The Honor Code

How Moral Revolutions Happen

18 October 2011

Description

"[Appiah's] work reveals the heart and sensitivity of a novelist. . . .Fascinating, erudite and beautifully written."—The New York Times Book Review

In this groundbreaking work, Kwame Anthony Appiah, hailed as "one of the most relevant philosophers today" (New York Times Book Review), changes the way we understand human behavior and the way social reform is brought about. In brilliantly arguing that new democratic movements over the last century have not been driven by legislation from above, Appiah explores the end of the duel in aristocratic England, the tumultuous struggles over footbinding in nineteenth-century China, the uprising of ordinary people against Atlantic slavery, and the horrors of "honor killing" in contemporary Pakistan. Intertwining philosophy and historical narrative, he has created "a fascinating study of moral evolution" (Philadelphia Inquirer) that demonstrates the critical role honor plays a in the struggle against man's inhumanity to man.

Reviews

"What causes moral progress? In this brilliant book, Appiah casts light on the role played by honor. Even though it's sometimes distorted, as with honor killings in Pakistan, this classical concept can be a lode star in guiding us to a better future. It's an amazing and fascinating insight. This is an indispensable book for both moral philosophers and honorable citizens." — Walter Isaacson, author of Einstein: His Life and Universe

"Appiah lays out a concept that is not only compelling in its own right but also suggests a connection that may in time help to collate biological and cultural exploration of human morality." — Edward O. Wilson, author of Sociobiology

"A deeply insightful exposition of the dangers, the potential and the (perhaps) ineradicable role of the human sense of honor." — Charles Taylor, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, McGill University

"This book is essential for us—inescapable in its urgent relevance to the embattled human morality we live within our codes of the present." — Nadine Gordimer, author of Telling Times

Awards

Winner — New York Times Notable Selection, 2010

Also By: Kwame Anthony Appiah

The Lies that Bind: Rethinking Identity
Kwame Anthony Appiah
Paperback, 2021
A Washington Post Notable Book of the Year
As seen on the Netflix series Explained
From the best-selling author of Cosmopolitanism comes this revealing exploration of how the collective identities...
The Lies that Bind: Rethinking Identity
Kwame Anthony Appiah
E Book, 2018
A Washington Post Notable Book of the Year
As seen on the Netflix series Explained
From the best-selling author of Cosmopolitanism comes this revealing exploration of how the collective identities...
Cosmopolitanism: Ethics in a World of Strangers
Kwame Anthony Appiah
E Book, 2010
“A brilliant and humane philosophy for our confused age.”—Samantha Power, author of A Problem from Hell
Cosmopolitanism: Ethics in a World of Strangers
Kwame Anthony Appiah
Paperback, 2007
“A brilliant and humane philosophy for our confused age.”—Samantha Power, author of A Problem from Hell