Rick Anthony Furtak is associate professor of philosophy at Colorado College.
"One of the most laudable features of this analysis is how Furtak
allows the esthete to respond in kind before moving on to the
religious point of view. . . Furtak's approach to the religious
point of view is not only the most controversial aspect of Wisdom
in Love but also of Kierkegaard's writing all told. The debate is
over how detached and unemotional religious individuals are
portrayed, how engaged by particular worldly aspirations they are
supposed to be." —Christianity and Literature
“Although Kierkegaard is at the center of Furtak's study, the
larger theoretical interest of the book is to develop a philosophy
'according to which the emotions can be understood as embodying a
kind of authentic insight-even, perhaps, enabling us to attain a
uniquely truthful way of seeing the world.'” —Journal of American
Academy of Religion
“At the heart of this conception is an interpretation of love as a
basic and general disposition to perceive things in the world as
unconditionally valuable. It is especially to be noted for the
disciplined pathos of Furtak's writing. The book bristles with
highly suggestive and often illuminating literary examples and
illusions.” —Philosophy in Review
"This book is an original contribution to moral philosophy and to
that part of the philosophy of mind dealing with the emotions. Its
markedly felicitous style makes it readable and graspable -- by
undergraduates, even as it will reward philosophers who are
specialists in moral psychology, Greek Philosophy, Kierkegaard, or
19th Century Post-Kantian thought. It displays an exemplary command
of secondary and primary sources, and offers a veritable trove in
footnotes."—Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews
"With thorough exegesis of a variety of Kierkegaard's works, Furtak
reveals a theory of emotions built upon a Stoic framework, yet one
in which one can save oneself from despair by having faith in what
one loves. Recommended." —Choice
"The subtitle refers to the methodological approach: After
beginning with a critical consideration of ancient stoicism and its
disdain for the emotions, the study draws upon Soren Kierkegaard's
writings in order to develop a conceptual account of emotional
integrity. As the author announces in the preface, the outcome of
this guide for the emotionally perplexed is a conception of what it
would mean to trust oneself to be rational in being passionate. His
rich and inspiring book raises a lot of important questions and
will certainly stimulate further discussion." —Ars Disputandi
“Rick Anthony Furtak's Wisdom in Love is a subtle and fascinating
study of emotional rightness. Focusing on Kierkegaard's debt to and
critique of ancient Stoic ideas of falsity in emotion, Furtak
brings to the topic a flexible philosophical mind and a set of
fresh and surprising insights. His scholarship will satisfy
specialists, but his impressive literary style makes the book open
to any reader who wants to reflect about the topic.” —Martha
Nussbaum, University of Chicago
“In Wisdom in Love, Rick Anthony Furtak gives us a persuasive
defense of love and deep concern, and shows how these lead toward a
religious conception of emotion and value. Love and its companion
emotions are placed within a picture of what is worthy, a view that
makes sense of our perceptions of significance despite the pull of
slants that see the world as devoid of anything that matters. It is
a timely, important, and original contribution to moral
philosophy.” —Edward Mooney, Syracuse University
“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
and love.” —John Hanwell Riker, author of Ethics and the Discovery
of the Unconscious
“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
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