Jared on McCloskey’s Bourgeois Virtues
Professor McCloskey,
I wanted to send you a quick note of encouragement. This semester I am taking a history of economic thought class here at UNI. We recently were discussing Thorstein Veblen, while researching a paper on him I came across some of your work, specifically The Bourgeois Virtues. I started reading it this week and hope once Christmas break arrives I can dedicate more time to it. From what I have read thus far its amazing. I want you to know you are the ideal intellectual I aspire to be one day. Thank you so much for your courage both academically in challenging mainstream economics to better itself and personally in the struggles you have gone through, its an inspiration to this young economist and many others. God bless and take care!
Jared
Dear Jared,
I’m sorry to be so tardy in reply, especially to such a sweet-willed and intelligent remark!
Stay in touch,
Deirdre McCloskey
Written by Deirdre on February 6th, 2009.Professor McCloskey,
Thank you very much for your reply (my roommates can attest to my giddy squeals of joy upon reading it)! As promised I finished The Bourgeois Virtues over Christmas break. After reflecting on it for a few days, I started writing an essay for UNI’s international economics essay contest. Armed only with a basic understanding of ethic and philosophy I attempted to argue that countries with similar balanced virtue sets were more likely to engage international exchange.
My essay wasn’t a winning submission but the critical thinking and research I put into it allowed me to grow intellectually (not to mention a new found appreciation for my Dutch heritage). Therefore, I owe you a huge thanks.
Do you plan to address international trade more in detail in up coming volumes of The Virtues? In your opinion why is it politicians don’t pursue the virtues when dealing with international relations? I look forward to reading the final draft of volume II.
Keep fighting to make a difference out there, because you are truly changing the world one young economist at a time. Best wishes!
Jared
P.S. If it’s not to much trouble, I would be honored and overjoyed to have you sign my copy of the Bourgeois Virtues. God bless!
Written by Jared on February 10th, 2009.Dear Jared,
It is the young economists who will remake our strange and glorious field of study. I think politicians do pursue the virtues. There is a theory in (the academic study of) international relations that they don’t, that countries are mere maximizers. I don’t think so. You can’t explain George Bush, or Tony Blair, that way. And certainly not Obama.
Send your address to my e-mail deirdre2@uic,edu and I’ll send you a bookplate inscribed!
Regards,
Deirdre McCloskey
Written by Deirdre McCloskey on February 10th, 2009.