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The Noble Art of Renunciation

Otfried Höffe

A Little Philosophy of Self-Restriction

‘A little garden, some figs, a small piece of cheese and three or four friends – that was Epicurus’s idea of luxury.’ - Friedrich Nietzsche There has been much discussion and debate recently about renunciation – so it is somewhat surprising that it still has such a bad reputation. In the history of ethics and in the tradition of religions, on the other hand, renunciation plays a significant role. This striking gap in our understanding has inspired Otfried Höffe to look back at the history of ideas in order to remind us of the importance and historical diversity of types of self-restraint and approaches to it.

From renunciation as a way of moderating passions, or as religious asceticism, to the legal restriction of individual freedoms and the great duty we have to exercise self-restraint in light of the climate crisis and biodiversity loss, this short history of renunciation shows that the noble art of voluntary self-restraint is integral to a successful life. Otfried Höffe is also concerned with conceptual clarification, and with formulating a little philosophy of renunciation. Can the concept be rehabilitated – and can it once again become fertile soil for contemporary thought?

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Published by C.H.Beck , ISBN: 9783406807466

ISBN: 9783406807466