Ryan Patrick Hanley Bücher

A number of prominent moral philosophers and political theorists have recently called for a recovery of love. But what do we mean when we speak of love today? Love's Enlightenment examines four key conceptions of other-directedness that transformed the meaning of love and helped to shape the way we understand love today: Hume's theory of humanity, Rousseau's theory of pity, Smith's theory of sympathy, and Kant's theory of love. It argues that these four Enlightenment theories are united by a shared effort to develop a moral psychology that can provide both justificatory and motivational grounds for concern for others in the absence of recourse to theological or transcendental categories. In this sense, each theory represents an effort to redefine the love of others that used to be known as caritas or agape - a redefinition that came with benefits and costs that have yet to be fully appreciated.

Invaluable wisdom on living a good life from the founder of modern economics Adam Smith is best known today as the founder of modern economics, but he was also an uncommonly brilliant philosopher who was especially interested in the perennial question of how to live a good life. Our Great Purpose is a short and illuminating guide to Smith's incomparable wisdom on how to live well, written by one of today's leading Smith scholars. In this inspiring and entertaining book, Ryan Patrick Hanley describes Smith's vision of "the excellent and praiseworthy character," and draws on the philosopher's writings to show how each of us can go about developing one. For Smith, an excellent character is distinguished by qualities such as prudence, self-command, justice, and benevolence—virtues that have been extolled since antiquity. Yet Smith wrote not for the ancient polis but for the world of market society—our world—which rewards self-interest more than virtue. Hanley shows how Smith set forth a vision of the worthy life that is uniquely suited to us today. Full of invaluable insights on topics ranging from happiness and moderation to love and friendship, Our Great Purpose enables modern readers to see Smith in an entirely new light—and along the way, learn what it truly means to live a good life.

Adam Smith (1723-90) is celebrated as a pioneer of the free market and the founding father of capitalism. His insights into globalization's promise and pitfalls, along with his commitment to human dignity, remain relevant today. Ryan Hanley assembles esteemed scholars from various fields to provide fresh perspectives on Smith's life, thought, and lasting legacy. Contributors offer clear discussions of Smith's key works and the historical backdrop of his ideas, as well as the core concepts of his social vision and their impact in academia and beyond. They explore lesser-known aspects of Smith, highlighting his interests in rhetoric, ethics, and jurisprudence. Smith is portrayed not only as a proponent of free markets but also as a thinker devoted to virtue, justice, equality, and freedom. This essential introduction to Smith's life and work features contributions from prominent figures like Nicholas Phillipson, Amartya Sen, and John C. Bogle. The book illustrates how Smith's insights address modern issues such as development in the global south and the future of free trade, showcasing his influence across literature, philosophy, religion, and law.