Gossip as a burdened virtue

Mark Alfano; Brian Robinson

doi:10.1007/s10677-017-9809-y

Gossip as a burdened virtue

Mark Alfano^*, Brian Robinson

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

23 Citations (Scopus)

116 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Gossip is often serious business, not idle chitchat. Gossip allows those oppressed to privately name their oppressors as a warning to others. Of course, gossip can be in error. The speaker may be lying or merely have lacked sufficient evidence. Bias can also make those who hear the gossip more or less likely to believe the gossip. By examining the social functions of gossip and considering the differences in power dynamics in which gossip can occur, we contend that gossip may be not only permissible but virtuous, both as the only reasonable recourse available and as a means of resistance against oppression.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	473-487
Number of pages	15
Journal	Ethical Theory and Moral Practice
Volume	20
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10677-017-9809-y
Publication status	Published - Jun 2017
Externally published	Yes

Bibliographical note

Copyright the Author(s) 2017. Version archived for private and non-commercial use with the permission of the author/s and according to publisher conditions. For further rights please contact the publisher.

Keywords

Burdened virtue
Gossip
Reputation
Social epistemology
Virtue

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10.1007/s10677-017-9809-y

Publisher version (open access)Final published version, 318 KBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

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AB - Gossip is often serious business, not idle chitchat. Gossip allows those oppressed to privately name their oppressors as a warning to others. Of course, gossip can be in error. The speaker may be lying or merely have lacked sufficient evidence. Bias can also make those who hear the gossip more or less likely to believe the gossip. By examining the social functions of gossip and considering the differences in power dynamics in which gossip can occur, we contend that gossip may be not only permissible but virtuous, both as the only reasonable recourse available and as a means of resistance against oppression.

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Gossip as a burdened virtue

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

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