Dr. Christian Miller
We vote for politicians we like or want to be like. But what can we really know about these people? What criteria can we use to assess someone’s character? Do we even know what character is? In this episode, we ask Dr. Christian Miller to explain what we can and can’t say about someone’s moral foundations.
Known for his research on moral character and virtue ethics, Dr. Christian Miller adds to the academic and public discourse on character, virtue, and ethical development through his monograph, The Character Gap. His insights are widely respected in academic and public circles, and his books are accessible to scholars, students, and general readers interested in ethics and moral psychology.
His work relies on philosophical theory and empirical research, significantly contributing to our understanding of human character.
And although he claims to be of middling character, you will hear just how generous, kind, thoughtful, and thorough he is. HTRD is thrilled to bring you this conversation.
Bio
Education
- Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Notre Dame (2004).
- Dissertation: “Motivational Internalism: A New Approach”
Positions
- A. C. Reid Professor of Philosophy at Wake Forest University.
- Dr. Miller has been a faculty member at Wake Forest since 2004 and has held the A. C. Reid Chair since 2016.
- Director of The Character Project (2010-2015).
- A multi-million dollar initiative funded by the John Templeton Foundation, focusing on interdisciplinary research into character, moral psychology, and virtue ethics.
- Co-Director of The Beacon Project (2015-present).
- A research initiative investigating the nature of moral exemplars and how people become morally exceptional.
Awards and Honors
- American Philosophical Association’s (APA) Sanders Book Prize for The Character Gap: How Good Are We? (2018).
- This award recognizes the best book in philosophy of mind, metaphysics, or epistemology published within the last five years.
- Fellowships and Grants:
- Received multiple grants from the John Templeton Foundation.
- Teaching Awards:
- Recognized for excellence in teaching and mentoring at Wake Forest University, receiving several university-level awards.
List of Major Works
- Books:
- The Character Gap: How Good Are We? (Oxford University Press, 2017)
- Explores the nature of human character, the gap between how we perceive ourselves and how we actually behave, and the potential for moral improvement.
- Moral Character: An Empirical Theory (Oxford University Press, 2013)
- Provides a comprehensive theory of moral character based on empirical findings in psychology and philosophy.
- Character and Moral Psychology (Oxford University Press, 2014)
- Examines the intersection of character and moral psychology, drawing on interdisciplinary research.
- Integrity, Honesty, and Truth-Seeking (Oxford University Press, 2020)
- Investigates these specific virtues and their role in moral and ethical behavior.
- Virtue and Character in the Moral Life (Oxford University Press, 2020, edited volume)
- A collection of essays exploring various aspects of virtue and character in moral life.
- The Character Gap: How Good Are We? (Oxford University Press, 2017)
- Selected Articles:
- “Honesty: The Role of Context and Culture” (Journal of Moral Education, 2020).
- “Virtue and Happiness: A Psychological Perspective” (Philosophical Psychology, 2018).
- “Moral Character, Motivation, and the Psychology of Virtue” (Ethics, 2016).
- Edited Volumes:
- The Character Project: New Perspectives in Moral Psychology (Oxford University Press, 2015, co-edited with R. Michael Furr and Angela Knobel)
- An interdisciplinary collection that includes contributions from philosophers, psychologists, and theologians.
- The Character Project: New Perspectives in Moral Psychology (Oxford University Press, 2015, co-edited with R. Michael Furr and Angela Knobel)
I think it’s a very interesting concept of self-betterment, that of it itself can be for your own gain and self-preservation. Many would point to aspects of kindness, generosity, and that aspect of “being a better person” would be for the benefit of others around you. However, in many cases, people with these traits often see benefits for themselves like mentioned, such as higher academic achievement, more flourishing relationships, higher amounts of happiness, etc.