Samuel Fleischacker is professor of philosophy at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He is the author of many books, including On Adam Smith's "Wealth of Nations": A Philosophical Companion and, most recently, The Good and the Good Book: Revelation as a Guide to Life.
"Philosophically rich, elegantly written, fair-minded, and informed
by a humane moral sensibility. It deserves a wide readership. . . .
Those familiar with Fleischacker's work will not be surprised by
the clarity of the analyses, and I recommend them to your
attention. Beyond the philosophical performance, however, Being Me
Being You is striking for its moral outlook, which appears both to
stimulate and be informed by the discussion of empathy. That
outlook is manifest in the book's advocacy for modesty, humility
and sensitivity to our moral fragility as human beings. . . .
Fleischacker's book invites and provokes readers to reflect on
fundamental philosophical and moral issues. Being Me Being You thus
deserves an honored place in the intellectual tradition initiated
by Adam Smith."-- "Journal of Scottish Philosophy"
"Being Me Being You offers a novel interpretation of Adam Smith's
conception of empathy--or 'sympathy, ' as Smith referred to the
phenomenon--and defends its importance for ethical theory.
Ethicists, especially those with interests in moral psychology,
will find Fleischacker's nuanced discussion of empathy to be of
great interest, and the book is written in such an accessible and
inviting manner that it will no doubt serve students of all levels.
Moreover, Fleischacker develops an innovative Smithian account of
humanity. Indeed, it would not be an exaggeration to say that his
discussion of Smithian humanity is one of the most sophisticated
and impressive philosophical commentaries on Smith's thought that I
have encountered. Accordingly, this book is an important addition
both to the secondary literature on Adam Smith and to ethical
theory more generally."--Nir Ben-Moshe, University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign
"Fleischacker's parsing of Smithian empathy is dazzling
intellectually, and it's enriched by his own deeply empathetic
insight into human character. His use of the distinction between
cognitive and emotional empathy as the foundation for a public
conversation that's grounded in individual perspectives while also
transcending them is completely persuasive (and deserves special
attention in our era of conversation-stopping tribalism). His
analysis of demonization and his prescription of Smithian empathy
as a remedy will be part of my own moral vocabulary from now on.
Being Me Being You is philosophy at its most humane, relevant, and
wise."--Jonathan Rauch, Brookings Institution, author of The
Happiness Curve: Why Life Gets Better After 50
"A helpful exploration of the variety of ways in which we use the
term 'empathy' today. . . . A dense and fascinating philosophical
treatise. . . . Being Me Being You is an excellent read for anyone
interested in Smith and in how we live and get along with others.
It makes important contributions to the literature of moral
philosophy, and deftly answers several modern direct and indirect
challenges to Smithian empathy."-- "Adam Smith Works"
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