The Prudence of Love: How Possessing the Virtue of Love Benefits the Lover

About this book

The Prudence of Love focuses upon the intersection of philosophical theological and psychological issues concerning love. Eric Silverman advocates an account of the virtue of love derived from Thomas Aquinass account of charity and makes three claims concerning loves effect on a persons happiness. First he argues that there are at least five distinct ways that possessing the virtue of love contributes to the lovers happiness. Surprisingly only one of these benefits is primarily relational while the other benefits are largely psychological. Second Silverman argues that the combination of loves benefits typically increases the lovers overall level of happiness. Finally he argues that possessing a loving disposition is a more reliable strategy for increasing ones overall happiness than possessing an unloving disposition. Throughout The Prudence of Love Silverman demonstrates that loves benefits are identifiable according to all four major views of happiness.