Despite the significance of suffering, illness, and disability, for long time little attention has been devoted to the moral flourishing of individuals living with chronic diseases. Instead, philosophers have primarily focus on examining healthcare providers’ virtues as well as those traits that are relevant to patient-caregiver relationships. This work aims to prioritize patients’ experiences, exploring the compatibility between illness and individual moral progress, while also identifying virtues that can help them in coping with their condition and enhancing their overall well-being. In summary, the book offers a nuanced understanding of the role of character in fostering functional coping and positive adaptation and promoting “illfullness”, the flourishing of the sick person amidst their illness.
Elena Ricci is postdoctoral fellow at the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa, adjunct professor at the European University of Rome, coordinator and lecturer in the Master’s program in Psychology and Ethics of Palliative Care at the same University. Since 2016, she collaborates with the interuniversity research center ARETAI. Her research interests include virtue ethics applied to healthcare, care ethics, medical ethics, the ethics of emerging technologies, character education, and nudging.