Robin S. Dillon is a contemporary American philosopher specializing in ethics, feminist philosophy, and the philosophy of self-respect. She is best known for her sustained philosophical analysis of respect — particularly self-respect, its grounds, and its relationship to dignity and moral standing. Her work bridges analytic moral philosophy and feminist ethics, examining how social conditions shape individuals' capacity for self-regard.
Developed influential accounts of self-respect and its moral significance
Edited the anthology 'Dignity, Character, and Self-Respect' (1995), a foundational collection in the field
Applied feminist standpoint insights to the epistemology of moral experience and empathy
Analyzed arrogance as a distinctive moral vice structurally opposed to respect
Contributed to literature on care ethics and the moral psychology of respect