2023/09/15 by Cécile Fabre · 1 voice
Neuroscience · Social Sciences · #Evolutionary Game Theory and Cooperation #Psychology of Moral and Emotional Judgment
paper · doi:10.1086/725811
openalex publication_date 2023/09/15 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Gossip is pervasive and complex. It lubricates and wrecks social relationships. Many people openly confess to loving “a good gossip” yet acknowledge that gossiping, while often gratifying, is sometimes morally problematic. Surprisingly, gossip has not received much attention in moral philosophy. In this article, I argue that, notwithstanding its valuable relational and social functions, it is wrongful, at least in some of its forms, when and to the extent that it amounts to a particular kind of failure to treat others (be they gossipees or fellow gossipers) with the concern and respect they are owed as persons.