Review by Choice Review
An important and scholarly book that attempts to reintroduce to contemporary thinkers a perception of morality that has been widely ignored. Casey maintains that the notion of virtue needs to be understood, not merely in its Christian sense, but in the uniquely pagan sense that first gave virtue its life. This patiently argued and clearly written treatise adds significantly to question raised by such recent thinkers as A.C. MacIntyre, M.C. Nussbaum, and Bernard Williams. Casey argues that we inhere to a "confused system of values" that arise from the inevitable interplay between Christian and pagan virtues; we must understand that this mixture of moral perspectives commits us to a delicate balancing act. Casey's book, which borrows creatively from the Aristotelian tradition, contains specific chapters on courage, justice, temperance, and practical wisdom. He takes seriously the moral significance of the body, of fortune, and of the emotions. This learned text combines the insights of literature and philosophy, and offers some especially valuable interpretations of Shakespeare and Hume. Helpful index; brief but rich bibliography. Advanced undergraduates and up. -D. W. Black, University of Scranton
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
