Wisdom In Love: Kierkegaard and the Ancient Quest for Emotional Integrity [Hardcover]

In this historically-informed work in moral psychology, Rick Anthony Furtak develops a conceptual account of the emotions that addresses the conventional idea that reason and emotion stand in sharp opposition. Furtak begins with a critical examination of the ancient Stoic position that emotions ought to be avoided by rational human beings. He argues that, on the contrary, emotions ought to be understood as embodying a kind of authentic insight, which enables us to attain a meaningful and truthful way of seeing the world.

Furtak's positive alternative to Stoicism draws heavily on the writings of S?ren Kierkegaard, particularly Either/Or and Works of Love, while also engaging with a wide range of other relevant philosophical, literary, and religious sources. He argues that a morality of virtue and narrative awareness is necessary for accurate emotional perception, and then attempts to define a qualified value realism based upon a reverential trust in love as the ground of life as we know it. The outcome of this inquiry into the possibility of reliable emotion is an account of the ideal state in which a person could trust himself or herself to be rational in being passionate.

Wisdom in Lovemakes an original contribution to the philosophy of the emotions and provides a new and compelling interpretation of Kierkegaards work as a whole.

Rick Anthony Furtak is associate professor of philosophy at Colorado College.

This book will find an important place both in Kierkegaard scholarship and in a wider philosophical context. Furtak has read Kierkegaard extensively and well. Alastair Hannay, University of Oslo

Furtak's voice in this book is extraordinary, for it combines the authentic presence of a human being searching for understanding, the rigorous enquiry of a philosopher investigating emotion and knowledge, and the lyrical sensitivity of a poet engaged in bringing experiences to light. It is a book brimming with wisdom andl#3