Superbia, Arrogance, Servility, and Self-Abasement

Abstract

This chapter provides account of four character traits in the intellectual domain: superbia and arrogance; servility and self-abasement. It argues that superbia and arrogance are vices of superiority while servility and self-abasement are vices of inferiority. They are characterized as opposed to modesty and authentic pride. The chapter also defends the view that superbia and arrogance are based on attitudes whose function is ego-defence, while servility and self-abasement have attitudes serving a social-adjustive function as their causal bases. A case is made that the defensive attitudes characteristic of these vices of superiority constitute what is known as defensive high self-esteem while those on which servility is based are typical of damaged low self-esteem.