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Shame is a Jekyll-and-Hyde emotion--it can be morally valuable, but it also has a dark side. Thomason presents a philosophically rigorous and nuanced account of shame that accommodates its harmful and helpful aspects. Thomason argues that despite its obvious drawbacks and moral ambiguity, shame's place in our lives is essential.
List of contents
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction: The Two Faces of Shame
- Chapter 1 Ajax: Shame and Ideals
- Chapter 2 Ajax Reconsidered: Shame and Violence
- Chapter 3 Ajax Revealed: A New Account of Shame
- Chapter 4 Ajax Redeemed: The Moral Value of Shame
- Chapter 5 Ajax Reviled: Shame and Shaming
- Conclusion: Shame and the Other Bugs in the Garden
- References
About the author
Krista K. Thomason is an assistant professor of philosophy at Swarthmore College. Her main areas of research are moral psychology, Kant's moral theory, and human rights. Her work appears in Philosophy and Phenomenological Research, Kantian Review, The Southern Journal of Philosophy, and Ethical Theory and Moral Practice.
Summary
Shame is a Jekyll-and-Hyde emotion--it can be morally valuable, but it also has a dark side. Thomason presents a philosophically rigorous and nuanced account of shame that accommodates its harmful and helpful aspects. Thomason argues that despite its obvious drawbacks and moral ambiguity, shame's place in our lives is essential.
Additional text
This is an elegant and original account of shame, with a striking explanatory power. Thomason shows with style how even the darkest features of shame have and deserve a place in our moral life. Naked is a must-read for anyone interested in ethics, the moral emotions, and moral psychology.
