Character and Conduct

Project GutenbergProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.0

Word count: 434K words
Chapters: 44

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Character and Conduct by Constance M. Whishaw and Edward John PoynterAuthor: ,Language: English, Class: BJ: Philosophy, Psychology, Religion: Ethics, Social usages, Etiquette, Religion, Release Date: May 7, 2012

Editor's review

This Project Gutenberg edition of *Character and Conduct* is credited to Constance M. Whishaw and Edward John Poynter and classified under ethics and etiquette (BJ: Philosophy, Psychology, Religion—Ethics, Social Usages, Etiquette). Judging by its format, it addresses the classic moral topic of character and conduct and belongs to the tradition of conduct literature written for general readers in the modern English-speaking world. The value of such a text lies not in proposing new ethical theory but in presenting the shared assumptions of a particular era about self-discipline, courtesy, and social responsibility; it is therefore useful for studying moral education and etiquette culture in the English-speaking world from the late nineteenth to the early twentieth century. To contemporary readers many specific rules will seem outdated, yet its discussion of character formation and how to treat others can still prompt reflection. It is best read with a historical eye, distinguishing period-bound norms from transferable general principles, rather than as a guide to present-day behavior.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Scholars and students of modern British moral education and etiquette culture
Readers interested in the tradition of conduct books and moral essays
Those who want to practice reading English public-domain texts and learn about the ideas of the period
Writers seeking historical material on etiquette and character

Not a good fit for

Readers looking for a practical guide to modern social etiquette
Philosophy specialists hoping for a systematic treatise on ethical theory
General readers expecting light, narrative-driven leisure reading

Reading tips

Begin with the preface or opening chapter to grasp the book's scope and stance.
Read chapter by chapter by theme, noting after each chapter typical examples that reflect the ideas of the period.
Compare it with contemporary books on etiquette or character education, marking which norms are outdated and which remain instructive.
English readers can excerpt representative passages, combining language study with an overview of the history of ideas.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book suitable for use as a modern etiquette guide?

Not really. It is a conduct and etiquette book from the modern English-speaking world, and many of its specific rules bear clear marks of their time and are remote from contemporary social situations. It is better used as historical material on the history of ideas and etiquette culture, from which one can distinguish transferable principles from mere period customs.

What did each of the two authors write?

The available information shows only that the book was co-authored by Constance M. Whishaw and Edward John Poynter and does not indicate which chapters each wrote. Readers may note differences in style and focus among chapters, but should not infer a specific division of labor without evidence.

Why is the book classified under ethics?

The information gives its classification as BJ, that is, ethics, social usages, and etiquette under the broader category of philosophy, psychology, and religion. This indicates that the book discusses character, norms of conduct, and social customs rather than literary or historical narrative, which readers can use to judge whether it suits their reading needs.

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