Introduction.-Part 1: Moral Antropology -- Chapter 1. Animal Psychology and Human Nature: A Historical Perspective -- Chapter 2. A Historical Anthropology of Affectivity in the Medieval Latin World -- Chapter 3. The Matter of Character: The Case of Pre-modern Physiognomy. - Part 2. Moral Agency and Motivation -- Chapter 4. First Movements, Passions, and Free Choice -- Chapter 5. The Inner Struggle. From Augustine to Shakespeare -- Chapter 6. Casuistry, Probabilism and The Demandingness of Morality. - Chapter 7. Visions of Human Sociability in Early Modern Moral and Political Thought -- Part 3: Virtues, Happiness and Moral Education- Chapter 8. Virtues, Vices, and Small Morals: Theophrastus’ Characters -- Chapter 9. Psychology of Happiness in Ancient Greek and Roman Ethics -- Chapter 10. Happiness in Classical Arabic Philosophy -- Chapter 11. Women, Education, and Moral Psychology, 1400–1800 -- Part 4: Dimensions of Moral Psychology -- Chapter 12. Common Good and Individual Good -- Chapter 13. Religious Tolerance in Islamic Theology: Fakhr al-Dīn al-Rāzī on Freedom of Religious Belief -- Chapter 14. Nobility And Pre-Modern Moral Psychology: A Question of Framework -- Chapter 15. Friendship in Medieval and Early Modern Literature and Thought -- Chapter 16. Compassion and Pity.

This book provides a comprehensive study of major issues of moral psychology throughout history, from ancient to early modern philosophy. The volume focuses primarily on the Western history of philosophy but also deals with Jewish and Islamic heritage. The Introduction chapter lays out the historical background in broad strokes, giving the reader the “lay of the land” when it comes to the terms of analysis and their overall development within the Western tradition of moral psychology. The book continues by studying and analyzing moral anthropology, moral agency and motivation, virtues and social and political commitments, taking a thematic approach in a specific time-period and focus on the most unique and/or fruitful discussions about a particular historically situated discussion when it comes to thinking about questions and/or ‘problems’ in the field of moral psychology. Aimed at both a layman and academic audience, this book is of great interest to a broad readership.