In 18th century France, the most-read book after the Bible was a work on political philosophy written by the Roman Catholic archbishop François Fénelon. Unfortunately, Fénelon’s writings on economics, politics, and theology have largely been forgotten, as only a fraction of his work has been translated into English. Fénelon was an important voice in France; during the Enlightenment, he fought for the reform of France’s political and economic institutions. His works are a critical resource for those interested in economics, philosophy, and religion. Ryan Patrick Hanley, professor at Boston College and the author of the new book The Political Philosophy of Fénelon, joins the show to share why he believes Fénelon’s work is important for us today.

Buy “Fénelon: Moral and Political Writings,” translated by Ryan Patrick Hanley

Buy “The Political Philosophy of Fénelon,” by Ryan Patrick Hanley

Read “Living Well with Adam Smith,” by Jordan Ballor

New to the Acton Line podcast? Subscribe here! We also mend starting with these episodes:

Do you have feedback for the Acton Line podcast team? We want to hear from you! Email us at [email protected]. If you like Acton Line, don’t forget to leave a rating and review on the Apple podcast app!