Exploring the moral exemplarity of Greta Thunberg

Linda Zagzebski's exemplarist moral theory has gained traction in recent years as a valid approach to moral education. Insufficient attention has so far been paid to questions about who we should count among exemplary people to be emulated. In this paper, we make the case for considering the Sw...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of moral education 2024-01, Vol.53 (1), p.195-214
Main Authors: Mansikka-aho, Anette, Varpanen, Jan, Lahikainen, Lauri, Pulkki, Jani
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
environmental virtues
Environmentalists
Exemplarist moral theory
Greta Thunberg
Moral education
Thunberg, Greta
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Summary:Linda Zagzebski's exemplarist moral theory has gained traction in recent years as a valid approach to moral education. Insufficient attention has so far been paid to questions about who we should count among exemplary people to be emulated. In this paper, we make the case for considering the Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg as one moral exemplar for the contemporary world. Since Thunberg is a controversial figure, we not only argue in positive terms why Thunberg would make a good exemplar, but also respond to a number of objections that could be made to her exemplarity based on popular discussions. Our argument is however not limited to showing why Thunberg should be considered a moral exemplar. Through our discussion, we also exemplify the kind of critical discussions that in our view should be part of how exemplarism is utilized as a theory of moral education.
ISSN:0305-7240
1465-3877
DOI:10.1080/03057240.2023.2248404