The Character Gap: How Good are We?(Philosophy in Action)

We like to think of ourselves, our friends, and our families as decent people. We may not be saints, but we are still honest, relatively kind, and mostly trustworthy. Miller argues here that we are badly mistaken in thinking this. Hundreds of recent studies in psychology tell a different story: that we all have serious character flaws that prevent us from being as good as we think we are - and that we do not even recognize that these flaws exist. But neither are most of us cruel or dishonest. Instead, Miller argues, we are a mixed bag. On the one hand, most of us in a group of bystanders will do nothing as someone cries out for help in an emergency. Yet it is also true that there will be many times when we will selflessly come to the aid of a complete stranger - and resist the urge to lie, cheat, or steal even if we could get away with it. Much depends on cues in our social environment. Miller uses this recent psychological literature to explain what the notion of "character" really means today, and how we can use this new understanding to develop a character better in sync with the kind of people we want to be.

Table of Contents:
Acknowledgements Preface Part One: What is Character and Why is it Important? Chapter One: What Are We Talking About? Chapter Two: Why Should We Bother Developing a Good Character? Part Two: What Does Our Character Actually Look Like Today?? Chapter Three: Helping Chapter Four: Harming Chapter Five: Lying Chapter Six: Cheating Chapter Seven: Putting the Pieces about Character Together Part Three: What Can We Do to Improve Our Characters? Chapter Eight: Some Initial and Less Promising Strategies Chapter Nine: Some Strategies with More Promise for Improving Our Characters Chapter Ten: Improving Our Characters with Divine Assistance Works Cited

About the Author :
Christian B. Miller is A.C. Reid Professor of Philosophy at Wake Forest University and Director of the Character Project, funded by the John Templeton Foundation and Templeton World Charity Foundation. He is the author of over 75 papers as well as two books with Oxford University Press, Moral Character: An Empirical Theory (2013) and Character and Moral Psychology (2014). He is also the editor or co-editor of Essays in the Philosophy of Religion (Oxford University Press), Character: New Directions from Philosophy, Psychology, and Theology (Oxford University Press), and several other volumes.

Review :
"Dietrich Bonhoeffer taught us that nothing that we despise in the other is entirely absent from ourselves. Christian Miller teaches us that the road to virtue lies in humility about our own virtue and an acceptance that others are struggling with their flaws. This is a very valuable book at a moment when our society could use a dose of openness and a sense of forgiveness." --E.J. Dionne Jr., Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution and University Professor in the Foundations of Democracy and Culture, Georgetown University "The topic of character is both timeless and timely. In this especially lucid and personal narrative, Christian Miller guides the interested reader through the modern science of character, with special emphasis on its moral aspects, and with helpful and practical recommendations for its development." --Angela Duckworth, Christopher H. Browne Distinguished Professor of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, and author of Grit: The Power and Passion of Perseverance "Christian Miller cautions that this is not a self-help book. Don't believe him. Of course, it is not a set of tips and tricks to magically become a better person. But if honest, realistic self-knowledge and clear-eyed empathy are crucial for the moral life, then this book will help. Anyone serious about traveling the road to character should bring this book on the journey." --James K.A. Smith, professor of philosophy, Calvin College, and author of You Are What You Love: The Spiritual Power of Habit "This is a book full of insight, informed by research and written by someone with a profound understanding of character. It is a must read for anyone looking for a fresh presentation of its importance in human life." --James Arthur, Director of the Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues, University of Birmingham "In The Character Gap, Mr. Miller provides a clear and valuable summary of the research on character and argues persuasively that character is built, not given."- Wall Street Journal "The Character Gap is a careful and accessible entry point into the complicated topic of human moral character." -- Journal of Markets and Morality