Adam Smith and the character of virtue
By: Ryan Patrick Hanley.
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Published: 2009
Place of publication: C ambridge; New York
Language: eng
Format: Hardcover
Number of pages: 224
ISBN-13: 9780521449298
Subjects: Smith, Adam, -- 1723-1790; Virtue; Ethics, Modern -- 18th century
Description: Focusing on Smith's analysis of the psychological and social ills endemic to commercial society--anxiety and restlessness, inauthenticity and mediocrity, alienation and individualism--the book argues that Smith sought to combat corruption by cultivating the virtues of prudence, magnanimity, and beneficence. --from publisher description.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: Introduction; title: The problem : commerce and corruption; title: Smith's defense of commercial society; title: What is corruption? : political and psychological perspectives; title: Smith on corruption : from the citizen to the human being; title: The solution : moral philosophy; title: Liberal individualism and virtue ethics; title: Social science vs. moral philosophy; title: Types of moral philosophy : natural jurisprudence vs. ethics; title: Types of ethics : utilitarianism, deontology, and virtue ethics; title: Virtue ethics : modern, ancient, and Smithean; title: Interlude : the what and the how of TMS VI; title: The what : Sith's "practical system of morality"; title: The how : rhetoric, audience, and the methods of practical ethics; title: The how : the ascent of self-love in three stages; title: Prudence or commercial virtue; title: The challenge : from praise to prudence; title: Educating the vain : fathers and sons; title: Self-interest rightly understood; title: The advantages and disadvantages of prudence; title: Magnanimity or classical virtue; title: The problems of prudence and the therapy of magnanimity; title: Up from individualism : desert, praiseworthiness, conscience; title: Modernity, antiquity, and magnanimity; title: The dangers of magnanimity; title: Beneficence or christian virtue; title: Between care and caritas; title: Benevolence and beneficence and the human telos; title: The character and purposes of the wise and virtuous man; title: Wisdom and virtue and Adam Smith's apology; title: Epilogue: The "economy of greatness".