Susan Wolf's Critique of Moral Saints

In a classic paper, Susan Wolf makes a compelling case against the ideal of moral saintliness. If she's right, how does that fit with the moral urgency of fighting for a better society?

A “moral saint” is someone who’s achieved about as much moral perfection as is humanly possible.

It seems reasonable to suppose that:

• Most of us aren’t moral saints and never will be.

• It’s fine that we aren’t. (Sainthood is too much to expect!)

• But it would be better if we were all saints. As Kant says of absolute moral virtue, it’s “unattainable” but “our …