TY - JOUR
T1 - Gossip as a Burdened Virtue
AU - Alfano, Mark
AU - Robinson, Brian
PY - 2017
Y1 - 2017
N2 - 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.
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.
KW - Burdened virtue
KW - Gossip
KW - Reputation
KW - Social epistemology
KW - Virtue
UR - http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:a7f9a0ce-1871-4e11-806e-c72da0058084
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85018303546&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10677-017-9809-y
DO - 10.1007/s10677-017-9809-y
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85018303546
SN - 1386-2820
VL - 20
SP - 473
EP - 487
JO - Ethical Theory and Moral Practice: an international forum
JF - Ethical Theory and Moral Practice: an international forum
IS - 3
ER -