A Small Treatise on the Great Virtues

In this graceful incisive book writer-philosopher André Comte-Sponville reexamines the classical virtues to help us understand what we should do who we should be and how we should live. In the process he gives us an entirely new perspective on the value relevance and charm of the Western ethical tradition. Drawing on thinkers from Aristotle to Simone Weil by way of Aquinas Kant Rilke Nietzsche Spinoza and Rawls among others Comte-Sponville elaborates on the qualities that constitute the essence and excellence of humankind. Starting with politeness-almost a virtue-and ending with love-which transcends all morality-A Small Treatise takes us on a tour of the eighteen essential virtues: fidelity prudence temperance courage justice generosity compassion mercy gratitude humility simplicity tolerance purity gentleness good faith and even surprisingly humor.Sophisticated lucid and full of wit this modestly titled yet immensely important work provides an indispensable guide to finding what is right and good in everyday life.