Greatness of Humility, The PB
St Augustine on Moral Excellence
Format:Paperback
Publisher:James Clarke & Co Ltd
Published:23rd Feb '17
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
This book presents a compelling argument for humility as a crucial virtue for human greatness, showcasing St. Augustine's insights against philosophical critiques.
In Greatness of Humility, The PB, Joseph J. McInerney delves into St. Augustine's compelling defense of humility as an essential virtue for achieving true greatness. The book explores the often contentious debate surrounding humility, highlighting how it is perceived by various philosophical traditions. While many view humility as a desirable trait, critics from both ancient and modern perspectives argue that it undermines human potential and leads to unhappiness. McInerney carefully navigates these contrasting views, providing a thorough analysis of the philosophical landscape.
The author presents St. Augustine as a pivotal figure in the Christian intellectual tradition, offering a refreshing counterpoint to the negative assessments of humility. Through Augustine's lens, humility emerges not just as a virtue but as the very foundation upon which true greatness is built. This perspective challenges the Aristotelian view that equates humility with weakness and the modern stance that dismisses it as a path to debasement. Instead, Augustine's insights reveal how humility can empower individuals and enhance their capacity for greatness.
Greatness of Humility, The PB serves as both a scholarly examination and a thoughtful reflection on the significance of humility in our lives. McInerney's exploration encourages readers to reconsider their understanding of humility and its role in personal and communal achievement, ultimately advocating for a re-evaluation of this often-misunderstood virtue.
"Too often, humility is understood only as a diminished opinion of oneself. Less explored is the biblical truth that humility is a prerequisite for both piety and compassion, both love of God and love of neighbour. Despite millennia of Christian praise for it, humility remains as radical today as in St Augustine's time. Bound to challenge and enrich, this book is fascinating and timely. A must-read for the serious Christian." -Carl Anderson, Supreme Knight, Knights of Columbus "While philosophers may debate the value of humility, those engaged in leader development understand the absolute necessity of this virtue ... McInerney's contribution to this understanding is critical. The Greatness of Humility provides practicing leaders a road map for navigating this critical matter. His clear explanations of the work of Augustine, Hume, and Nietzsche will become part of my undergraduate, graduate, and executive classrooms." -Joseph J. Thomas, Chair and Distinguished Professor of Leadership Education, United States Naval Academy '[T]he Greatness of Humility is a well-argued and clear account of an undertheorized virtue in Augustine's corpus. McInerney's book stands as a fine exegetical and historical study as well as a normative proposal for humility's place in moral perfection. Because of this, the book is accessible to readers with a variety of interests, from Augustine and virtue ethics to Hume and Nietzsche.... In short, this volume is a helpful study of an underappreciated aspect of Augustine's moral thought that is able to reach a wider audience than most books of its kind.' Luke Zerra, Reviews in Religion and Theology, Volume 25, Issue 1, January 2018 'this book presents a remarkable synthesis of Saint Augustine's thought on humility and greatness for anyone approaching it for the first time' Kolawole Chabi, Augustinianum, vol 58 issue 1, June 2018
ISBN: 9780227176009
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: 325g
214 pages