The Bourgeois Virtues: Ethics for an Age of Commerce

Deirdre N. McCloskey is distinguished professor of economics, history, English,and communication at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Among her many booksare Crossing: A Memoir (University of Chicago Press, 1999), and If You’re So Smart:The Narrative of Economic Expertise (University of Chicago Press, 1990).The University of Chicago Press, Chicago 60637The University of Chicago Press, Ltd., London© 2006 by The University of ChicagoAll rights reserved. Published 2006Printed in the United States of America15141312111009080706 12345ISBN: 0-226-55663-8 (cloth)Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication DataMcCloskey, Deirdre N.The bourgeois virtues : ethics for an age of commerce / Deirdre N. McCloskey.p. cm.Includes bibliographical references and index.ISBN 0-226-55663-8 (cloth : alk. paper)1. Capitalism—Moral and ethical aspects. 2. Commerce—Moral and ethical aspects.3. Social ethics—History. 4. Business ethics—History. 5. Virtues—History. 6. Economichistory. I. Title: Ethics for an age of commerce. II. Title.HB501.M5534 2006174—dc222005029657 The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of the AmericanNational Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper for Printed LibraryMaterials, ANSI Z39.48–1992.