ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book examines current philosophical theories of integrity, looking for the insights they contain and the points at which they fail. It discusses the normative character of integrity and its status as a virtue. This book considers an important role that the concept of integrity has played in recent ethical debate: in refutations of utilitarian moral theory. It presents variety of kinds of integrity and explores certain aspects of pursuit of integrity, as well as forces that conspire against it. Integrity involves care of the self in the midst of change and self-conflict. Integrity involves a capacity to judge the relative importance of desires, commitments, principles and so on, and to act in the light of the judgement. Integrity involves more than the determined pursuit of projects and commitments within a coherent internal psychological environment.
