The Virtue of Humility in Kuwaiti Society: Theoretical and Applied Study.

Abstract

The virtue of humility is one of the intriguing and controversial moral virtues. Although there are many researchers who embody and advocate for this virtue, and despite its direct association with other virtues like tolerance, or moral vices like narcissism, scientific and academic studies - whether applied or theoretical - addressing this virtue are very limited in Western literature in general, and almost non-existent in Arabic literature specifically. The reason for this is due to the unique nature of this virtue, which poses some challenges in both theoretical and applied fields for ethicists, psychologists, and behavior scientists. For example, in the commonly understood theoretical understanding of the virtue of humility, we find that it requires a kind of self-debasement and submission in self-respect. However, despite this, some consider it a moral virtue that should be embraced. Just as there is a difference in understanding and defining this virtue theoretically, there is also a difference in the methodology and the way of measuring this virtue practically. The first part of this research addresses the theoretical aspect of humility by following an analytical and philosophical method. The second part of the research focuses on an applied study of humility in Kuwaiti society by following a qualitative method. This study aims to measure the virtue of humility and its relationship with an individual's income and academic degree, as well as to compare the study results in the Kuwaiti society with the original study "Be it Ever so Humble: Proposing a Dual-dimension Account and Measurement of Humility".