A Discussion of Mark O’Keefe’s Virtue Abounding Chapter 1 “The Virtuous Life” Last chapter introduced the idea of the seven virtues. The four cardinal virtues are courage, prudence, justice, and temperance, and the three theological virtues are faith, hope, and love. Now we turn to the question, what is a virtuous life?…
Tag: Sociological
Virtues Abounding
What are the Virtues?
A Discussion of Mark O’Keefe’s Virtues Abounding “Introduction” I am reading Virtues Abounding to understand the importance of each of us developing virtues for our economy, and overall society, to function at its best. That is, many of the critiques of capitalism are really stemming from character flaws in the people practicing capitalism…
Why We Bite the Invisible Hand
The Subconscious Source of Morality Is Driving the Culture Wars
Part 2 of a Discussion of Peter Foster’s Why We Bite the Invisible Hand Chapter 11 “The Darwin Wars” In the second half of the chapter, Foster turns to the origin of morality and posits it is not a recent innovation but something that is central to mankind. In the…
Why We Bite the Invisible Hand
Sociobiology’s Unity Blinded Its Progress
Part 1 of a Discussion of Peter Foster’s Why We Bite the Invisible Hand Chapter 11 “The Darwin Wars” Foster turns this chapter to an examination of the field of sociobiology, where evolutionary biology meets psychology, hoping to find answers to why we carry anti-capitalist views instinctively. Seeking the source…
Bourgeois Equality
Ideas Transformed Sociology not Biology
A Discussion of Bourgeois Equality Chapter 49 “And then Turned” Dr. McCloskey revisits her main thesis: the role of ideas as the source of the Great Enrichment taking off in England in the nineteenth century. She says it cannot be due to economic, political, or legal changes because any changes…
Bourgeois Equality
A Sociological Shift, Not a Psychological Change
A Discussion of Bourgeois Equality Chapter 29 “The Bourgeoisie Loved Measurement” and Chapter 30 “The Change Was in Social Habits of the Lip, Not in Psychology” We continue Dr. McCloskey’s dive into why the Great Enrichment occurred when it did because the stories we tell ourselves shape the world of…