Beyond altruism: Philanthropy as moral biography and moral citizenship of care

Abstract

In this chapter I address four aspects of the practice of philanthropy in biography and society. I wish to show how philanthropy is a more profound array of biographical and societal relationships than its conventional understanding as an activity that flows in, to, or through organizations formally defined in the legal code as nonprofit charitable organizations. On a personal level I define philanthropy as a moral biography of care. On a societal level I define civil society as the moral citizenship of care.