American philosophy professor Emrys Westacott challenges us to rethink conventional wisdom about our everyday moral behaviour. He argues that the five common vices of rudeness, gossip, snobbery, bawdy humour and disrespect are an important part of our daily interactions. There are times, he says, when rudeness may be needed to help someone with a problem or to get across an important message. Gossip can foster intimacy and curb power, and dubious humour can ease existential anxiety. The Virtues of Our Vices is both funny and philosophically sophisticated.

Westacott is professor of philosophy at Alfred University, New York. He is co-author of Thinking Through Philosophy: An Introduction.