Portraits of Integrity: 26 Case Studies from History, Literature and Philosophy

Description

Portraits of Integrity depicts more than 20 historical, fictional and contemporary figures whose character or life raises questions about what integrity is and how it is perceived. Integrity might be culturally bound, but this diverse set of portraits demonstrates that it is not the special preserve of any one culture. Portraits of Socrates, Mencius, Rama and Job, alongside the aspirational 16th-century couple John and Dorothy Kaye, civil rights activist Ella Baker and an anonymous banker, highlight the persisting - sometimes conflicting - features of a life lived with integrity. An introduction identifies and discusses the key questions and themes raised by the case studies, encouraging the reader to determine for themselves the weight and significance of the recurring topics integrity brings up - truth, awkwardness, goodness, and charisma. For anyone looking to learn more about this elusive virtue, Portraits of Integrity is an essential collection. It uncovers the manifold aspects of integrity, illustrates the various possibilities for its expression in a life and asks whether living a life of integrity means living a life of isolation and hardship, or if it is possible to live with integrity without jeopardising all else.

Charlotte Alston is Professor in History in the Department of Humanities at Northumbria University, UK. Amber Carpenter is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Yale-NUS, Singapore. Rachael Wiseman is Lecturer in Philosophy at University of Liverpool, UK.

A wide-ranging, thought-provoking collection that examines the various aspects and challenges of living with integrity. These short essays challenge us to move beyond thinking of integrity simply as unbending devotion to a principle or being true to oneself. * Matthew Pianalto, Professor in the Department of History, Philosophy and Religious Studies, Eastern Kentucky University, USA * Integrity is the most personal of virtues and yet the more philosophers try to define it, the more elusive it comes to seem. Here is a work that goes directly to the source: to the very struggle to live with integrity as it is encountered throughout the world and throughout history. From scholars and artists, reformers and journalists, and in great narratives such as the Ramaya?a, the portraits in this book are unfailingly enlightening and engaging. It is a moving and inspiring collection that unveils both the complexity and necessity of integrity. * Damian Cox, Associate Professor of Philosophy, Bond University, Gold Coast, Australia * Rather than providing yet another philosophical account, the editors are to be commended for offering a rich tapestry of lives and works that touch on the concept of integrity in different ways. Their novel approach is highly recommended! * Christian B. Miller, A. C. Reid Professor of Philosophy, Wake Forest University, USA *