Bonté

Bonté is a French noun that denotes goodness, a benevolent and kind disposition, often expressed through actions toward others. In moral philosophy, bonté refers to a positive moral quality or virtue that guides conduct and interpersonal relations.

Etymology traces bonté to Old French bonté, related to Latin bonitas, both meaning goodness or virtue. Historically, the term has strong ties to Catholic moral theology, where bonté is discussed alongside concepts such as charity (charité) and mercy (miséricorde), but it is also used in secular discourse to describe moral character.

In philosophy and religion, bonté appears as a central ideal in Christian ethics, associated with loving-kindness, charitable acts, and the intention to do good. In secular ethics, it is tied to beneficence, compassion, and altruism. Debates around bonté often examine whether it is an intrinsic quality of a person or something expressed through actions and outcomes, and how it relates to other virtues or rules.

Culturally, bonté features prominently in French literature and thought as a descriptor of character, whether in individuals, leaders, or institutions. Phrases such as bonté du cœur emphasize the emotional aspect of goodness, while the term is used in translations of classical and medieval works to convey moral ideals across contexts and periods.

See also: Goodness, Virtue ethics, Charity, Benevolence.