Suffering and Virtue, Michael S. Brady
Suffering and Virtue, Michael S. Brady
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Suffering and Virtue

Author: Michael S. Brady

Narrator: Jonathan Cowley

Unabridged: 9 hr 51 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 09/28/2018


Synopsis

Suffering, in one form or another, is present in all of our lives. But why do we suffer? On one reading, this is a question about the causes of physical and emotional suffering. On another, it is a question about whether suffering has a point or purpose or value. In this groundbreaking book, Michael Brady argues that suffering is vital for the development of virtue, and hence for us to live happy or flourishing lives.

After presenting a distinctive account of suffering and a novel interpretation of its core element—unpleasantness—Brady focuses on three claims that are central to his picture. The first is that forms of suffering, like pain and remorse, can themselves constitute virtuous responses. The second is that suffering is essential for four important classes of virtue: virtues of strength, such as fortitude and courage; virtues of vulnerability, such as adaptability and humility; moral virtues, such as compassion; and the practical and epistemic excellences that make up wisdom. His third and final claim is that suffering is vital for the social virtues of justice, love, and trust, and hence for the flourishing of social groups.

About Michael S. Brady

Michael S. Brady is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Glasgow, having previously taught at the University of Stirling. His research centers on the philosophy of emotion and its links with moral philosophy and epistemology. He was Director of the British Philosophical Association, having previously served as Secretary of the Scots Philosophical Association, and he is Philosopher in Residence with Quarantine, the Manchester-based theater and performance company.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Francis on November 15, 2020

A bit dry, but thorough, thoughtful, and well argued. This is definitely worth reading if you have a serious interest in "the problem of evil". I do have a few quibbles with it. The main one is that though the author acknowledges the validity of arguments against the soul building theodicy view of t......more