Modern Greatness of Soul in Hume and Smith
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2015
Abstract
I contend that Adam Smith and David Hume offer re-interpretations of Aristotle’s notion of greatness of soul, focusing on the kind of magnanimity Aristotle attributes to Socrates. Someone with Socratic magnanimity is worthy of honor, responds moderately to fortune, and is virtuous—just and benevolent. Recent theorists err in claiming that magnanimity is less important to Hume’s account of human excellence than benevolence. In fact, benevolence is a necessary ingredient for the best sort of greatness. Smith’s “Letter to Strahan” attributes this greatness to Hume. It encourages us to admire Hume as an exemplar of human excellence, to seek Hume’s virtues for ourselves, and to approve of the “love of literary fame” which Hume calls his “ruling passion.”
Publication
Ergo, an Open Access Journal of Philosophy
Publisher
Michigan Publishing
Volume
2
Issue
2
Pages
27-58
Department
College of Arts and Sciences
Recommended Citation
Corsa, A. J. (2015). Modern greatness of soul in Hume and Smith. Ergo, an Open Access Journal of Philosophy, 2(2), 27-58. https://doi.org/10.3998/ergo.12405314.0002.002
Comments
This article was published before Dr. Andrew J. Corsa joined Lynn University.