Philosophy and Finance: A Love Story

“There are books that inform and there are books that remind. Philosophy and Finance: A Love Story is very much the latter—a generous, soulful work that reminds us of something we have always known but somehow managed to forget: that how we deploy capital is an expression of who we are, and that who we are is, in no small part, a matter of deliberate reflection and cultivation.” —Jed Emerson "Paule Ansoleaga Abascal has written a luminous, necessary book. Philosophy and Finance reminds us that the separation of capital from conscience was not inevitable and that reuniting them is the great work of our time. An energizing call to moral imagination and action for anyone who believes finance can be a force for dignity."—Jacqueline Novogratz Philosophy and Finance is a timely and deeply personal exploration of two worlds too often kept apart. Drawing on the author’s journey from global capital markets to ancient philosophy, this book bridges ethics and economics, inner life and institutional systems. From Aristotle and the Stoics to modern impact investing and sustainable finance, it argues that capital is never neutral—it reflects the values of those who allocate it. True transformation, the author contends, begins within but must extend outward into the companies, markets, and economies we shape. Blending intellectual rigor with lived experience, this is not a technical manual but a reflective guide for professionals, investors, entrepreneurs, and changemakers seeking to align capital with conscience. In an age of acceleration and uncertainty, it offers a powerful reminder: finance guided by wisdom can become a force for human flourishing. Paule Ansoleaga Abascal is a European finance executive with more than 20 years of experience in capital markets and asset management. Currently Managing Director Italy at Arcano Partners, she previously worked at Rothschild & Co in Milan and Bank of America in London. She serves on the board of the NGO Alice for Children and advises WeGlad, a social impact company. Her work explores how philosophy and inner transformation can help reconnect finance with responsibility and human flourishing.