One proverbial definition of character is “what one does when no one is looking.” We may chuckle at this tongue-in-cheek acknowledgement of our human frailties, yet it misses an essential element of character. It is not simply a matter of what one does when alone; character also is a profoundly important yardstick of what we value, how we treat others and ultimately how we live together in a society. Character, in short, is not just personal, although it is that, but also profoundly social and even spiritual.

It is easy to take questions of character for granted. After all, character seems far down the priority list when matters of life and death, war and peace and the like dominate the headlines. It is, however, one of the fundamentals of life that we often overlook, yet may lament when we discover its absence, whether in the ethical improprieties of business leaders or the lack of respect we might encounter in our daily interactions. Character counts—although we often pay little attention to its importance.

To stimulate a renewed appreciation for the importance of character, the John Templeton Foundation has launched a new journal, In Character. Has there been a groundswell of interest in character issues? Why now?

According to Arthur Schwartz, vice president for research and programs in the human sciences at the Foundation, “Sir John Templeton believes that spiritual principles can be understood both theologically and scientifically, and that these principles have relevance for public policy. A journal dedicated to exploring the virtues—In Character’s term for spiritual principles—is a perfect vehicle for communicating his vision to a broader audience.”

Sir John’s interest in character focuses largely on inspiring people to practice—and live by—broadly appealing spiritual principles outlined in his many books. Thus, In Character focuses on the nature and significance of the everyday virtues—virtues such as thrift, to which the first issue is dedicated.

Each issue of the journal will examine how a particular virtue shapes our vision of the good life. The journal will include a wide range of perspectives, bringing together scholars and journalists versed in public policy, the humanities, religion and the sciences. In Character—and its initial group of writers and readers—represents a wide diversity of intellectual interests, political views and religious affiliations.

The journal, which will be published three times per year, is intended to foster an appreciation of the virtues themselves and to prompt a renewed discussion of character in American life. After tackling the subject of thrift, subsequent issues will explore topics such as purpose, creativity, loyalty, generosity and modesty—all candidates for the “overlooked virtue of the year” award.

In Character initially will be distributed free to opinion-makers in the English-speaking world. The law professors, members of the clergy, policy wonks, poets, physicists, medical ethicists, bloggers, atheists, bishops, philosophers, statisticians, actors, economists, historians, business leaders and journalists on In Character’s list are politically and professionally diverse. What ties them together is the attention their opinions command and their ability to interest an audience outside their own professional specialty.

Naomi Schaefer Riley, the editor of In Character and the author of God on the Quad: How Religious Colleges and the Missionary Generation are Changing America which will be published by St. Martin’s in January, notes that “the idea of a journal on the virtues might seem dry so my challenge is to find stories filled with concrete ideas that tie character to daily life. We want In Character to be practical so that very busy people want to pick up a copy and read it.”

To capture readers’ interest, In Character is recruiting first-rate writers to explore each topic from a unique and intriguing mix of scientific, religious, historical, and other perspectives. The Thrift issue, for example, includes articles by:

Damien Cave, a reporter for the New York Times, on how thrift shops have become cool.

Arthur Herman, the author of How the Scots Invented the Modern World, on the myth of Scottish thrift.

John Horgan, a science writer for the New York Times, the Washington Post and Scientific American, on the natural origins of thrift.

Kay Hymnowitz, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, on the lack of thrift in the “sushi generation.”

Deirdre McCloskey, professor of economics, english and history at the University of Illinois in Chicago on why being a good Christian won’t hurt the economy.

Margo Howard, the author of Slate’s column “Dear Prudence,” on thrift in everyday life.

J.A. Leo Lemay of the University of Delaware in a discussion with Rosalind Remer of the Franklin Institute on Benjamin Franklin’s legacy of thrift.

The next issue, on purpose, will include contributions from: Richard Brookhiser who unlocks the diaries of the Founding Fathers; Alan Wolfe on the phenomenon of Rick Warren’s The Purpose-Driven Life; Marc Freedman asking whether there is life after retirement; Dick Teresi exploring scientists’ belief in purpose; and Mark Oppenheimer wondering if college students have direction anymore.

In Character is also trying to increase its reach by reproducing its articles in modified format in major newspapers. For example, Deirdre McCloskey’s article “What Would Jesus Spend?” was excerpted in the Wall Street Journal online edition.

Another way that In Character captures the reader’s interest is through the quality of its presentation and graphics. “One comment we heard from many people in the planning period,” notes Templeton’s Schwartz, “is that the journal needed to be not only content-rich but also visually interesting.” A glance through In Character’s pages quickly demonstrates its visual appeal.

In Character aims to combine both style and substance—to rediscover timeless truths about character in an appealing package. While there is a good-natured playfulness in the journal’s graphics, the purpose behind the presentation draws on Hamlet’s great line:
The play’s the thing
Wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the king.

In Character’s aim, of course, is not merely to capture readers’ attention to the important yet overlooked virtues but also in some way to promote the development of good character, which is both taught and caught. Thus, the title of the journal plays on the dual settings for character: one can behave in a way that is “out of character” or, in the case of the theater, perform in character. The thread that links daily life and the theater here is that imitation is important in both places, as we imitate the behavior—and therefore character—of those we admire. As editor Riley puts it in her introduction to the first issue, the title’s “theatrical pun reflects an Aristotelian concept of virtue—that we become morally good by habituation.”

Links of Interest
Character Education Partnership
Laws of Life Contest

Kimon H. Sargeant is the Director for Research and Programs in the Human Sciences at the Metanexus Institute.

If you would like reading In Character to become one of your good habits,
please visit the web site at www.incharacter.org for information.
A one-year subscription is $27.

To receive a free monthly copy of Milestones by direct mail, please forward your request and address to milestoneseditor@templeton.org. To subscribe to any of the Foundation’s various free e-mail newsletters, including Milestones, go to our JTF Newsletter Subscriptions page.

Milestones is a publication of the John Templeton Foundation.