Skip to content
Register Sign in Wishlist

The Subject of Virtue
An Anthropology of Ethics and Freedom

Part of New Departures in Anthropology

  • Date Published: October 2013
  • availability: Available
  • format: Paperback
  • isbn: 9781107697317

Paperback

Add to wishlist

Other available formats:
Hardback, eBook


Looking for an inspection copy?

This title is not currently available on inspection

Description
Product filter button
Description
Contents
Resources
Courses
About the Authors
  • The anthropology of ethics has become an important and fast-growing field in recent years. This book argues that it represents not just a new subfield within anthropology but a conceptual renewal of the discipline as a whole, enabling it to take account of a major dimension of human conduct which social theory has so far failed adequately to address. An ideal introduction for students and researchers in anthropology and related human sciences. • Shows how ethical concepts such as virtue, character, freedom and responsibility may be incorporated into anthropological analysis • Surveys the history of anthropology's engagement with morality • Examines the relevance for anthropology of two major philosophical approaches to moral life.

    • Promotes dialogue between anthropologists and philosophers by including a detailed account of virtue ethics and its relevance for anthropology
    • Promotes a conceptual renewal of current social theory by illustrating how ethical concepts (character, freedom, responsibility) may be incorporated into anthropological analysis
    • Includes a wide-ranging critical survey and analysis of the history of anthropology's engagement with morality
    Read more

    Reviews & endorsements

    'James Laidlaw's book, which has the advantage of being elegantly written, is bound to transform the anthropological study of morality and ethics. Along the way, he helps us rethink many of our most important ideas, models and theories, including those related to practice, to relativism, to agency and - above all - to freedom.' Charles Stafford, London School of Economics and Political Science

    'Clearly argued, beautifully written and brilliant, this book will become a foundational text in the new anthropology of morality - an anthropology that is both ethically responsible and philosophically deep.' T. M. Luhrmann, Stanford University

    'This is the kind of game-changing book we have been waiting for in the anthropology of ethics. Theoretically astute, philosophically wide-ranging, and dazzling in its use of ethnographic materials, all intellectually ambitious anthropologists will want to read it. And philosophers who have made great efforts recently to render their arguments psychologically realistic now have a perfect place to turn to begin to engage the social aspects of their subject matter with equal care.' Joel Robbins, University of California, San Diego

    See more reviews

    Customer reviews

    Not yet reviewed

    Be the first to review

    Review was not posted due to profanity

    ×

    , create a review

    (If you're not , sign out)

    Please enter the right captcha value
    Please enter a star rating.
    Your review must be a minimum of 12 words.

    How do you rate this item?

    ×

    Product details

    • Date Published: October 2013
    • format: Paperback
    • isbn: 9781107697317
    • length: 270 pages
    • dimensions: 226 x 152 x 18 mm
    • weight: 0.39kg
    • availability: Available
  • Table of Contents

    1. Beyond the science of unfreedom
    2. Virtue ethics: philosophy with an ethnographic stance?
    3. Foucault's genealogy and the undefined work of freedom
    4. The 'question of freedom' in anthropology
    5. Taking responsibility seriously
    6. Endnote: the reluctant cannibal.

  • Author

    James Laidlaw, University of Cambridge
    James Laidlaw is Lecturer in the Department of Archaeology and Anthropology and Fellow of King's College at the University of Cambridge.

Related Books

also by this author

Sorry, this resource is locked

Please register or sign in to request access. If you are having problems accessing these resources please email lecturers@cambridge.org

Register Sign in
Please note that this file is password protected. You will be asked to input your password on the next screen.

» Proceed

You are now leaving the Cambridge University Press website. Your eBook purchase and download will be completed by our partner www.ebooks.com. Please see the permission section of the www.ebooks.com catalogue page for details of the print & copy limits on our eBooks.

Continue ×

Continue ×

Continue ×
warning icon

Turn stock notifications on?

You must be signed in to your Cambridge account to turn product stock notifications on or off.

Sign in Create a Cambridge account arrow icon
×

Find content that relates to you

Join us online

This site uses cookies to improve your experience. Read more Close

Are you sure you want to delete your account?

This cannot be undone.

Cancel

Thank you for your feedback which will help us improve our service.

If you requested a response, we will make sure to get back to you shortly.

×
Please fill in the required fields in your feedback submission.
×