Abstract

In On Grace and Dignity, Schiller argues for the moral importance of grace (Anmut), an attractive quality we witness in people’s moves, gestures, or general demeanour, as they interact with others. He claims that grace is the manifestation in outer appearance of the highest kind of moral accomplishment. In this chapter, I seek to understand this surprising claim in light of Schiller’s engagement with Kant’s moral philosophy. Using both historical and contemporary material, I offer a reconstructive interpretation of the concept of grace and show how it resonates with some contemporary treatments of Kantian ethics.