Raimond Gaita on Saints, Love and Human Preciousness

Abstract

Raimond Gaita's work in moral philosophy is unusual and important in focusing on the concept of sainthood. Drawing partly on the work of George Orwell, and partly on the life and work of Simone Weil, as well as on further material, I argue that Gaita's use of this notion to help make sense of the concept of human preciousness is unconvincing, not least because he does not properly explore the figure and psychology of the saint in any detail. I relatedly argue that the notion of human preciousness in question is implausible and, in some ways, sentimental. I also explore Gaita's concept of "speaking personally" in moral philosophy, and suggest that matters here are a great deal more complicated than he supposes.

Introduction: The agents, acts and attitudes of supererogation

“…In the same book (p. 17 ff ), Gaita also discusses a nun working in a psychiatric hospital. Sympathetic criticism of this latter example can be found in Hamilton (2008).…”

Defending Gaita’s Example of Saintly Behaviour

“…Although the nun's behaviour is exemplary, there is no suggestion that there are major demands on her such that an agent could opt out of her behaviour on the grounds that it would be too demanding. These criticisms are elaborated on by Christopher Hamilton (2008) and I intend to deal with three main points which stem from his comments and also a further charge of subjectivism.…”