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Handbook of Humility Theory, Research, and Applications Everett L. Worthington, Don E. Davis, Joshua N. Hook
Humility from a Philosophical Point of View
Publication details https://www.routledgehandbooks.com/doi/10.4324/9781315660462.ch2 Robert C. Roberts, W. Scott Cleveland Published online on: 02 Dec 2016
How to cite :- Robert C. Roberts, W. Scott Cleveland. 02 Dec 2016, Humility from a Philosophical Point of View from: Handbook of Humility, Theory, Research, and Applications Routledge Accessed on: 01 Oct 2021 https://www.routledgehandbooks.com/doi/10.4324/9781315660462.ch2
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The publisher does not give any warranty express or implied or make any representation that the contents will be complete or accurate or up to date. The publisher shall not be liable for an loss, actions, claims, proceedings, demand or costs or damages whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with or arising out of the use of this material. Downloaded By: 10.3.98.104 At: 05:35 01 Oct 2021; For: 9781315660462, chapter2, 10.4324/9781315660462.ch2 but alsosuchdispositions asprideinone’s ofslovenliness); work(thecontrary and goodbadtraits thatarecalledpride.Thereisnotonlyvicious pride, conceived andthatthere arebothgoodandbadtraitsthatcalledhumility We thinkthatthisblack-and-whitethinkingabout humilityandprideismis- ciple ofAyn Rand(seeRand,1964),doessomething similar(Smith,1998). kind ofvice(onethe“monkishvirtues”);Tara dis- Smith,acontemporary reverses theChristianevaluation,makingpride thegoodthingandhumilitya person nohumility. DavidHume(1888)alsoopposeshumility andpride,but the opposite,asthoughhumblepersoncan havenoprideandtheproud sometimes conceivedprideasthechiefofallsinful dispositionsandhumilityas ofpride.TheChristiantradition,forexample, has thought ofasthecontrary is tofocusonwhatwecallthevicesofpride.Traditionally, humilityhasbeen riority, specialentitlements,prestige, orpower. Letusexplainthisdefinition. self-importance isconstruedasconferredbysocialstatus,glory, honor, supe- The virtueofhumilityisintelligentlackconcernforself-importance,where cal partofempiricalresearchintothetrait. research intothetopic,andprovidingsuchclarityisessentiallyphilosophi- humility tobe a virtue.Clarityabout the natureof humility is vital for empirical valuable trait.We willsituateourviewvis-à-visrivalviews,mostofwhichalso take defects), wewillhereofferanddefendanaccountofhumilityasadmirable, servility, orsmall-mindedness (sotherearekindsofhumilitythatcharacter a state of chronic shame or low self-esteem, lack of ambition, obsequiousness, of manythatthewordhumilitycanbeandisusedbysomepeopletodenote a goodlife,whereasothersholdittobeessential.Withoutdenyingtheintuition definitions ofhumility abound.Someholdittobeahindrance and contrary Both thenatureandvalueofhumilityarecontroversialinphilosophy. Diverse We thinkthatthehandiest waytogettheconceptofhumilityasavirtue PHILOSOPHICAL POINTOFVIEW Robert C. Roberts andW. C.Roberts Robert ScottCleveland HUMILITY FROMA
Defining Humility 2
Downloaded By: 10.3.98.104 At: 05:35 01 Oct 2021; For: 9781315660462, chapter2, 10.4324/9781315660462.ch2 self-concern, butcondemnedtheself-righteousPhariseeforhis.Self- that’s thatitwassuchamess.Jesuscommendedhimforhis whyhewassosorry important; mercy onmeasinner”(Luke18.9–14),thestateofhisselfwasvery important to yourself. To the tax collector who beat his breast and said “God have to have contributed something. Also, self-importance is not the same as being our friendsandfamily, andweallwant alittleimportanceinourwork:wewant Self-importance is not the same as importance. We all want to be important to . way: thevariousvicesofprideareallatrootconcerntobeself-important special of prideallwant?Ouransweristhattheywanttobeimportantinavery desirable onebecausehealthissuchagoodthing. absence, butavery something bad.We thinkit’s somewhatliketheabsenceofafluvirus:it’s justan canbe merely theabsenceof vices of pride.Sometimeswe are asked how avirtue to lorditoverothers).We thinkthevirtueofhumilityisjustabsence be self-made),self-righteousness,haughtiness,anddomination(thedisposition pleasant counterpart of envy), vanity, arrogance, hyperautonomy (aspiring to of pride.Thevicespride,bycontrast,includeconceit,invidiouspride(the tion toworthyends;andno doubt others.Thesemightbecalledthevirtues ership; asenseofdignity;prideinone’s country, family, andchildren;aspira- self-confidence (acan-do,will-to-be-heardattitude);authoritativenessinlead- 34 about controllingother people’s livesbecause itmakeshimfeelbig.We should others becausetheyconfer importanceonher, the domineeringpersoncares ments thatinflatehisimportance, thevainpersoncaresaboutadulation of person caresaboutbeing abigshot,thearrogantpersoncaresabout entitle- say thatself-importanceiswhatpeoplewiththose traits careabout.Theconceited and snobbishpeoplecareabout,sowemightjust listthevicesofprideandthen important. Butwhatarethemarksofself-importance orthebigego? people withthevicesofpridewantsuchthings becausetheymakethemself- not “foritsownsake,”butforthesakeoftheir family orresearchactivity. But ties todothekindofresearchtheywantdo. Here theyareseekingprestige Or maybetheywantitbecausecanleadtopromotion andmoreopportuni- orajobthatpaysenoughtofeed thefamily.prestige isawaytohighersalary from publishinginexcellentjournalsbecausetheyhaveafamilytofeedandthe reasons. Forexample,youngacademicsmightwanttheprestigethatcomes because thesethingsmakethemimportant.It’s possibleto wantthemforother tlements, prestige,andpower. Whydotheywantthesethings?They them social status,glory, credit,adulatingattention,honor, superiority, special enti- is theideathatpeopleexpresswhentheysaysomeonehasa“bigego.” What do all the vices of pride have in common? What do people with the vices What doallthevicesofpridehaveincommon?peoplewith We thinkthatmostadults haveanintuitivesenseforwhatconceited,arrogant, What dopeoplewhohaveabigegowant?T robert c.roberts andw. scottcleveland ypically, theywantsuchthingsas importance importance
Downloaded By: 10.3.98.104 At: 05:35 01 Oct 2021; For: 9781315660462, chapter2, 10.4324/9781315660462.ch2 certainly neednothave the characterofcontempt. not takepleasureinthe other’s inferiority, norneedbefocusedinthat way, and playful. Evenwhenitgets “serious,”thedesireforcompetitivesuperiority need can beteleologicallysubordinate towinningthegame,whichmaybe merely competitors, butthisconcernforsuperiorityneed notbeinvidious,becauseit has to be noninstrumental. For example, athletes typically want to outdo their envy. To beinvidious,the kindofsuperioritythatthepridefulindividualprizes pride, andwhentheirsuccessesabaseusinoureyes, wefeeltheviciousdefeatof When theirdefeatsseemtoelevateus,wefeelthe vicioustriumphofinvidious In our minds we are elevated by their defeats and defeated by their elevations. our rivals’excellenceasbelittlementandtheir deficiencyasourexaltation. and usasrivals,welandourselvesinthespirit worldofInvidia.We construe in theinterestoftheirimportance.Andsoweandtheytendtoconstrue them importance becausethey’reonasimilarquestforcomparativecreditandpower superior to the other. Others don’t always cooperate in our quest for personal samecompetitiveconcerntobeimportantbybeing invidious pride,thevery she’s losing the competition for importance. Envy is just the loser’s version of ness is thatthe envier wishes ill ordemotionforthepersontowhom she feels look “down” on them. Envy is notoriously comparative, and much of its nasti- at leastmild,forthepeopletowhomtheyconceivethemselvesassuperior; but as comparatively so. So conceited persons have a tendency to feel contempt, comparative importance.Considersomeofthevicespride. simply becauseitmakesthemsuperior. Soself-importanceis(usually)socially equality) “for its own sake” as we say, which means they want this superiority goal. Rather, exemplarsofthevicespridewantthissortsuperiority(or turning outexcellentstudents,winningagame,orsomesuchpossiblyworthy a well-functioningorganization,gettingraise,beinganexampletoothers, not asameanstosomeotherend,suchgettingelectedoffice,creating to bemore importantthan,oratleastasas,others,andtheywantthis, be two general features of self-importance. Exemplars of the vices of pride want . Theseseemto the vicesofpridecareaboutiscomparativeandnoninstrumental list ofvicespride.Itseems to usthatthekindofimportancepeoplewith don’t truckletohereffortscontrolthemisconcernedforself-importance. And which thevainpersonfeelssmall,isstillbasedonaconcernforself-importance. getting thekindofimportancethathedesires.Wounded vanity, forexample,in not sayingthatthepersonwhocaresaboutself-importancealwayssucceedsin note thattheconcernforself-importancecanmanifestitselfinfailure;weare In hisconceit,theconceitedpersonthinksofhimself,notjustasimportant, But let’s todobetteratdefiningself-importancethanjustpointthe try
the domineeringpersonwhogetsangr humility from a philosophical view humility from aphilosophical y or feels worthless because others y orfeelsworthlessbecauseothers 35
Downloaded By: 10.3.98.104 At: 05:35 01 Oct 2021; For: 9781315660462, chapter2, 10.4324/9781315660462.ch2 identify—our IvyLeagueuniversity, ourcountr relative importanceistheexclusivesocialcircleorcliqueguildwithwhichwe tonomy seemstobeexemplifiedwithoutanycomparing.Snobbery’s basisof He wanted, in this way, to be self-made, but in this case, the vice of hyperau - grace, whichwasneededtoelevatehimsothathecouldhavethebeatificvision. in thebeatificvisionbyhisownnaturalpowers.HepridefullyrefusedGod’s case ofLucifer’s fall,whichsomethinkwastheresultofwanting toknowGod example ofhyperautonomythatisanexceptiontothisgeneralizationthe thatself-importanceiscomparativewiththeword“usually.”our observation An this concernisobviouslylinkedtotheforcredit.Earlier, wequalified to beself-made,notoweothersforwhatoneisandhasaccomplished, of these,itisnotvicious.Thevicethatwecallhyperautonomytheconcern another; whenthereceivedcreditishappilyconstruedasanexpressionofone credit, generouslyorjustly, canbe a wayofrecognizing,loving,orrespecting especially ifit’s noninstrumental,isoneofthemarks viciouspride.Giving fer from seeking and loving credit for one’s agency; the concern about credit, agent orconfidenceinone’s ownagency.) Butseekingandlovingagency dif- of virtuous pride. (Let’s call it secure agency. It’s a kind of self-confidence as pleasure in acting and the abilityto act well in a variety of ways; this is an aspect getting creditforone’s actionsandaccomplishments.Noticethatonecantake so enjoythefeelingofourmoralsuperiority. A lesswise,pious,enlightened,frugal,andsoforth) conservative, selves (lessindustrious,lessrelaxed,tolerant,rigorous,liberal, enjoy comparingourselveswithotherswhomweseeaslessuprightthanour of our self-importance. Self-comparison is at the heart of this vice when we control asawayofbeing personallyimportant.A aim instrumentallyatthat end,buttheviciousattitudeinvolvesseeking such ple beinchargeofothers, andtheconcerntobeincontrolofothers may I to havecommented,“Hale,I movements, byshapingtheirminds.(Asaprominent theologianisreputed you, bybeingtheirprotectoragainstotherthings theyfear, bycontrollingtheir others inavarietyofways:bydeterminingwhat theydo,bymakingthemfear accomplished, butalsoforwhattheyhaveaccomplished. Butyoucandominate important. Thismaytaketheformofwantingcredit, notonlyforwhatwehave based ontheconcerntolorditoverothers,dominate themasawayofbeing tion, ourmembershipamongthewinecognoscienti, andthelike. of importancethatdominatesthevicesprideis 36
teach ’emtothinklike In self-righteousnessmoralgoodnessandrectitudecanbecomethematerial In theviceofdominationvicioussense your personalimportanceis robert c.roberts andw. scottcleveland me!”). Well-ordered socialliferequiresthatsomepeo -
don’ t wanttoteach’emthinkforthemselves; y club,ourreligiousdenomina-
related aspectoftheconcept
sense ofpersonalauthority, a credit, apreoccupationwith - Downloaded By: 10.3.98.104 At: 05:35 01 Oct 2021; For: 9781315660462, chapter2, 10.4324/9781315660462.ch2 such isthekingdomofGod.”A of thevicespridemightbewhyJesusNazareth toldhisdisciplesthat“of capable of either the vices of prideorthecorresponding humility. Theirlack qualification isalowhurdle.Itperhaps arguablethatsmallchildrenare not concern forself-importanceneedstobe“intelligent” tocountashumility. This goodnameforhercondition.Thisiswhywesaythat thelackof is notavery logical defect(forexample,damagetotheprefrontal cortex),then“humility” able to be concerned with self-importance, or because of some other neuro- does sobecausesheisseverelyenoughafflictedwithmentaldeficitsnottobe need tohavenormalcoherence.Ifapersonlacksallthevicesofpride,but obviously, thelifeofhumble person requiresmotives,andthesemotives istic motivesofconcernforjuststatesaffairsandthereliefsuffering.But it differsfromthevirtuesofjusticeandcompassion,whichhavecharacter these vices,thenyouaresomewhathumble,orquitehumble. humble. Andifyouaresomewhat,orimpressivelybutnotcompletely, freeof grandiosity, arrogance,vanity, andanyotherviceofpride,thenyouareutterly are utterly free from envy, domination, snobbery, hyperautonomy, haughtiness, the vicesofpride.Itconsistsinnotbeingmotivatedbyself-importance.Ifyou forth. is really a commitment to excellence in higher education, and so our snobbery ment toexcellenceinfashionorpleasingourspousewithtrimneatness, the other’s goodortheoforganization,ourvanity isreallyacommit- are mixedinawaythat’s hardforevenustosortout.Our dominationisfor in wantingthemissomeworthygood—andsometimes(orusually)ourmotives always construe our vicious concerns as not vicious because what we really want mental counterpartsaffordsscopeforself-andother-deception. We canalmost behavior.observable trates the difficulty of assessing a subject’s humility on the basis of empirically logian’s expressionastowhetherheisdomineeringorproperlypridefulillus- regarded as akindofpride,anditcanbevirtuous.The ambiguity of the theo- students towardthetruthquiteapartfromyourpersonalimportance,canbe confidence inassumingintellectualleadershipwhenthatisawaytoguideyour be sufficientfortheiractually havingthevirtue. small childrenanalogous to self- intelligent choicesconcerning thekindofgoodsthatpeopleconsider means yet developedintothevirtueofhumilitybecause thechildhasnotyetmade Humility, onouraccount,doesn’t haveanycharacteristicmotive.Inthatway Our thesisisthatthevirtueofhumilitysimplyintelligentabsence The factthattheconcernscharacteristicofvicesprideallhaveinstru- importance. Thusthelack ofconcernforself-importancewouldmake humility from a philosophical view humility from aphilosophical topeoplewiththevirtue ofhumility, butitwouldnot
toddler’ s lackofthevicespridehasnot 37 - Downloaded By: 10.3.98.104 At: 05:35 01 Oct 2021; For: 9781315660462, chapter2, 10.4324/9781315660462.ch2 be aprimeexemplarof humility aslackofconcernforself-importance, though who helps other people give birth to ideas (Plato, 1997, as notan“authority”on anything, butinsteadasa“midwife”(akindofservant) as wellother“external”goods(safety, money).Hedepictshimself,indeed, trast, isconsumedbyhissearchforintegrityand truth,inindifferencetohonor the concern for his own personal importance, his greatness. Socrates, by con- self-sufficiency, orwhatwecalltheviceofhyperautonomy, andbehindthatis Aristotle’s great-souledpersonseemsstronglyorientedbytheconcernfor of itasalackconcernforself-importancewould supportwhattheydosay. attempt todefineitorelaboratetheconcept, but wecanseehowouraccount ordination toGod(obedience)asafruitofwhat wecallhumility. Theydon’t full ofcommendationshumilityasavirtue. Greek philosophers,theBibleandsubsequentChristiantraditionarechock ofmagnanimousorproud).Bycontrastwiththe (small-minded, thecontrary arepusillanimous themselves aslessworthyofhonorthantheyinfactdeserve a concernforself-importance(forexample,asconceit).Peoplewhoconstrue along withitsevaluationinlightoftheirownexcellence,smackspungently and ontriflinggrounds.”Thisstrongawarenessofthehonorthatisduethem, them fortheirgreatnessthattheyutterlydespise“honorfromcasualpeople (1998, §4.3),makespeoplesufficientlyattentivetothehonorsthataredue (magnanimity orgreat-souledness),whichis“asortofcrownthevirtues” (Plato, 1997,Laws4.716a–b;seePinsent,2012,p. that inobediencetoGodjusticebefollowed“withmeeknessandhumility” piece, theAthenian,declaresthatsteadinessinpursuitofjusticerequires borhood ofhumility, andatonepointinPlato’s Laws,Plato’s apparentmouth- updated Achilles(Plato,1997,Apology28b–d),exemplifiedavirtueintheneigh- as wehavedescribedit.Itisarguable,however, thatSocrates,despitebeing an age, and self-assertion, they do not, for the most part, countenance humility edly aminorcharacter. AsheirsoftheHomericidealizationstrength,cour Among thevirtuesdiscussedbyancientGreekphilosophers,humilityisdecid- new viewthatwaspublishedin2013. held. We havedrawnexamplesallthe way fromtheancientphilosopherstoa osophical literature,wehavechosenseventhatseemtousbemostwidely Among themanyconceptionsofhumilitythathavebeenproposedinphil- 38 Socrates (Plato,1997,Apology)andthepassagefrom Laws bothstresssub- But Aristotle, more faithful, it seems, to the Homeric ideal, tells us that pride robert c.roberts andw. scottcleveland Competing Views ofHumility Competing Views Humility asSmall-Mindedness
248–50). Theaetetus). He seems to - Downloaded By: 10.3.98.104 At: 05:35 01 Oct 2021; For: 9781315660462, chapter2, 10.4324/9781315660462.ch2 great things against right reason” (ibid.,reply 3). “. responsio). “Humilityrestrainstheappetite(reprimit appetitum)fromaimingat erately; andthisbelongstothevirtueofhumility”(1981,2a2æ,Q161,art.1, a virtue“totemperandrestrainthemind,lestittendtohighthingsimmod- Thomas Aquinassaysthatforaspirationsaredifficulttoachieve,weneed (species ofvirtuouspride,inourvocabulary). highaspirationstounderstandrealityandbeapersonofintegrity he hasvery that doesn’t necessarilycomefrom lackofhumility. Andevenifwecontinueto it. Ifweshootforthestars withoutproperregardforourpersonallimitations, toattain talented enoughforgreatness inacertainpursuitunlessweactuallytry ing inunderstandingofourowntalentsandwill notfindoutwhetherwe’re thus dosoinawaythatisnotunhumble.When we’reyoung,oftenlack- capacities orreasonableopportunitiesoutofignorance ofthoselimits,and of engineitis. prevents it from being revved up beyond safety standards for the particular kind Humility isalimitingmechanism,likegovernor onagasolineenginethat in theappetiteforgreatthings,tostaywithin boundsofthoseconditions. by unavoidablesocialcircumstances,andsoforth. Humilityisthedisposition, vidual talentsandothercharacteristics,moralconstraints,constraintsimposed Aquinas. Thesepursuitshaveconditionsofrationalityhavingtodowithindi- tite” forsuchthingsisthekindofappetitethathumilitygoverns,accordingto States, oragourmetcook,fullprofessor, orbillionaireoiltycoon.“Appe - of theseisouraspirationtogreatthingslikebeingpresidenttheUnited being). Butwealsohaveother“appetites”thatcangetoutofbounds,andone means rationalorreasonableforhumanbeings(oranindividual and sex;thatis,itmakesthemstaywithintheirproperbounds,where“proper” The basicorcardinalvirtueoftemperancemoderatesappetitesforfood,drink, erates “appetites”—desires,urges,concerns—inaccordancewithrightreason. magnanimity) andonetorestrainitfromgoingoverboard(humility). be properlydisposed,theappetiteneedstwovirtues,onetoencourageit(thus overexuberance inseeking things thatarebeyondwhatisproperfor it. Soto can gowrongintwoways,bydiscouragementbecauseofthedifficulty, orby we haveanappetiteforgoodthingsthataredifficulttoattain.Such towards thatwhichisabovehim”(ibid.,art.2,responsio ). Aquinas’s ideaisthat humility, It seemstousthatapersonmightpursueanaspiration thatwasbeyondher For AquinasandtheAristoteliantradition,temperanceisvirtuethatmod-
that amanrestrainhimself( humility from a philosophical view humility from aphilosophical Humility as a Brake on Irrational Ambition Humility asaBrakeonIrrational aliquis reprimat seipsum)frombeingborne
.
. itbelongsproperly 39 to
Downloaded By: 10.3.98.104 At: 05:35 01 Oct 2021; For: 9781315660462, chapter2, 10.4324/9781315660462.ch2 appetite forself-importance.A advocating, humilityisnotaformofself-control,becauseitthelack is amatterofhavingrightappetiteinthefirstplace.Onviewthatwe’re as thetemperatepersondoesn’t needtocontrolhimself, becausetemperance he restrainshisappetite).Buttemperancediffersfromself-controlinasmuch he saysthatthehumblepersonrestrainshimself(meaning,wesuppose, humility “restrains”appetite.Hesaysthatrestrainstheappetite,and open ourdiscussionofAquinas,hespeaksintwodifferentwaysabouthow within limitsinthepursuitofgreatness. (namely, theconcernforself-importance);thatishowitrelatedtostaying our limits inasmuch as it eliminates one possible motive for going beyond them and act and see the world in certain terms, we might call it low self-esteem. The and actseetheworld incertainterms,wemightcallitlowself-esteem. The ity. Andinsofarassuchshamebecomes achronicdispositiontothinkandfeel contrasted towherethe nice peoplelive—wewouldcallthisshame,not humil- ing thatoccursatagiven moment,say, inreflectingonthe placeyou’relivingin bad aboutyourselfbecauseyouliveinaslum.Insofar asit’s anemotion—afeel- ful house. So anexampleofhumility in hissenseofthe word wouldbefeeling treats asanemotion—is feeling goodabout yourself because you havea beauti - bruise it(thinkof“woundedvanity”).Hume’s exampleofpride—whichhealso so muchaboutyourself-importancethatpersons andcircumstancescaneasily snobbish, andhyperautonomoussetsyouupfor humiliationbecauseyoucare will belessvulnerabletohumiliationifyouare humble.Beingvain,arrogant, or humbled. But neither of these is the trait that we call humility. In fact, you to thinkofhumilityasanemotion,thoughwe do speakoffeelinghumiliated English speakerswouldcallanemotion.Tocontemporary usitseemsabitodd Passions” (Hume,1888,pp. David Hume treats “humility” in Book II of his But that’s becausewe’renothumble. not tobeconceited,snobbish,arrogant,vain,hyperautonomous,andthelike. fully humble,sowedoneedtorestrainourappetiteforself-importance,trying few,self-importance thatneedstoberestrained.Ofcourse,very ifany, ofusare try), toourcoun- musical excellence,intellectualunderstanding,orpoliticalservice ing greatness, if we do so out of a concernforself-importance(rather than, say, what makesthedifference.Evenifwestayprudentlywithinourlimitsinpursu- irrationality isstillnotnecessarilyunhumility. Inourview, themotivationis pursue them“irrationally”afterseeingthewritingonwallinmid-life,that 40 Is humility a kind of self-control or self-regulation? In the quotations that then wearelackinginhumility. Humilitymighthelpusstayrationallywithin robert c.roberts andw. scottcleveland Humility asChronic ShameorLowSelf-Esteem
277–290). Soheconceivesitasapassion,orwhat
fully humblepersondoesn’ Treatise of Human Nature , “Of the t haveadesirefor
Downloaded By: 10.3.98.104 At: 05:35 01 Oct 2021; For: 9781315660462, chapter2, 10.4324/9781315660462.ch2 Here humilityistakentobeorimplyakindof lethargy patible withgreatnessof leadership,action,andachievement.” to mistakelowself-esteemforthevirtueofhumility. JonathanEdwardssaysthat least anemotionaldefect.Butit’s notwhatwewouldcallthevirtueofhumility. way, in whichcase sometimes the word “humility” is used to designate a vice or at Oxford andRichardsnotwithstanding.Perhaps somepeoplespeakEnglishthis regards thisasthe“usual”wayofconceivinghumility. Eventhisseemsoddtous, Richards(1992) being humbleorhavingalowlyopinionofoneself,”andNorvin of , initsfirstdefinition,saysthathumilityis“thequality Oxford EnglishDictionary with Pinsent(2012,p. then apersonlikethis is certainlydefectiveasahumanspecimen.We agree excellent, well-formedagent isenergyandinitiativeasenseofhigh calling, hopelessness—certainly adeficiencyofaspiration. Ifwethinkthatamarkofan the lowambitionview. Tara Smithexpresses itthisway: and yetheistheprimeexemplarofhumilityinNewTestament. point ofview, tothinkhumilityimpliescontrition,becauseJesusChristissinless ness about one’s sins and sinfulness) with humility. It’s wrong,froma Christian note, too,thattheChristiantraditionoftenelidesvirtueofcontrition(sad- self-importance) tonoticingandadmittingshamefulthingsabouthimself.We (hisloveof view ofhimself;butitdoesimplythathewilllackamajorbarrier cern forself-importancedoesnotimplythatthehumblepersonwillhavealow This maybewhatwecallahumblingexperience.Buthumilityaslackofcon- eyes, as unworthy of any good, and deserving ofallevil. eyes, asunworthyofanygood,anddeserving discerning anabundanceofthisinhimself,heabhorshimselfhisown ness andvilenessofsincommittedagainsttheBeingthatheloves.And and ourdesertofill,becausehethatlovesGodissensiblethehateful- and estimatesofourselves,leadstoadeepsenseourunworthiness long-suffering spirit.LovetoGod,asitexaltshim,tendslowthoughts love toGodtendshumility, which isonemainrootofameekand We have to admit, though, that the Christian tradition has sometimes seemed relatively low-levelneedsandaims. a minimalstandardofliving,orjob,romance, andsatisfiesherselfwith Typically, much.Sheiscontentwith thehumblepersondoesnotwantvery Related to,orperhaps anaspect of,thelowself-assessmentviewofhumilityis humility from a philosophical view humility from aphilosophical
247), whosaysthat“humility [thevirtue]isnotincom (Edwards, 1969,Sermon4) , passivity, ormaybe (Smith, 1998,p.
78) 41 - Downloaded By: 10.3.98.104 At: 05:35 01 Oct 2021; For: 9781315660462, chapter2, 10.4324/9781315660462.ch2 42 the vicesofpride.The musician whoenviesthosewhosestatusinthe music evaluation issufficient forhumility, becauseitiscompatible withsomeof not concern forself-importance, butwedon’t thinknonoverestimationinself- no inclinationtoexaggerateyourself-worth. that tohavethevirtueofhumilityisunderstand yourselfsowellthatyouhave mate them”(Flanagan,1990;seealsoBenZe’ev, 1993).Richards(1992)thinks accurate senseofheraccomplishmentsandworth butshedoesnotoveresti- the non-overestimationaccount,modestperson maywellhaveaperfectly a dispositionnottoexaggerateyourownworth orexcellence.“Accordingto and ignoranceviews,severalphilosophersproposed thathumility(modesty)is In anefforttoavoidtheratherobviousinfelicities oftheshame/lowself-esteem someotherendthatshewants. music shelovesorserves being animportant“figure”isbecauseitsomehowenableshertomakethe ure” inthemusicworld,butbeingagoodmusician.Anyinterestshehas for self-importance.Sheisultimatelyinterested,notinbeinganimportant“fig- concern withtherankingswill,ifsheishumble,beduetoherlackof a fellowshiptostudywithanoutstandingteacher).Thereasonforherlackof (unless thatstatushasinstrumentalsignificanceforsomethingshewants—say, with thembecauseofaconcernforherstatusinthecommunitymusicians not bepreoccupiedwiththeserankings,andwillcertainly reason grounded in humility that she should not know this. She will probably who isbetterthansheandinferioramonghercolleagues.Thereno assessing herexcellence.Ifshe’s aconcertviolinistshemay knowquiteexactly what you’vedone. noticing waysyouaresuperiortoothers,andnotinsistingongettingcreditfor not withcoveringupyourmoreprivatebodyparts,butbragging, esty” she’s todescribeseemsbejustaswellcalledhumility;ithasdo, trying maybe you are modest or kind,immediatelyyou lose yourmodesty. The “mod- ing tolistenreasonifsomebodythinksyou’revirtuous.Ifyoucomethink chapter sition tounderestimationofself-worth”(1989,p. against allevidence,onhislackofexcellences.Modestyis“adogmaticdispo- philosophers by claiming that the person with the virtue of modesty will insist, Some yearsagoJuliaDriver(1989)stirredupsomelivelydiscussionamong Humility dispelsself-overestimation thatismotivated,asitoftenis, by a In ourview, capableofacknowledgingand thehumblepersonisperfectly just
ignoring your excellences, but actually 2, section robert c.roberts andw. scottcleveland Humility asDogmaticIgnoranceofOne’s Excellence Humility asNonoverestimation inSelf-Evaluation
1). Modestyis,thus,oneofthe“virtuesignorance.”Itis being ignorant of them and refus-
378; seealsoDriver , 2000, Downloaded By: 10.3.98.104 At: 05:35 01 Oct 2021; For: 9781315660462, chapter2, 10.4324/9781315660462.ch2 (1995, p. species ofthataccount,istheowning-one’s-limitations account. NancySnow A viewofhumilitythatissimilartonon–self-overestimation,perhaps asub- self- entation of your limitations with any action or emotion based in a concern for kind of disposition. Perhaps that “kind” is that you your limitations,butforthatdispositiontobe humility, ithastobetheright ously iscrucialtorealizingsuchends.Nodoubt humility isadispositiontoown over othersintellectually, seri- andyou realize thattakingyourweaknessesvery at philosophyconferences,orbecauseyouenjoylordingit to woweverybody about them.Oryoumightownyourintellectuallimitationsbecausewant ful ontheiraccount,yourreactiontothemshowsthatyouarenothumble example, youseeyourlimitationsclearlybutfeeldeeplyhumiliatedandresent- internalized, andcometo terms withthose limitations in a deeperway. If,for than merenotionalacknowledgmentorbelief.You needtohaveaccepted, the recognitionofyourlimitsthatisrequiredforhumilitysomethingmore sions “realistic influence,” “bring us to terms with,” and “own” all suggest that that intellectualhumilityisowningone’s intellectuallimitations. Theexpres- about themwithoutoverestimatingthem. those who rank below her. If her musical skills are fairly high, she might be vain cians, butshefeelssnobbishlypleasantcontemptfor, orinvidiouspridetoward, self- tance shewishesforinbeingequaltoorbetterthantheothermusiciansis cal valuerelativetotheirs;butshelackshumilitybecausethekindofimpor community ishigherthanherownmaywelljudgeaccuratelymusi- the terms“modesty”and “humility”tobeinterchangeable(p. Nicolas Bommarito(2013) writesaboutthevirtueofmodesty, butsayshetakes and behavior concern aboutyourlimitationstohavearealisticinfluenceonattitudes invidious pride:ourmusicianaccuratelyranksherselfvis-à-vistheothermusi many goodconsequencesofhumilityandtosay thatiswhathumility topickownershipoflimitationsout fromthe being humble.Itseemsarbitrary are sowillingtoadmitthem—aswellasofallthe otherhappyconsequencesof “ownership” ofyourlimitations;itwouldbeone oftheexplanationswhyyou Heather Battaly tue thatismeanttobringustermswithourlimits,”andDennisWhitcomb, importance. Accurate self-evaluation is also compatible with snobbery and importance. Accurateself-evaluationisalsocompatiblewithsnobbery importance. Inthatcase,thelackofconcern wouldbebasictoproper
210) defineshumilityas“thedispositiontoallowtheawarenessofand .” JeanineGrenberg(2005,p. , JasonBaehr, andDanielHoward-Snyder(2015)haveproposed humility from a philosophical view humility from aphilosophical Humility asInattentionto One’s Excellences Humility asOwningOne’s Limitations
7) commentsthathumilityis“avir not react to the clear pres-
93, footnote1). is. 43 - - -
Downloaded By: 10.3.98.104 At: 05:35 01 Oct 2021; For: 9781315660462, chapter2, 10.4324/9781315660462.ch2 the patternofattention others, andsoforth.Actually, Bommaritomakesourpointhimself,sayingthat ble person may pay attention to his Ivy League background, his power over by somethingotherthanegoinflation.Forsome purposesorother, thehum- kinds ofattentionthatwejustlistediscompatible withhumilityifmotivated the subject’s lackofinterestinself-importanceandegopuffing.Eachthe inflation of“ego,”andwhatmakestheirabsencecharacteristichumilityis they expressthesubject’s concernforthevariouskindsof self-importanceor various kindsofattentionexpressthevicesprideis,inourview, thefactthat ture ofhumility, nottheonethatmakes humility.Whatmakesthese conceited. Butthenotpayingofattentionisasecondary, consequentialfea- over othersthanthedomineering,andlessattentiontohismerits his achievedagencythanthehyperautonomous,lessattentiontopower to importantpeople’s admirationofhimselfthanthevain, lessattentionto tion tohismeritoriousspecialentitlementsthanthearrogant,lessattention pays lessattentiontothefactthathe’s IvyLeaguethan thesnob,lessatten- virtue ofconcern,”namelyunconcern—aboutyourself-importance. own excellences.Contrastingly, we might saythatourviewishumility“a tion to your excellences. It is “a virtue of attention,” namely instead, thathumility(orashecallsit,modesty)isadispositionnottopayatten- interest inyourself-importance.Buthedoesn’t quiteagree withus.Hethinks, In that,heagreeswiththeviewweadvocate,namelythathumilityisalackof with beingmistakenaboutthembyeitheroverestimationorunderestimation. is compatiblewithknowingaboutyourownexcellences,butalso unexaggerated, or accurate, nor that he is ignorant ofhisexcellences. Humility is notthatthehumblepersonmakesacertainself-evaluation,whetherlow, cate. Bommarito’s proposalisthatwhatmostfundamentalabouthumility itistheclosesttooneweadvo- and ofalltheaccountswehavesurveyed by philosophersasthenon–self-overestimationandlimitations-owningviews, in certain patterns of attention”(p. humility andwilltreathisaccountasabouthumility. Humility, then,“isrooted We thinkthattheconceptheisexplainingplausiblyfitsinadiscussionof 44 all arenotmodest. they arethekindofpessimists who neverattendto any good qualities at longorbecause order preventsthemfrom attendingtoanythingforvery who areinattentivetotheirgoodqualitiesonly becauseanattentiondis- is notsufficientformodesty;itmusthappen therightreasons. Those In ourview, itisprobablytruethatthehumbleperson,onaverage, robert c.roberts andw. scottcleveland
93). This view isnot nearly as widely held (2013, p. inattention—to your
103, italicsadded) Downloaded By: 10.3.98.104 At: 05:35 01 Oct 2021; For: 9781315660462, chapter2, 10.4324/9781315660462.ch2 which the virtue of humility is the absence. A by wayofcarefulconceptualanalysesthemorespecificvicespride, given inthischapter, theconceptofself-importancewillneedtobeapproached ego, andselectiveabusiveusesofthewordpride.Onaccountthatwehave such popularexpressionsasself-importance,bigego,puffedup,strokingone’s pride (arrogance,vanity, conceit, grandiosity, narcissism,andsoforth)by for the vicesof itive, being presented by wayof the richEnglish vocabulary self-importance. Currentlyourunderstandingofthisconceptislargelyintu- one mostinneedoffurtherphilosophical(conceptual)clarificationisthat In ourview, oftheconceptsthatsurroundandconstitutehumility, the It is, therefore, a very “practical”virtue.A It is,therefore,avery speculate, manyofthepsychological problemsthatdrivepeopletotherapists. lectual functioning (Roberts workplaces. Itimproves a person’s self-understandingand,morebroadly, intel- even acquaintances.Itimprovesfriendships,child rearing,andthecultureof both inthelifeofitspossessorsandlives theirfamilies,colleagues,and foreseeable futureaswell. likely thatcontestwillbecharacteristicofempirical investigationsforthe Given thedependenceofempiricalinvestigations onconceptualwork,itseems conceptual workonhumilityisdifficultandhighly contestedamongexperts. or byaphilosophicallysophisticatedpsychologist. Thischaptersuggeststhat prior philosophicalwork,whetherthatbedone byaprofessionalphilosopher structs suchashumilityisthereforedeeplydependentforitsfruitfulnesson information fromthatresearcher’s investigations.Empirical researchoncon- muchinthewayofreliable the construct,forexample,wecannotexpectvery humility orbaseshisempiricalworkontoosimpleanoperationalizationof tigation. Ifanempiricalresearcherlacksaclearandplausibleconceptionof beings dependcruciallyonadequateconceptualizationoftheobjectinves- cal investigationsofcharactertraitsandotherpsychologicalfeatureshuman cision ofempiricalstudies. ity isavirtueof(un)concern. mark ofmodesty/humility. We thinkthathisconclusionshouldbehumil- yet Bommarito’s overallargumentisthatapatternofattentiontheessential attending anddeterminingthespecificcharacterofouractsattention.And Our attentionisdrawntowhatwecareabout;ourconcernsgiveusreasonsfor importance willadvanceourunderstandingofhumility, andtherewiththepre Humility, totheextentthatitcanbeactuallyachieved,hasgoodconsequences The moregeneralpointofwhichtheaboveisaninstancethatempiri- humility from a philosophical view humility from aphilosophical
& W Conclusion ood, 2007). It reduces unhappiness and, we
practical implicationof humility’
more rigorous account of self- 45 s - Downloaded By: 10.3.98.104 At: 05:35 01 Oct 2021; For: 9781315660462, chapter2, 10.4324/9781315660462.ch2 1 thatwillreducepeople’stest interventions concernforself- practicality is that it is incumbent on psychologists and educators to devise and 46 Whitcomb, D.,Battaly, H.,Baehr, J., Snow, N.(1995).Humility. ofValue Journal 9 , 203–216. Inquiry, Smith, T. (1998).Thepracticeofpride.SocialPhilosophyandPolicy, 15 , 71–90. Bommarito, N. (2013). Modesty as a virtue of attention. Ben Ze’ev, A.(1993).Thevirtueofmodesty., 30235–246. AmericanPhilosophicalQuarterly Aristotle (1998). Nicomachean ethics . David W. Ross [trans.] J. O. Urmson and J. L. Ackrill Aquinas, Thomas(1981).Summatheologiae.FathersoftheEnglishDominicanProvince this chapter, seeRoberts(2016). some practicalproposalssuggestedbytheconceptionofhumilityproposedin Roberts, R. C., Roberts, R.C.(2016).Learningintellectualhumility. and InJ.Baehr(Ed.),Intellectualvirtues Richards, N.(1992).Humility.Philadelphia:Temple UniversityPress. of selfishness.NewYork,Rand, A.(1964).Thevirtue NY: New AmericanLibrary. Plato (1997).Apology. InJohnM.Cooper(Ed.),Plato:Completeworks(pp.17–36).Indianapolis: life.GrandRapids: foreveryday Pinsent, A.(2012).“Humility”inBeinggood:Christianvirtues Hume, D.(1888).ATreatise ofhumannature. Selby-Bigge(Ed.).Oxford,England:OxfordUni- Grenberg, J.(2005).Kantandtheethicsofhumility.Cambridge,England:CambridgeUniversity ofPhilosophy, Flanagan, O.(1990).Virtueandignorance.TheJournal . Edinburgh,Scotland:BannerofTruth.Edwards, J.(1969/1851).Charityanditsfruits Driver,. Cambridge,England:CambridgeUniversityPress. J.(2000).Uneasyvirtue Driver, ofPhilosophy,86(7),373–384. J.(1989).Thevirtuesofignorance.Journal
necessarily viewsoftheJohnTempleton Foundation. versity ofOklahoma.Theopinionsformulatedherearethoseitsauthorsandnot Roberts a recipient of a grant from the Self, Motivation, and Virtue program at the Uni- phy andTheologyofIntellectualHumilityprogramatSaintLouisUniversity, andRobert this chapter We thanktheJohnTempleton Foundationforsupportduringtheresearchandwritingof Oxford: OxfordUniversityPress. (Eds.). Oxford,England:OxfordUniversityPress. [trans.]. NewYork, NY: ChristianClassics. education: Essays in applied virtue epistemology(pp. education: Essaysinappliedvirtue Hackett. Eerdmans PublishingCompany. versity Press. Press. doi.org/10.2307/2026736 http://doi.org/10.1215/00318108–1728723 org/10.1111/phpr.12228 Owning ourlimitations.PhilosophyandPhenomenological Research, n/a–n/a.http://doi. robert c.roberts andw. scottcleveland
. ScottClevelandwasarecipientofpost-doctoralfellowshipwiththePhiloso- & W ood, W. J. (2007). 1
& Howard-Snyder References Intellectual virtues: An essay in regulative epistemology. Intellectual virtues: Note
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