Jennifer herdt, associate professor of theology at the university of notre dame, is the author ofputting on virtue. The first is to champion the virtue tradition against christian moral quietism and modern deontolo gical ethics. The legacy of the splendid vices, newly released by the university of chicago press. Jennifer a herdt augustine famously claimed that the virtues of pagan rome were nothing more than splendid vices. She is the author of religion and faction in humes moral philosophy and putting on virtue. The first is to champion the virtue tradition against christian moral quietism and modern deontological ethics. The trajectory of herdts argument moves from augustines critique of. The best books on deceit five books expert recommendations. The legacy of the splendid vices university of chicago press, 2008. Virtue it is something we would love to see in our kids, and it gets harder and harder to establish in a grey world that teaches a post modern thought that whatever if right for you is right for you. This critique reinvented itself as a suspicion of acquired virtue as such, and true christian virtue has, ever since, been set against a false, hypocritical virtue alleged. Jennifer herdt, professor of christian ethics at yale divinity school.
This critique has reinvented itself as a suspicion of acquired virtue as such, and true christian. Erudite and lucid, jennifer herdts comprehensive study of theological and secular virtue is exceptionally engaging. Foster abstract herdts putting on virtue has two chief aims. Jennifer herdts putting on virtue does so, expertly, engagingly, and thoroughly. Her primary interests are in earlymodern and modern moral thought, classical and contemporary virtue ethics, and contemporary protestant social ethics and. Aquinas and desiderius erasmus serve as the heroes of herdts book. The legacy of the splendid vices, chicago university press.
Todays conversations in virtue ethics are enflamed with questions of pagan virtues, which often designate non. New book explores virtue and vice news notre dame news. Jennifer herdt, associate professor of theology at the university of notre dame, is the author of putting on virtue. A theologically rich, historically grounded, and philosophically challenging book. The legacy of the splendid vices,newly released by the university of chicago press. Putting on virtue reveals how a distrust of learned and habituated virtue shaped both early modern christian moral reflection and secular forms of ethical thought. Todays conversations in virtue ethics are enflamed with questions of pagan virtues, which often designate nonchristian virtue from a christian perspective.
Ethical formation f rom medieval to early modern, journal of. Redeeming the german bildung tradition, was supported by a research. The second is to facilitate reconciliation between augustinian and emersonian virtue. Herdt concludes the book by affirming the christian retrieval of virtue ethics.
Augustine famously claimed that the virtues of pagan rome were nothing more than splendid vices. Jennifer herdt develops her claims through an argument of broad. Putting virtue into practice, part 1 institute for faith. In her erudite book putting on virtue, jennifer herdt sees elements ofthis skepticism in most modern conceptions of virtue. Putting the question to jennifer herdts putting on virtue. The legacy of the splendid vices, studies in christian ethics, february 2010 obituary. Ultimately, putting on virtue traces a path from suspicion of virtue to its. Jennifer herdt develops her claims through an argument of broad historical sweep, which brings together the aristotelian tradition as taken up by thomas aquinas with the early modern. The topic of herdts book is whether a person can pretend to be virtuous in order to become virtuous, whether we can pretend to be acting from virtuous motives in order to one day truly act from virtuous motives. The book explores the effects of the famous augustine claim that the virtues of pagan rome were nothing more than splendid vices. The table podcast biola university center for christian. Jonathan rothchild, journal of theological studies, in terms of both breadth and depth, herdts book is a masterful treatise.
This ostensibly selective scope should not fool those unfamiliar with putting on virtue into underesti. Pagan virtues, pagan vices, and their historied interpretations are the subject of jennifer herdts book putting on virtue. One context that i look at in putting on virtue in particular is the court. He actually tracked his progress by using a little book of thirteen charts, putting a mark next to each virtue for each fault committed with respect to that virtue for that day. The legacy of the splendid vices jennifer herdt leads her reader through an historical survey of pagan virtue as it has been. While franklin, by his own admission, did not live completely by his virtues, he believed the. Herdt, 9780226327198, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. The legacy of the splendid vices jennifer herdt leads her reader through an historical survey of pagan virtue as it has been either accepted or rejected in christian moral thought. If you think about it, a transition from virtue being demonstrated in military valor to a context in which the nobles are hanging around the court, being a great fighter isnt really the way to make progress in that context. However, we teach our kids there is a right and a wrong. Herdt describes her book as an examination of conceptions of merely apparent virtue herdt 2008, 4. Richard john neuhaus 19362009, studies in christian ethics, november 2009 we were believers once, and young, first things, october 2009. The legacy of the splendid vices reprint by herdt, jennifer a.
Jennifer a herdt putting on virtue reveals how a distrust of learned and habituated virtue shaped both early modern christian moral reflection and secular forms of ethical thought. Jennifer herdt develops her claims through an argument of broad historical sweep, which brings together the aristotelian tradition as taken up by. Stark professor of christian ethics and senior associate dean for academic affairs at the yale university divinity school. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Yes, we love others and get away from judging others. This is a pretty good article, but im surprised theres no mention of jennifer herdts book putting on virtue, which is a comprehensive overview of christian and secular suspicion towards aristotelian virtue. Introduction jennifer herdts putting on virtue is a welcome contribution to the neld.
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