The Veil of Philanthropy

Abstract

Abstract This chapter defends the practice that Kant described as “throwing the veil” of philanthropy or charity over the moral flaws and failings of other people. This practice requires not just avoiding making defamatory remarks and spreading unpleasant gossip but also actively working to generate charitable narratives about other people and their actions. The veil of philanthropy serves as a buffer against natural human tendencies toward self-conceit and misanthropy. The practice is essential to good moral neighborhoods because it enhances and reinforces individual and collective commitments to moral improvement, and it expresses faith in the eventual success in the project. Good moral neighborhoods depend on participants being able to maintain hope in moral progress. In other words, in order for moral improvement to be successful, it is necessary to act as though it could be.