About this item
From Socrates to Thoreau, most philosophers, moralists, and religious leaders have seen frugality as a virtue and have associated simple living with wisdom, integrity, and happiness. But why? And are they right? Is a taste for luxury fundamentally misguided? If one has the means to be a spendthrift, is it foolish or reprehensible to be extravagant?In this book, Emrys Westacott examines why, for more than two millennia, so many philosophers and people with a reputation for wisdom have been advocating frugality and simple living as the key to the good life. He also looks at why most people have ignored them, but argues that, in a world facing environmental crisis, it may finally be time to listen to the advocates of a simpler way of life.The Wisdom of Frugality explores what simplicity means, why it's supposed to make us better and happier, and why, despite its benefits, it has always been such a hard sell.
About the Author
Emrys Westacott was born in Nottingham, and grew up in Chesterfield (UK) . He studied philosophy at the University of Sheffield, McGill University, and the University of Texas at Austin. Since 1996 he has taught philosophy at Alfred University in Western New York. His work has appeared in various publications, both scholarly and popular, including Philosophy Now, The Humanist,The Philosophical Forum, International Studies in Philosophy, the International Journal of Applied Philosophy, The Chronicle of Higher Education, Think, and The Philosopher's Magazine. He has written three books: Thinking Through Philosophy (co-authored with Chris Horner) (Cambridge Univ. Press, 2000) ; The Virtues of our Vices (Princeton Univ. Press, 2012) ; and The Wisdom of Frugality (Princeton, 2016) . Further information, including links to his writings in a variety of genres and to his class web pages can be found at his website: https://sites.google.com/site/ewestacott/
