Self-improvement
Subtitle: an essay in Kantian ethics
By: Robert N. Johnson
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Published: 2011
Place of publication: Oxford; New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 174
ISBN-13: 9780199599349
Subjects: Self-actualization (Psychology); Criticism and interpretation; Ethics; Self-culture
Other titles: Essay in Kantian ethics
Description: "Is there any moral obligation to improve oneself, to foster and develop various capacities in oneself? From a broadly Kantian point of view, 'Self-Improvement' defends the view that there is such an obligation and that it is an obligation that each person owes to him or herself. The defence addresses a range of arguments philosophers have mobilized against this idea, including the argument that it is impossible to owe anything to yourself, and the view that an obligation to improve oneself is overly 'moralistic'. Robert N. Johnson argues against Kantian uiniversalization arguments for the duty of self-improvement, as well as arguments that bottom out in a supposed value humanity has. At the same time, he defends a position  based on the notion that self- and other-respecting agents would, under the right circumstances, accept the principle of self-improvement and would leave it up to each to be the person to whom this duty is owed"--Publisher's description, p. [4] of dust jacket.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. [166]-170) and index.
Table of contents: title: Introduction; title: Self-improvement as an imperfect duty; title: Universalizability and self-improvement; title: Duties to and regarding ourselves; title: Self-respect and self-improvement; title: Kantian convergence arguments and self-improvement; title: On what we cannot improve in others; title: What is an ability?