Moral Psychology of Hate - (Moral Psychology of the Emotions) by Noell Birondo (Paperback)

About the Book

Provides the first systematic introduction to the moral psychology of hate compiling specially commissioned essays by an international team of scholars.

Book Synopsis

Provides the first systematic introduction to the moral psychology of hate compiling specially commissioned essays by an international team of scholars.

Review Quotes

[A]n excellent new volume ... As a social scientist I learned a lot from this book about how hate develops, persists, and guides actions. The Moral Psychology of Hate will stimulate important conversations and considerations about all these issues, so topical yet so fundamental.

How do hate and hatred differ from rage, contempt, and disgust? What are the causes of racist hate, misogyny, and hatred of immigrants? What can we learn from Aristotle, Buddha, and Kant about hatred? Are trashing and canceling motivated by hate? Is there such a thing as deserved hate? This fantastic collection answers these questions and others about the ubiquitous, but undertheorized emotion of hate.

This is a highly welcome addition to hate studies, complementing the usual focus on the psychology of hatred with a distinctively philosophical angle. A particularly noteworthy feature of the volume is that it not only tackles the destructive nature of hatred but equally ponders its potential morality. Moreover, it also engages with the non-Western philosophical tradition. Essential reading both for experts and those who seek an overview on this all-too-human sentiment.

This volume edited by Birondo features 11 strong explorations of hate as an emotion and cognitive disposition, with contributions from various disciplines including philosophy, psychology, and others. Rivka Weinberg's preface ("The Road to Auschwitz Wasn't Paved with Indifference") provides substance that equals the depth of the chapters [and] sets the tone for a volume that explores the moral dimensions of hate in depth and with great contributions. Highly recommended.

This wonderful volume explores the many arresting dimensions of hatred, its challenges, and its importance to our shared lives. Every chapter is rewarding. This volume is the place to start if you want to get a handle on the oftentimes surprising and diverse ways hatred matters for morality.

About the Author

Noell Birondo is professor of philosophy at the University of Texas at El Paso. He works primarily in moral philosophy and the history of ethics. His previous book is Virtue's Reasons: New Essays on Virtue, Character, and Reasons (2017), which he coedited with S. Stewart Braun. He completed his Ph.D. at the University of Notre Dame and his B.A. at the University of California, Berkeley.