Unraveling Virtues
By Greg Borzo, UChicago News
An excerpt: That the new study of virtues has come to embrace a systematic,
organized body of knowledge was evident at the third annual conference
of the New Science of Virtues project at the University of Chicago,
March 14-16, 2012.
“The rigorous scientific method can be applied to the study of
virtues, embracing both empirical and theoretical approaches,” said Jean
Bethke Elshtain, head of the project and professor of social and
political ethics at the University. “In addition, it lends itself to a
rare degree of multidisciplinary research.” Indeed, the project engaged
philosophers, economists, psychologists, neurobiologists, theologians,
physicians, political scientists, historians and other specialists
working together.
The project was funded by a $4.2 million grant from the John
Templeton Foundation, which supports discovery in fields that engage
life’s biggest questions.
“We came to the University of Chicago and said, ‘Help us find the
best talent to explore how the study of virtues fits into academic
discourse and research,’ and Arete put together this project, engaging
scholars from around the country,” said Barnaby Marsh, executive vice
president of strategic initiatives for the Foundation.
Read the article.
Photo: Beth Rooney.