Gossip as a Burdened Virtue

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 le...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Alfano, Mark 1983- (Author)
Contributors: Robinson, Brian
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: [2017]
In: Ethical theory and moral practice
Year: 2017, Volume: 20, Issue: 3, Pages: 473-487
IxTheo Classification:NCB Personal ethics
VA Philosophy
ZD Psychology
Further subjects:B Burdened virtue
B Gossip
B Social epistemology
B Virtue
B Reputation
Online Access: Presumably Free Access
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Summary: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.
ISSN:1572-8447
Contains:Enthalten in: Ethical theory and moral practice
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1007/s10677-017-9809-y