kant's ethics, this book explores virtue as a freely chosen, evolving commitment rather than a static trait. It offers a compelling alternative to Aristotelian models and is ideal for students and scholars interested in ethics, moral psychology, and the philosophy of character.

What is moral character, and how does it unfold over time? This book offers a fresh Kantian alternative to the dominant Aristotelian paradigm, which defines character as a stable set of virtues and vices. Drawing on Kant's moral philosophy, A Kantian Theory of Moral Character reframes character as a first-person commitment to moral principles - not a fixed trait, but a freely chosen, evolving practical orientation that shapes and is shaped by an agent's life as a whole. Central to this view is Kant's notion of Gesinnung: a person's fundamental moral disposition, constituted through free choice and the continuous reaffirmation of moral commitment. Bridging contemporary debates in ethics with historical insights from Kant, this study offers a compelling account of how freedom, moral commitment, temporality, and moral identity intertwine. It will interest scholars and students of philosophy, ethics, and moral psychology seeking a deeper understanding of character and moral agency.