What is considered morally beautiful in political contention? How does a leader inspire her followers to experience emotions that uplift and hearten them? And why do particular moral qualities come to be valued in their community? We want to explore these questions through the lens of virtues like bravery, wisdom and justice, to see how they are reflected in the practices and commitments that make up political contention.
This is the website for Ancient Virtues in Modern Contention, a research project begun in 2014, based at the Universities of St Andrews and Lancaster, that explores these ideas.
We are asking those involved in political contention what they think constitutes a 'good life' and what makes up morally excellent behaviour. How do activists perceive human flourishing? Why are particular heroes and leaders remembered as paragons of virtue? In short, this research project brings virtue back into the conversation about how to interpret what is important in communities concerned with political change.
This website reflects our thoughts, ideas and activities relating to the project, it is a work in progress and will evolve as our thinking about the relationship between virtue and political contention develops.