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

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