Kristjansson's first aim in this book is to explore the moral justification of emotion, and the link between this justification and the notions of moral and emotional excellence. His second aim is to give a more sympathetic hearing to the emotions of pride and jealousy, arguing that a certain kind of pride is actually necessary for personhood and that jealousy is necessary to maintain pride and self-respect. Kristjansson concludes that not experiencing the emotions of pride and jealousy, when called for, would be evidence of a moral failing.