Douglas J. Den Uyl Livres

How is it possible for something to be a supreme virtue at one time and later to be perceived as no virtue at all? This is the legacy left to us by the virtue of prudence. At one time, prudence was regarded as the highest of the four cardinal virtues. Many today, in contrast, take prudence to be incompatible with morality. In this book Den Uyl examines prudence from both a topical and historical perspective. The devolution of the virtue of prudence is discussed by examining certain central figures in the history of ethics. In addition, the frameworks in ethical theory most conducive or detrimental to prudence being regarded as a virtue are examined as well. Den Uyl concludes his study with a theory of prudence rooted in the classical ethical tradition but suited to modern pluralistic social settings.

"This book explores the seventeenth-century philosopher Spinoza's modernist humanism. There is little doubt that Spinoza was one of the principal founders of modernity, but his modernism is often thought to come at the expense of a humanism. Drawing attention to Spinoza's humanism, this book concentrates on politics, ethics, and psychology in order to understand Spinoza's conception of the human being, and why that conception endures into our own time with particular relevance. This introduction to Spinoza's thought proceeds in a reverse order from the usual treatment: rather than beginning with a consideration of Spinoza's metaphysics, the discussion culminates in an exploration of those concepts. In this way, this book is a deeper examination of what Spinoza himself thought, and allows the reader to consider more fully Spinoza's wider philosophy."--BOOK JACKET.