Virtue and the Altruistic Personality

Jeffries, Vincent

doi:10.2307/1389357

Cited by 20 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…Jeffries (1998) defined it as "the use of reason to correctly discern that which helps and that which hinders realizing the good" (p. 154). When applied to goal striving, prudence is foresight, future-mindedness, and the reasoned pursuit of long-term goals (Haslam, 1991).…”

Section: Prudencementioning

confidence: 99%

Personal goals, life meaning, and virtue: Wellsprings of a positive life.

Emmons

2003

Flourishing: Positive Psychology and the Life Well-Lived.

380

241

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Nothing is so insufferable to man as to be completely at rest, without passions, without business, without diversion, without effort. Then he feels his nothingness, his forlornness, his insufficiency, his weakness, his emptiness. (Pascal, The Pensees, 1660/1950.As far as we know humans are the only meaning-seeking species on the planet. Meaning-making is an activity that is distinctly human, a function of how the human brain is organized. The many ways in which humans conceptualize, create, and search for meaning has become a recent focus of behavioral science research on quality of life and subjective well-being. This chapter will review the recent literature on meaning-making in the context of personal goals and life purpose. My intention will be to document how meaningful living, expressed as the pursuit of personally significant goals, contributes to positive experience and to a positive life.

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Section: Prudencementioning

confidence: 99%

Personal goals, life meaning, and virtue: Wellsprings of a positive life.

Emmons

2003

Flourishing: Positive Psychology and the Life Well-Lived.

380

241

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“…Both emphasize ideas such as a social science that studies the positive, a pervasive sociocultural crisis, the idea of universal standards of goodness such as altruistic love and the virtues, transcendence, and the value of the human person. From a more specific perspective, the virtues can be regarded as part of the multidimensional psychic structure that predisposes the individual to altruistic motivation and behavior, with particular virtues being important in determining the manifestation of altruism in a given situational context (Jeffries, 1998). Additionally, some of the virtues, such as justice, or "charity" in classical terms (Jeffries, 1998),"humanity" in more recent formulations (Peterson and Seligman, 2004: 3-52), are intrinsically similar to the idea of benefiting the other that is central to the concept of altruism.…”

Section: Virtues and Character Strengthsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…From a more specific perspective, the virtues can be regarded as part of the multidimensional psychic structure that predisposes the individual to altruistic motivation and behavior, with particular virtues being important in determining the manifestation of altruism in a given situational context (Jeffries, 1998). Additionally, some of the virtues, such as justice, or "charity" in classical terms (Jeffries, 1998),"humanity" in more recent formulations (Peterson and Seligman, 2004: 3-52), are intrinsically similar to the idea of benefiting the other that is central to the concept of altruism. The affinity of the concepts of virtue and altruism is further indicated by the work of Bono and McCullough (2003), who have compiled an annotated bibliography on recent studies of the virtues and altruism.…”

Section: Virtues and Character Strengthsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Altruism and social solidarity: Envisioning a field of specialization

Jeffries

Johnston

Nichols

et al. 2006

Am Soc

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Establishing the study of altruism and social solidarity as a recognized field of specialization within sociology would make a major contribution to the discipline and to society at large. In the broadest sense this field focuses on those aspects of personality, society, and culture that benefit the lives of individuals and ennoble social life. This field would directly address the systematic study of these positive phenomena in interpersonal, intergroup, and international relations. Understanding how social relations of varied types can be made more positive in this manner is a most vital task in this historical era.Sociologists have devoted considerable attention to the study of dysfunctional phenomena, such as criminal behavior, racism, sexism, violent ethnic conflicts, and other forms of oppression that threaten societies and deprive individuals of security or their basic rights. In contrast, the discipline has tended to give more limited attention to positive forms of social behavior and organization, such as the study of altruism. The current Guide to Graduate Departments of Sociology (2006) indicates there is no graduate degree-granting university that lists a special program in the study of altruism.It is the discipline of psychology that established altruism as a scientific field within social psychology. Recent years have seen major contributions to this field by evolutionary biology on the one hand, and religious studies on the other. Contributions by sociologists appear limited to writings by particular individuals. A review of recent research from a sociological perspective is provided by Piliavin and Charng (1990).This article advances a proposal of foundational ideas for sociology to become a full partner with other disciplines in the development of this vital but understudied scientific field. Sociology has a body of theory and research, particularly in the areas of socialization, organizations, stratification, institutions, and culture that can be integrated with the existing state of the field and its greater emphasis on individual and psychological factors and levels of analysis. This article is intended to demonstrate that there is a substantial body of Vincent Jeffries is professor of Sociology at California State University, Northridge. Barry V. Johnston has recently retired from a professorship in sociology at

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“…The comprehensive scope provided by the tripartite epistemology of integralism involves in its most basic sense the incorporation of ideas derived from religious traditions at all levels of this scientific continuum (Jeffries, 1998).…”

Section: Integralismmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The virtues can also be equated with the idea of benevolent or altruistic love since the virtues specify the attitudes and behavior necessary to benefit the other in a consistent manner (Jeffries, 1998).…”

Section: Goodness In Individual Personalitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Pitirim A. Sorokin’s integralism and public sociology

Jeffries

2005

Am Soc

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Major features of the thought of Pitirim A. Sorokin are related to Michael Burawoy's four forms of sociology. The article develops the theme that Sorokin's system of sociology makes major contributions to identifying standards of excellence for professional, critical, policy, and public sociology and for their interrelationships. Sorokin's integral ontology and epistemology are described and identified as sources of the distinctive characteristics of his system of thought.A comment on Burawoy's (2004c) proposal of public sociology by David Brady (2004) specifies its fundamental emphases: public sociology essentially involves two ideas: reaching a public audience and serving to improve the public's well-being.... The first matter ... involves gaining a broader and larger reception for sociological Vincent Jeffries is professor of sociology at California State University, Northridge. His current work involves developing a theoretical tradition derived from Pitirim A. Sorokin's idea of integralism. He is also working on a study of the influence of the virtues in long-term marriages. He can be contacted at Vincent.Jeffries @ csun.edu. 66The American Sociologist / Fall/Winter 2005 research and theories.... The second matter.., involves seeking to contribute to the betterment of society and the lives of its members (pp. 1629-1630).In addition to public sociology, Burawoy (2004aBurawoy ( , 2004cBurawoy ( , 2005b posits three other forms: professional, critical, and policy. Professional sociology provides theoretical and empirical knowledge, critical sociology formulates foundational value perspectives, and policy sociology applies concrete knowledge to problems in society. Each form has weaknesses, or "pathologies," that develop when it becomes too autonomous. These negative tendencies can be counteracted by positive features of the alternative forms.These four ideal types of sociology represent a "division of labor" in which there is "reciprocal interdependence" between the forms such that "the flourishing of each depends on the flourishing of all" (Burawoy, 2004c(Burawoy, : 1611. In this total system of sociology there is, ideally, "an organic solidarity in which each type of sociology derives energy, meaning, and imagination from its connection to the others" (Burawoy, 2005b: 15). Each form can thus be viewed as a component of the total scientific system of sociology.This article addresses the question of how a creative public sociology that will make positive contributions to society can be developed. Pitirim A. Sorokin's system of sociology, including his idea of integralism, is taken as a starting point for the analysis. Sorokin is the most published and most translated scholar in the history of sociology (Martindale, 1975: 105-106). His thought is diverse and comprehensive, and has made major contributions in many areas of sociology (Jeffries, 2002a;Johnston, 1995).Burawoy's (2005b) analysis of the forms of sociology can be regarded as initiating an extensive dialogue to evaluate the criteria of excellence for ...

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Virtue and the Altruistic Personality

Cited by 20 publications

References 14 publications

Personal goals, life meaning, and virtue: Wellsprings of a positive life.

Personal goals, life meaning, and virtue: Wellsprings of a positive life.

Altruism and social solidarity: Envisioning a field of specialization

Pitirim A. Sorokin’s integralism and public sociology

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