The Formation of Character in Education
These two important books have been written by my colleagues at the Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues, and are both rooted in Aristotelian virtue ethics. The first is a historical introduction from the Greeks onwards of character formation, with fascinating chapters covering medieval, early modern and Scottish Enlightenment foundations, then Victorian and 20th century influences, bringing the story right up to contemporary policies and themes. The second book is more specifically about the concept of flourishing, eudaemonia and the good life, considering its relationship to happiness and moral virtues, also with respect to exemplars. Each chapter contains reflective practical questions at the end, concluding with important pointers towards embedding the concept of flourishing more widely, especially at a policy level.