About this item
Are there times when it's right to be rude? Can we distinguish between good and bad gossip? Am I a snob if I think that NPR listeners are likely to be better informed than devotees of Fox News? Does sick humor do anyone any good? Can I think your beliefs are absurd but still respect you?In The Virtues of Our Vices, philosopher Emrys Westacott takes a fresh look at important everyday ethical questions--and comes up with surprising answers. He makes a compelling argument that some of our most common vices--rudeness, gossip, snobbery, tasteless humor, and disrespect for others' beliefs--often have hidden virtues or serve unappreciated but valuable purposes. For instance, there are times when rudeness may be necessary to help someone with a problem or to convey an important message.
About the Author
Emrys Westacott was born in Nottingham, and grew up in Chesterfield (UK) . He studied philosophy at the University of Sheffield, McGill University, and the University of Texas at Austin. Since 1996 he has taught philosophy at Alfred University in Western New York. His work has appeared in various publications, both scholarly and popular, including Philosophy Now, The Humanist,The Philosophical Forum, International Studies in Philosophy, the International Journal of Applied Philosophy, The Chronicle of Higher Education, Think, and The Philosopher's Magazine. He has written three books: Thinking Through Philosophy (co-authored with Chris Horner) (Cambridge Univ. Press, 2000) ; The Virtues of our Vices (Princeton Univ. Press, 2012) ; and The Wisdom of Frugality (Princeton, 2016) . Further information, including links to his writings in a variety of genres and to his class web pages can be found at his website: https://sites.google.com/site/ewestacott/
