Philosophical traditions and schools of thought Books

Book SynopsisMedieval theology had an important influence on later philosophy which is visible in the empiricisms of Russell, Carnap, and Quine. Other thinkers, including McDowell, Kripke, and Dennett, show how we can overcome the distorting effects of that theological ecosystem on our accounts of the nature of reality and our relationship to it. In a different philosophical tradition, Hegel uses a secularized version of Christianity to argue for a kind of human knowledge that overcomes the influences of late-medieval voluntarism, and some twentieth-century thinkers, including Benjamin and Derrida, instead defend a Jewish-influenced notion of the religious sublime. Frank B. Farrell analyzes and connects philosophers of different eras and traditions to show that modern philosophy has developed its practices on a terrain marked out by earlier theological and religious ideas, and considers how different philosophers have both embraced, and tried to escape from, those deep-seated patterns of thought.Trade Review'This wide-ranging and fascinating book should be required reading for anyone who is interested in placing twentieth-century philosophy in intellectual history, not just the history of philosophy.' John McDowell, University of PittsburghTable of ContentsAcknowledgments; Introduction: the thinning out of the world; 1. Empiricism and theology; 2. John McDowell: rejecting the defensive move inward; 3. Aristotle redivivus: on Saul Kripke; 4. Hegel, theology, and Pippin's reading of Hegel; 5. Walter Benjamin: incarnation or radical incommensurability?; 6. Rolling back the Protestant Reformation: Wittgenstein and Dennett; 7. McDowell (II): active and passive faculties and the theological framework; 8. Derrida, the religion of the sublime, and the messianic; 9. Literature today and the sublime absence of aesthetic experience; 10. Where do we go from here?; Bibliography; Index.

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Book SynopsisThis volume presents a selection of new articles examining the state of Irish philosophy during the lifetime of Ireland's most famous philosopher, Bishop George Berkeley (1685â1753). The thinkers examined include Berkeley, Robert Boyle, William King, William Molyneux, Robert Molesworth, Peter Browne, Jonathan Swift, John Toland, Thomas Prior, Samuel Madden, Arthur Dobbs, Francis Hutcheson, Mary Barber, Constantia Grierson, Laetitia Pilkington, Elizabeth Sican, and John Austin. This interdisciplinary collection includes attention both to local Irish concerns and to Ireland's relation to the broader European context, and discusses philosophical reflections on topics as diverse as religion, economics, laughter, and motherhood.Table of ContentsPreface Kenneth L. Pearce and Takaharu Oda; 1. The Irish Context of Berkeley's 'Resemblance Thesis' Manuel Fasko and Peter West; 2. Does Berkeley's Immaterialism Support Toland's Spinozism? The Posidonian Argument and the Eleventh Objection Eric Schliesser; 3. Poverty and Prosperity: Political Economics in Eighteenth-Century Ireland Marc A. Hight; 4. Berkeley's Criticisms of Shaftesbury and Hutcheson Samuel C. Rickless; 5. Francis Hutcheson on Liberty Ruth Boeker; 6. 'Plainly of Considerable Moment in Human Society': Francis Hutcheson and Polite Laughter in Eighteenth-Century Britain and Ireland Kate Davison; 7. What the Women of Dublin Did with John Locke Christine Gerrard; 8. From Serena to Hypatia: John Toland's Women Ian Leask; 9. Peter Browne on the Metaphysics of Knowledge Kenneth L. Pearce; 10. John Austin SJ (1717–84), The First Irish Catholic Cartesian? Jacob Schmutz; Index of Names.

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Book SynopsisHow did Nietzsche the philosopher come into being? The Nietzsche known today did not develop ''naturally'', through the gradual maturation of some inborn character. Instead, from an early age he engaged in a self-conscious campaign to follow his own guidance, thereby cultivating the critical capacities and personal vision which figure in his books. As a result, his published works are steeped in values that he discovered long before he mobilised their results. Indeed, one could argue that the first work which he authored was not a book at all, but his own persona. Based on scholarship previously available only in German, this book examines Nietzsche''s unstable childhood, his determination to advance through self-formation, and the ways in which his environment, notably the Prussian education system, alternately influenced and impeded his efforts to find his own way. It will be essential reading for all who are interested in Nietzsche.Trade Review'It would be difficult to imagine a better account of Nietzsche's early life. Blue's research – exemplary in scope and meticulous in rigor – is matched only by the fluidity of his prose. This will quickly become a standard resource for Nietzsche scholars.' Anthony K. Jensen, Providence College'Daniel Blue's excellent new biography treats the formative years (1844–69) in the life of the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. Throughout this period, the author maintains, Nietzsche 'became what he was' by writing and revising the story of his life, hoping thereby to gain some measure of control over the course of his future developments. Were we to appreciate the role of autobiography in Nietzsche's own process of self-formation, the author persuasively suggests, we would be likely to arrive at a much clearer, and more comprehensive, sense of the ideas and writings he produced. Scrupulously researched, thoughtfully crafted, clearly written, and eminently readable, this new book will appeal not only to scholars and students of German philosophy, but also to lovers of biography more generally. Blue's book makes an outstanding contribution to the secondary literature devoted to Nietzsche.' Daniel Conway, Texas A&M University'Blue's writing is immensely readable and animates even the driest moments of the young man's life. He's careful to account for the human inclination to rewrite history and uses each of the successive autobiographies Nietzsche wrote (along with his letters) to show a man organically coming to terms both with his own spiritual and intellectual evolution and the climate of the mid-19th century German states.' Matthew Snider, PopMatters'A good deal of Blue's focus lies in providing an accurate English-language account of the facts of Nietzsche's early life, building on and correcting previous versions. Here, his success is unquestionable. … Blue is a sensitive, careful and reliable narrator. He is also frank.' Tom Stern, Literary Review'… this is the most comprehensive and critical account of Nietzsche's early years.' Philosophischer Literaturanzeiger'Blue's book is meticulously researched and carefully footnoted, but also engaging and readable.' Andrew Huddleston, The Times Literary SupplementTable of ContentsTexts and citations; Introduction; 1. The legacy; 2. Half an orphan; 3. The discovery of writing; 4. The discovery of self; 5. Soul-building: the theory; 6. The turn to naturalism; 7. The underworld of Pforta; 8. The lottery; 9. Soul-building: the practice; 10. The fourth cycle; 11. 'The end of the first act'; 12. An education in mistrust; 13. 'Become what you are'; 14. The gift horse; Afterword: the autobiographer; Bibliography; Index.

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Book SynopsisKant''s ethical thought remains one of the most influential, yet notoriously challenging, systems in the history of philosophy. This volume provides a sympathetic but critical reconstruction of the main strands of Kant''s ethics, focusing on the most commonly read of Kant''s ethical works, the Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals. Part I outlines Kant''s arguments in defense of his Categorical Imperative, as well as elaborating Kant''s understanding of dignity and human freedom. Part II addresses the most common objections to Kant''s ethics, including challenges to the Formula of Universal Law; Kant''s controversial ethical stances on suicide, sex and marriage, and non-human animals; and the place of reason, sentiment, and happiness in Kant''s ethics. For scholars and specialists alike, the volume offers a clear and accessible account of what Kantian morality both offers us and asks of us.Trade Review'Cholbi strikes a very nice balance between the complexities and nuances of Kant's system and the real-world implications of his ethics.' Johan Brännmark, Malmö University, Sweden'This excellent introduction to Kant's ethics presents a sympathetic account of the fundamental aspects of Kant's moral theory. It contains illuminating critical discussions of some of the most pressing objections to Kant's moral theory, and is filled with helpful illustrative examples. It also gives the reader a clear picture of the main contrasts between Kantianism, utilitarianism, and virtue ethics. The end result is a powerful defense of Kant's moral theory that does justice to the rich details of Kant's position while at the same time painting an even-handed picture of its strengths and weaknesses.' Anne Margaret Baxley, Washington University, St Louis'Cholbi's book is well written, well-structured, clearly argued and touches upon most of the important aspects of Kant's moral philosophy. Cholbi also provides systematically argued responses to some of the most common objections to and criticisms of Kant's ethics, and convincingly shows that and why Kant's moral theory (or at least a distinctively Kantian approach to and understanding of ethics) is still worthy of continued philosophical interest and respect. Both the philosophy student and the advanced Kant-scholar are thus bound to find something of interest and something to discuss and disagree on in Cholbi's book. And that of course is one of the things which all good introductions should do.' Carsten Fogh Nielsen, Metapsychology (www.metapsychology.mentalhelp.net)Table of ContentsPreface; Introduction; Part I: 1. Kant's pursuit of the supreme principle of morality; 2. The Categorical Imperative and the Kantian theory of value, part I; 3. The Categorical Imperative and the Kantian theory of value, part II; 4. Dignity; 5. Freedom, reason, and the possibility of the Categorical Imperative; Part II: 6. Objections to the Formula of Universal Law; 7. Three problems in Kant's practical ethics; 8. Reason and sentiment: Kantian ethics in a good human life; Conclusion.

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Book SynopsisIn his famous Wager, Blaise Pascal (162362) offers the reader an argument that it is rational to strive to believe in God. Philosophical debates about this classic argument have continued until our own times. This volume provides a comprehensive examination of Pascal''s Wager, including its theological framework, its place in the history of philosophy, and its importance to contemporary decision theory. The volume starts with a valuable primer on infinity and decision theory for students and non-specialists. A sequence of chapters then examines topics including the Wager''s underlying theology, its influence on later philosophical figures, and contemporary analyses of the Wager including Alan Hájek''s challenge to its validity, the many gods objection, and the ethics of belief. The final five chapters explore various ways in which the Wager has inspired contemporary decision theory, including questions related to infinite utility, imprecise probabilities, and infinitesimals.Trade Review'Given the importance of Pascal's wager, both intrinsically and in terms of its historical influence, this book is an important contribution to the literature.' B. T. Harding, ChoiceTable of ContentsIntroduction Paul Bartha and Lawrence Pasternack; Part I. Historical Context and Influence: 1. Pascal's Wager and the origins of decision theory: decision-making by real decision-makers James Franklin; 2. The Wager and Pascal's theology William Wood; 3. Pascal's Wager and the ethics for inquiry about God Paul Moser; 4. Pascal and his Wager in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries Adam Buben; 5. The Wager and William James Jeff Jordan; Part II. Assessment: 6. The (in)validity of Pascal's Wager Alan Hájek; 7. The many gods objection to Pascal's Wager: a defeat, then a resurrection Craig Duncan; 8. The Wager as decision under ignorance: decision-theoretic responses to the many gods objection Lawrence Pasternack; 9. Rationality and the Wager Paul Saka; 10. The role of Pascal's Wager in authentic religious commitment Joshua Golding; Part III. Extensions: 11. The arbitrary prudentialism of Pascal's Wager and how to overcome it by using game theory Elliott Sober; 12. Pascal's Wager and the dynamics of rational deliberation Paul Bartha; 13. Infinity in Pascal's Wager Graham Oppy; 14. Pascal's Wager and imprecise probability Susanna Rinard; 15. Do infinitesimal probabilities neutralize the infinite utility in Pascal's Wager? Sylvia Wenmackers.

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Book SynopsisWhat the Tortoise Taught Us offers a lively, concise journey through western philosophy that explores the lives of major philosophers, their ideas, and how their thinking continues to influence our lives today. Using a chronological approach, Burton Porter shows how various philosophers address life''s big questions. By putting each philosopher and their ideas into historical context, he helps us understand how certain ideas developed based on the thinking of the time, and how those ideas have influenced our modern perceptions. Using familiar language and interesting anecdotes, Porter provides us with an extremely readable and lively history that takes themes that characterize each age to reflect on the greater human experience. The book includes the philosophies and lives of the ancient philosophers such as Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, and continues through time into the Middle Ages with St. Thomas Aquinas, to the Renaissance, and beyond. Porter explores the metaphysics of DescarteTrade ReviewThis well-written book, which reads like a novel, will appeal to anyone who wants to know what philosophy is all about. Arranged historically, it begins with the Presocratics and ends with contemporary philosophic trends: linguistic philosophy, feminist thought, and the moral issues of abortion and racism. Chapters focus on topics including philosophy of religion, metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics. The Presocratics are presented as thinkers who raised questions that still are perplexing, such as how much to trust the senses and how much to trust reason. The tortoise in the title refers to Zeno's paradox of the tortoise and the hare, and teaches readers "to question what we see and take to be true"—a good statement of philosophy's mission. Porter (Western New England Univ.) offers enough biographical information to situate philosophers in their time and place. One quibble is that Porter says Berkeley "did not believe the world is real"; however, Berkeley only claimed its reality was not material. The author does explain Berkeley's view accurately in his exposition. Clearly written, and offering a good bibliography and index, this book will be a valuable addition to any library. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-level undergraduates through graduate students; general readers. * CHOICE *Table of ContentsChapter 1: The Beginning of Reflection Chapter 2: Being Governed By the Mind: Rational Thought Chapter 3: Religious Faith: The Philosophy of Religion Chapter 4: Personal Identity and Human Nature: Metaphysics Chapter 5: How Things Seem and What They Are: Epistemology Chapter 6: The Purpose of Living: Ethics Chapter 7: Contemporary Trends Chapter 8: Epilogue Chapter 9 Index Chapter 10 About the Author

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Book SynopsisWritten in clear, non-technical language, Nothing So Absurd is a succinct and accessible introduction to topics in the history of Western philosophy. In seven concise chapters, the author introduces the reader to the central topics within the discipline. In some cases (such as metaphysics and epistemology) he adopts a historical approach, while in others (such as ethics and philosophy of religion) the focus is as much on contemporary issues as it is on historical developments. In each area, he presents material of great intrinsic interest in a fashion that also provides a sense of the broad sweep of the discipline.This book provides a fair-minded exposition of a wide-range of viewpoints throughout, and dwells, in its final chapter, on the virtues of philosophical realism, thus presenting the reader with the opportunity to engage with a direct philosophical argument. A guide to further reading will assist readers new to philosophy.Trade Review“Hoffmann’s Nothing So Absurd is a delightful read—it’s never condescending in tone or vocabulary. It’ll make the reader stretch, without ever losing interest.” — Paul Viminitz, University of Lethbridge“Nothing So Absurd would make an excellent textbook for any Introduction to Philosophy course as well as for a lay person who is eager and motivated to learn what philosophy is all about.” — Kamuran Godelek, Mersin University, Turkey in Metapsychology Online ReviewsTable of ContentsACKNOWLEDGEMENTSPREFACEINTRODUCTION: What is Philosophy?CHAPTER 1: Metaphysics: The Nature of ExistenceCHAPTER 2: Logic: Language, Reason, and TruthCHAPTER 3: Epistemology: Knowledge and DoubtCHAPTER 4: Ethics: Values and VirtuesCHAPTER 5: Science: Space, Time, Change, and the InfiniteCHAPTER 6: Religion: God, Evil, and the Meanings of LifeCHAPTER 7: Some Metaphysical MusingsFURTHER READINGINDEX

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Book SynopsisJohn Stuart Mill’s Utilitarianism is a philosophical defense of utilitarianism, a moral theory stating that right actions are those that tend to promote overall happiness. The essay first appeared as a series of articles published in Fraser’s Magazine in 1861; the articles were collected and reprinted as a single book in 1863. Mill discusses utilitarianism in some of his other works, including On Liberty and The Subjection of Women, but Utilitarianism contains his only sustained defence of the theory.In this Broadview Edition, Colin Heydt provides a substantial introduction that will enable readers to understand better the polemical context for Utilitarianism. Heydt shows, for example, how Mill’s moral philosophy grew out of political engagement, rather than exclusively out of a speculative interest in determining the nature of morality. Appendices include precedents to Mill’s work, reactions to Utilitarianism, and related writings by Mill.Trade Review“Because Utilitarianism is a work of enduring value, it is easy to forget that Mill meant for it to be a topical and relevant contribution to the moral debates of his time. In this edition of Mill’s essay, Colin Heydt situates the work in its historical context by supplementing the text of the essay with appendices containing excerpts of related works by Mill’s predecessors, Mill himself, and prominent critics of his views. The historical richness of this edition of Utilitarianism would surely have pleased Mill, and will surely benefit today’s readers.” — Ben Eggleston, University of Kansas“Colin Heydt has made judicious choices about what additional readings to place alongside Utilitarianism itself. In addition, his clearly written introduction paints a very plausible and attractive portrait of Mill as a committed moral reformer, albeit one who recognized that the improvement of the received morality must proceed incrementally. This volume is well suited both for introducing Mill to students and as a resource for scholars who would like to have the most pertinent texts in easy reach.” — Dale E. Miller, Old Dominion UniversityTable of ContentsAcknowledgementsIntroductionJohn Stuart Mill: A Brief ChronologyA Note on the TextUtilitarianismChapter I: General RemarksChapter II: What Utilitarianism IsChapter III: Of the Ultimate Sanction of the Principle of UtilityChapter IV: Of What Sort of Proof the Principle of Utility is SusceptibleChapter V: On the Connexion between Justice and UtilityAppendix A: Precedents From Seneca, “On Benefits” (c. 60 CE) From John Gay, “Preliminary Dissertation, Concerning the Fundamental Principle of Virtue or Morality” (1731) From Joseph Butler, “Dissertation II: Of the Nature of Virtue” (1736) From Jeremy Bentham, An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation (1789) From William Whewell, Lectures on the History of Moral Philosophy (1852) From Thomas Carlyle, “Signs of the Times” (1829) Appendix B: Mill on Utilitarianism From Mill’s Autobiography (1873) From Mill’s Letters (1834–68) From “Whewell on Moral Philosophy” (1852) From “Auguste Comte and Positivism” (1865) Appendix C: Reactions to Utilitarianism From Henry Sidgwick, The Methods of Ethics (6th ed., 1901) From Henry Sidgwick, Outlines of the History of Ethics (1886) From G.E. Moore, Principia Ethica (1903) Select BibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisGreat Philosophers tells the story of Western philosophy through the thought of its main protagonists, the great philosophers. The narrative begins with the Presocratic philosophers Heraclitus and Parmenides and ends in recent times, as each philosopher wrestles with the problems and solutions of his or her predecessors. Along the way, Jeffrey Reid provides an engaging introduction to many of the principal ideas of luminaries such as Plato, Descartes, Hume, Kant, Hegel, Nietzsche and Sartre.Great Philosophers not only provides an ideal introduction to philosophical thought, but also an original understanding of the discipline of philosophy itself. The book aims not only to recount an important tradition, but also to reveal something about how it has affected who we are.Trade Review“Jeffrey Reid has written a stimulating introduction to a number of key figures in the history of western philosophy. He shows that philosophy, far from being a discipline of abstract argumentation, is concerned with issues of central importance to anyone interested in living a life that is fully aware of its own limitations and possibilities.” — John Burbidge, Trent University“Great Philosophers is an excellent text for use in the classroom: it is clear, accurate, and engaging in its interpretation. The selection of figures, from the Presocratics and other Greek philosophers, through Hannah Arendt and Charles Taylor, will allow students to get a good sense of the full range of thinkers in the Western philosophical tradition. I recommend it very highly.” — Robert Metcalf, University of Colorado, DenverTable of ContentsIntroductionGreat Philosophers: Who are they? The Presocratic Philosophers HeraclitusParmenides Plato and Socrates Socrates Descartes Aristotle and the Medieval SchoolsDescartes HobbesRousseauHumeKantHegelKierkegaardMarxNietzscheSartreHannah Arendt and Charles Taylor

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Book SynopsisAn important work in the debate between materialists and dualists, the public correspondence between Anthony Collins and Samuel Clarke provided the framework for arguments over consciousness and personal identity in eighteenth-century Britain. In Clarke’s view, mind and consciousness are so unified that they cannot be compounded into wholes or divided into parts, so mind and consciousness must be distinct from matter. Collins, by contrast, was a perceptive advocate of a materialist account of mind, who defended the possibility that thinking and consciousness are emergent properties of the brain.Appendices include philosophical writings that influenced, and responded to, the correspondence.Trade Review“The exchanges between Samuel Clarke and Anthony Collins concerning the interconnected set of problems relating to matter and mind, personal identity, free will, and religion were enormously influential in the eighteenth century and continue to be of considerable philosophical interest and significance. Scholars and philosophers alike will welcome this carefully edited and well produced edition of a work that has for too long been neglected and unavailable. Readers will also appreciate William Uzgalis’s lucid and illuminating introduction, which places this work in its relevant historical context and describes the central issues arising in this important philosophical debate.” — Paul Russell, University of British ColumbiaTable of ContentsAcknowledgementsIntroductionSamuel Clarke and Anthony Collins: A Brief ChronologyA Note on the TextThe Correspondence of Samuel Clarke and Anthony Collins, 1707-08Appendix A: Before the Correspondence From Henry More, The Immortality of the Soul (1662) From Ralph Cudworth, The True Intellectual System of the Universe (1678) From Pierre Bayle, “Dicaearchus,” Historical and Critical Dictionary (1696) From John Locke, An Essay Concerning Human Understanding (1692) From Book II, Chapter XXVII, “Of Identity and Diversity” From Book IV, Chapter III, Section 6[Concerning the possibility of thinking matter] From Book IV, Chapter X, Sections 14-17[Locke’s proof of the immateriality of God] Appendix B: After the Correspondence From David Hume, A Treatise of Human Nature (1739) From John Stuart Mill, A System of Logic (1843) From Charles Darwin, The Descent of Man (1871) Select BibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisConsidered a foundational text in modern philosophy, the Meditations on First Philosophy presents numerous powerful arguments that to this day influence debates in epistemology, the philosophy of mind, and the philosophy of religion. This new translation incorporates revisions from the second Latin edition (1642) and the later French translation (1647) to make Descartes’ reasoning as lucid and engaging as possible. Also included in this edition is a brief introduction to Descartes and the Meditations. The introduction helps the reader to understand the context and purpose of Descartes’ project without over-explaining his arguments.Trade Review“Broadview Press has produced an excellent translation of Descartes’s famous Meditations on First Philosophy. It is accurate, philosophically sensitive, and it rivals any of the translations currently available. Andrew Bailey’s introduction of the text, and his biography of Descartes, is a real plus, and will serve students well.” — Kurt Smith, Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania“A very helpful translation. The language is clear, and the supplementary material and notes lay out a cross-section of the interpretive debates, and provide tips for how a reader might approach them.” — David Cunning, University of Iowa“Descartes was living and writing at a tumultuous time, and Bailey does a nice job of sketching the intellectual environment into which the Meditations was launched, while pre-emptively warding off a number of common misunderstandings of Descartes’s aims.” — Seth Bordner, University of AlabamaTable of ContentsIntroductionTranslator’s NoteMeditations on First PhilosophyDedication to the SorbonnePreface to the ReaderSynopsis of the Six Following MeditationsFirst Meditation: Concerning Those Things Which Can Be Called into DoubtSecond Meditation: Concerning the Nature of the Human Mind and the Fact that It Is Easier to Know than the BodyThird Meditation: Concerning God and the Fact that He ExistsFourth Meditation: Concerning Truth and FalsityFifth Meditation: Concerning the Essence of Material Things, and, Once Again, Concerning the Fact that God ExistsSixth Meditation: Concerning the Existence of Material Things and the Real Distinction between Mind and BodyIndex

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Book SynopsisThis classroom edition includes On the Social Contract, the Discourse on the Sciences and the Arts, the Discourse on the Origins of Inequality, and the Preface to Narcissus.Each text has been newly translated and includes a full complement of explanatory notes. The editors’ introduction offers students diverse points of entry into some of the distinctive possibilities and challenges of each of these fundamental texts, as well as an introduction to Rousseau’s life and historical situation. The volume also includes annotated appendices that help students to explore the origins and influences of Rousseau’s work, including excerpts from Hobbes, Pascal, Descartes, Mandeville, Diderot, Voltaire, Madame de Staël, Benjamin Constant, Joseph de Maistre, Kant, Hegel, and Engels.Trade Review“This superb new collection will be of invaluable assistance to students and scholars alike. With judicious commentary and an excellent selection of supplementary writings, it provides in one volume the essential tools to understand Rousseau’s fundamental political ideas and their tremendous resonance in his own time, and ever since.” — Darrin M. McMahon, Mary Brinsmead Wheelock Professor of History, Dartmouth College“This is an excellent classroom edition of Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s key political works. It features clear, accessible translations of important texts — the First and Second Discourses, On the Social Contract, and, less conventionally, the Preface to Narcissus — and a well-chosen set of passages from canonical works designed to encourage comparisons, some of which influenced Rousseau, and some of which responded to him. In addition to providing important biographical details, the introduction beautifully situates the texts within the history of political thought.” — Melissa Schwartzberg, New York University “The political writings of Jean-Jacques Rousseau were immensely influential in their day and remain crucial for understanding contemporary discussions of diversity, rights, democracy, and the value of humanistic and scientific inquiry. This volume collects the key texts, including On the Social Contract in its entirety. Along with a useful overview of Rousseau’s life and career, it provides numerous thoughtfully selected excerpts from other thinkers. These illuminate the roots, context, and impact of Rousseau’s complex, often paradoxical interventions. Rousseau is a canny and controlled rhetorician, whose style ranges from terse simplicity to grandiloquence. Ian Johnston’s translation cleaves to the original while crisply rendering the author’s varied prose.” — James A. Steintrager, University of California, Irvine “Readers of Rousseau are often frustrated that very few editions combine his great political writings into one volume. This edition does that, but also so much more. It includes Rousseau’s important Preface to Narcissus, as well as excerpts from many works that provide invaluable context for understanding Rousseau’s significance in the history of political thought. Williams’ and Maguire’s editorial introduction and notes offer an insightful and detailed guide through Rousseau’s text and beyond. An excellent edition for students and scholars.” — Jeffrey Church, University of Houston“This superb volume introduces students to Rousseau’s principal political writings. The editors draw attention to the diversity of interpretations elicited by Rousseau’s writings and offer a robust introduction to the main angles and nuances of Rousseau’s political thought. The volume also presents the welcome inclusion of the lesser-known preface to Rousseau’s play Narcissus, in a new translation by Samuel Webb, and a comprehensive appendix of excerpts of key texts written by Rousseau’s predecessors, his contemporaries, French revolutionaries and modern philosophers, who have all grappled with his provocative and probing ideas in intriguing and diverging ways. Anyone interested in inequality, politics, philosophy and the challenges of modernity will benefit from this elegant volume. It makes for essential reading for students and specialists in political science, philosophy and the humanities.” — Masano Yamashita, University of Colorado Boulder “The distinctive value of [this volume] comes from the editing…. The most interesting editorial choice was to include the Preface to Narcissus, which is rarely taught to students. To put a fine point on this decision, it is inspired. The Preface was written between the First and Second Discourse, and both develops the argument of the former discourse and anticipates the political argument of the latter. Importantly, it is in the Preface that Rousseau introduces the language of amour-propre and transforms his cultural critique of Parisian intellectual life into a political and economic one.” — Michael Locke McLendon, California State University, in Philosophy in ReviewTable of ContentsAcknowledgementsIntroductionJean-Jacques Rousseau: A Brief ChronologyNotes on the TranslationsFirst Discourse: On the Sciences and the ArtsPreface to Narcissus, or the Lover of Himself (trans. by Samuel Webb)Second Discourse: On the Origin and the Foundations of Inequality among MenOn the Social ContractAppendix A: Points of Departure From René Descartes, Discourse on Method (1637) Blaise Pascal, “Letter to Monsieur and Madame Périer” (24 September 1651) From Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan (1651) From Bernard Mandeville, The Fable of the Bees (1705–23) From Samuel Pufendorf, On the Duty of Man and Citizen (1682) Appendix B: Rousseau and His Contemporaries From Charles Bordes, Discourse on the Advantages of the Sciences and the Arts (1751) Charles Bonnet (or “Philopolis”) to Louis de Boissy (25 August 1755) Denis Diderot, “On Natural Right” (1755) Voltaire, “Letter to Rousseau” (30 August 1755) From Adam Smith, “Letter to the Authors of the Edinburgh Review” (1755–56) From Madame de Staël, “Letter V: On the Political Writings of Rousseau” (1788) From Louis-Sébastien Mercier, Preface to the Complete Works of Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1788–89) Appendix C: Rousseau and Revolution From Abbé Emmanuel Joseph Sieyès, “What Is the Third Estate?” (1789) French National Assembly, “Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen” (1789) From Joseph Lakanal, Report on Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1794) From Joseph de Maistre, On the Sovereignty of the People: An Anti-Social Contract (1794–95) From Benjamin Constant, Principles of Politics Applicable to All Governments (1815) Appendix D: Rousseau’s Philosophical Legacies Rousseau’s Influence on Immanuel Kant From “Notes … on the Feeling of the Beautiful and the Sublime” (1764–65) From Dreams of a Spirit-Seer (1766) From J.G. Fichte, The Science of Rights (1796–97) From G.W.F. Hegel, Elements of the Philosophy of Right (1821) From Friedrich Engels, Anti-Dühring (1878) Works Cited and Select Bibliography

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Book SynopsisUtilitarianism is a classic work of ethical theory, arguably the most persuasive and comprehensible presentation of this widely infl uential position. Mill argues that it is pleasure and pain that ought to guide our decision-making—and not the pleasure and pain of any one person or group, but the summative experience of all who are affected by our actions. While he didn’t invent utilitarianism, Mill offered its clearest expression and strongest defense, and expanded the theory to account for the variety in quality that we find among specifi c pleasures and pains. Today, Mill’s version of the “Greatest Happiness Principle” is a standard premise in many moral arguments within the academy and in practical ethical and political deliberation.The complete text of the • edition of Utilitarianism is presented here, with footnote annotations added to clarify unfamiliar references and terminology. A detailed introduction by the editor is divided into brief digestible parts discussing the context of the text and offering guidelines on how to read it accurately and critically. This edition has its origin in the acclaimed Broadview Anthology of Social and Political Thought and adheres to the anthology’s format and high standard of accuracy and accessibility.Trade Review“The world needs Mill’s vision as much as ever, and this fine student edition of one of his classic works should win a wide readership.” — Bart Schultz, University of Chicago“Bailey’s introduction to this new edition of J.S. Mill’s acclaimed Utilitarianism is concise and elegant. It also succinctly highlights the significant charms of classical utilitarianism as well as the anxieties that continue to motivate its foes.” — D. Weinstein, Wake Forest University and Universität Oldenburg“This is an especially valuable edition for introducing an eager student to Mill’s Utilitarianism. While the editor’s introduction is philosophically mature, and appropriately balances context, defense, and criticism, my highest praise of it is that I actually got goosebumps from the way in which Mill’s own voice explains his famous depression and recovery.” — Russell DiSilvestro, California State University SacramentoTable of ContentsIntroductionWho Was John Stuart Mill?What Was Mill’s Overall Philosophical Project?What is the Structure of This Reading?Some Useful Background InformationSome Common MisconceptionsHow Important and Influential Is This Work?Suggestions for Critical ReflectionSuggestions for Further ReadingUtilitarianismChapter 1: General RemarksChapter 2: What Utilitarianism IsChapter 3: Of the Ultimate Sanction of the Principle of UtilityChapter 4: Of What Sort of Proof the Principle of Utility is SusceptibleChapter 5: On the Connexion between Justice and UtilityAppendix: from Jeremy Bentham’s An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and LegislationWho Was Jeremy Bentham?Chapter 1: Of the Principle of UtilityChapter 4: Value of a Lot of Pleasure or Pain, How to Be Measured

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Book SynopsisExperiencing Philosophy begins with the assumption that philosophy is not merely something you know but also something you experience and participate in. The book presents philosophical theories and ideas with reference to their practical relevance to the lives of student readers. To this end, a number of engaging features and inserts are provided: Original Sources: Numerous primary readings are included, introducing students directly to the philosophical work of diverse thinkers ranging from Plato to Martin Luther King Jr. Each reading is thoughtfully excerpted and followed by reflective questions. Philosopher Profiles: Abstract ideas are connected to the lives of real historical figures through fascinating biographical profiles. Take It Personally: To illustrate how philosophy can be useful and relevant, each chapter begins by placing the material in a personal context. Know Thyself Diagnostics: This book takes seriously—as did Socrates—the Delphic Oracle’s dictum to “know thyself.” Students are given self-diagnostics to explore their own philosophical values, ideals, and beliefs. Philosophers in Action: Philosophy is something you do, not just something you know. Prompts are provided throughout the text inviting students to conduct thought experiments, analyze concepts, and discuss and debate controversial points. Thinking about Your Thinking: These metacognitive prompts require students to engage in higher-order thinking, not only about the presented readings and ideas but also with respect to their own values, assumptions, and beliefs. Plus: Built-in study guides, diagrams, famous philosophical quotations, comics, feature boxes, and more! Trade Review“Experiencing Philosophy is a long-awaited comprehensive introduction to philosophy that brings the diversity of the philosophical landscape to the fore by introducing students to some widely overlooked but highly significant excerpts from non-Western philosophical traditions. Anthony Falikowski and Susan Mills present a clear, accessible, and argumentative narrative of key philosophical concepts in their introductions to the original sources. Most importantly, they make philosophy applied and relevant to human life. This book undeniably marks a new prospect for teaching and learning philosophy.” — Seyed N. Mousavian, Loyola University Chicago“In a spirit similar to Nietzsche’s ‘Back to the Earth’ and Wittgenstein’s ‘Back to the Rough Ground,’ Experiencing Philosophy does a beautiful job of bringing the practical and therapeutic values of philosophy back to students’ everyday lives. Its friendly, engaging, and sometimes personal tone will no doubt attract beginning students into a fascinating journey of philosophizing as living and living as philosophizing.” — Puqun Li, author of A Guide to Asian Philosophy Classics “This is an exceptional introductory textbook. Student-friendly and graphically attractive, the book has many useful pedagogical elements that will benefit readers. It covers a wide range of classic and contemporary issues, thus offering instructors considerable flexibility in their syllabus development and course presentations. Highly recommended.” — Mazen Guirguis, Kwantlen Polytechnic University“Covering classical excerpts from both historical and contemporary perspectives, Experiencing Philosophy does an excellent job of introducing the different branches of philosophy. This book is a one-stop shop for both students and instructors.” — Ataollah Hashemi, Saint Louis University“Experiencing Philosophy is one of the best undergraduate textbooks of philosophy I’ve seen, both in content and in presentation. Its usefulness spans at least the first two years of study in philosophy, reducing the cost to students who are often obligated to invest in several texts. I was pleased to see that, as well as standard foundational philosophy, this text offers the latest in philosophical developments such as philosophy as therapy.” — Peter B. Raabe, Emeritus Professor of Philosophy at the University of the Fraser Valley in British Columbia, and Philosophical CounselorTable of Contents Chapter 1: What is Philosophy? 1.1 What is a Philosopher? 1.2 The Practical Value of Philosophy 1.3 Fields of Philosophy 1.4 Approaches to Philosophy Chapter 2: Understanding Arguments, Claims, and Fallacies of Reasoning 2.1 What is an Argument? 2.2 Deductive Arguments 2.3 Non-Deductive Arguments 2.4 Evaluating Claims 2.5 Informal Logical Fallacies Chapter 3: Philosophies of Life 3.1 Stoicism: A Prescription for Peace of Mind 3.2 Existentialism: Born Free, Let Me Be Me 3.3 The Meaning of Life 3.4 Hedonism: Pleasure is the Measure 3.5 Buddhism as a Philosophy of Life Chapter 4: Epistemology, Metaphysics, and God 4.1 Preliminary Questions and Definitions 4.2 Plato's Metaphysical Epistemology 4.3 René Descartes's Rational Method of Doubt 4.4 John Locke's Empiricist Theory of Ideas 4.5 David Hume's Radical Skepticism 4.6 Immanuel Kant's Synthesis of Reason and Sensory Experience 4.7 Critiques of Traditional Western Approaches to Epistemology and Metaphysics 4.8 Proofs for the Existence of God Chapter 5: Ethics and Moral Decision Making 5.1 Plato's Character Ethics 5.2 Aristotle's Virtue Ethics 5.3 Jeremy Bentham's Utilitarian Ethics 5.4 Immanuel Kant's Deontological Ethics 5.5 Carol Gilligan and Nel Noddings's Care Ethics 5.6 Friedrich Nietzsche's Will to Power 5.7 Religion and Ethics: Islamic, Hindu, and Christian Perspectives Chapter 6: Political Philosophy 6.1 Political Philosophy versus Politics and Political Science 6.2 Plato's Republic 6.3 Thomas Hobbes and John Locke's Social Contract Theories 6.4 Karl Marx's Socialism 6.5 Martin Luther King Jr.'s Philosophy of Nonviolence

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Book SynopsisContinental Philosophy: A Critical Approach is a lucid and wide-ranging introduction to the key figures and philosophical movements of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Includes chapters on Hegel; Marx and Western Marxism; Schopenhauer, Freud, and Bergson; Nietzsche; hermeneutics; phenomenology; existentialism; structuralism,; poststructuralism; French feminism; and postmodernism. Provides an ideal text or background resource for many different introductory and advanced courses on modern European philosophy. Trade Review"Schroeder has a masterful command of the Continental tradition after Kant in European philosophy. He presents a comprehensive critical introduction to the philosophers who have shaped it, in an admirably clear and concise idiom that is readily accessible to academics, students, and general readers alike."—Richard Schacht, University of Illinois "This is an enormously impressive work. In the fashion of a panoramic mosaic, it assembles incisive analyses of the host of thinkers who comprise the 'Continental Tradition' in philosophy. Like no other book before it, it succeeds not only in helping us to understand the past, but also defines an array of future tasks that those working in this field will have to address."—Frithjof Bergmann, University of Michigan "Schroeder captures Continental philosophy's complex trajectory in clear and thoughtful language. Along the way, he offers provocative challenges to many of its central figures."—Todd May, Clemson UniversityTable of ContentsAcknowledgments ix Preface x Introduction 1 Descartes 1 Empiricism and the Rise of Science 4 Rationalism 7 The French Enlightenment 8 Challenges to the Enlightenment: Rousseau and Romanticism 11 Kant 16 Problems with Kant’s System 20 Fichte 23 Schelling 25 Hölderlin, Novalis, and Schiller 28 1 Hegel 30 Core Contributions 30 Life 32 The Phenomenology of Spirit 33 Philosophy of History 41 Politics and Ethics 44 Aesthetics 47 Philosophy of Mind 50 The Preface to the Phenomenologyas a Transition to the System 52 The System 55 Assessment 56 2 Marx And Western Marxism 60 Marx: Core Contributions 60 Life 61 Early Marx: Alienation and Capitalism 62 The Materialist Conception of History 66 Marx’s Analysis of the Capitalist Mode of Production 71 Assessment 74 Western Marxism 76 Core Contributions 79 Gramsci 80 Horkheimer 83 Marcuse 85 Habermas 88 Assessment 91 Summary 92 3 Life-Philosophy And Subconscious Forces: Schopenhauer, Freud, And Bergson 93 Core Contributions 93 Schopenhauer 95 Freud 98 Bergson 107 Comparisons 111 Assessment 113 4 Nietzsche 117 Core Contributions 117 Life 119 On Reading Nietzsche 119 The Death of God and the Struggle Against Nihilism 120 Critique of Morality and Revaluation of Values 124 Constructive Ethics: Life-Affirmation, Power, Individuated Virtues 130 Art 132 History 134 Culture and Politics 136 Human Life and Consciousness 138 Epistemology and Metaphysics 140 New Philosophers 142 Comparisons 143 Assessment 146 5 Hermeneutics 149 Core Contributions 149 A Precursor: Schleiermacher 152 Dilthey 154 Heidegger 158 Gadamer 165 Betti 167 Comparisons 169 Assessment 170 6 Phenomenology 174 Introduction 174 Core Contributions 177 Some Types of Phenomenology 181 The Contributions of the Founder: Husserl 183 Concrete Phenomenological Studies 187 Phenomenology and Social Science 199 Other Applications 201 Comparisons 202 Assessment 203 7 Existentialism And Philosophical Anthropology 206 Core Contributions 206 Existentialism 207 Kierkegaard 209 Heidegger 215 Sartre 221 Philosophical Anthropology 228 Scheler 229 Goldstein 234 Gehlen 237 Assessment 240 8 Structuralism 243 Core Contributions 243 Saussure 245 Barthes 249 Lévi-Strauss 253 Lacan 257 Althusser 260 Barthes’s Transcendence of Structuralism 263 Assessment 264 9 Philosophies Of Dispersion 267 Introduction 267 Core Contributions 268 Foucault 271 Derrida 280 Deleuze 287 Assessment 291 10 French Feminist Philosophy 297 Core Contributions 297 De Beauvoir 299 Kristeva 305 Irigaray 310 Le Doeuff 315 Comparisons 319 Assessment 320 11 Postmodernism 323 Some Distinctions 323 Core Contributions 325 Lyotard 327 Baudrillard 332 Assessment 341 Conclusions 345 Strengths and Achievements 345 Decision-points 351 Specific Field Contributions 357 Dispersionist Challenges to the Tradition: A Response 363 Notes 374 Bibliography 403 Index 429

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Book SynopsisEva Brann, who has been teaching at St. Johns College, Annapolis, for sixty years, wrote these essays largely as clarifying incitements to students who were reading, or ought to have been reading, the works discussed. In her words: The first essay looks at the Pre-Socratics Heraclitus and Parmenides. They appear to be in radical opposition, but they are really doing the same, new thing: seeing the world as an intelligible whole. Both observe external nature, construing it in their mindsso, from the outside in. The final essay again describes two ways of world-construing from the outside inone by penetrating the surface of reality, the other by spinning a web of complexity over it. The five essays in between focus on works by Kant and display the world as constituted from the human inside out. An appreciative review of the Critique of Pure Reason shows how Kant brilliantly justifies a science of nature by making nature itself the construct of our understanding. But he leads us to the abyss of more idealism; externality and realism escape him. The explication of his one absolute moral commandment similarly defines his morality entirely in terms divorced from objective good and concentrated on internal integrity. Finally, his huge unpublished legacy agonizes about bringing a god, first conceived as an inner need, into external existence.

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Book SynopsisA groundbreaking effort to find the "common language" between two of the most important philosophical thinkers of the twentieth century, Forms in the Abyss promises to be one of the most significant contribution to our critical understanding of western thought in recent memory.Trade Review"The project of transcoding Sartrean language into the Derridean coordinates, and vice-versa, is an unseasonable one whose reward lies in the defamiliarization of both. Martinot's minute, technical readings avoid all facile ideological generalizations and send us back to the original texts with new eyes." -Fredric JamesonTable of ContentsChapter 1: Introduction 1 History and Writing The Metaphysics of a Common Language The Narrative of Metaphysics The Historical Dimension A Common Uncommonality Chapter 2: The Form of Uncommon Logic 37 Invention Différance Néantisation On HeideggerChapter 3 - The Parameters of Homology 73 Extensions of the Double Non-negation Sartre's Use of the Skew Relation as a Formalism Derrida's Use of the Skew Relation in his Thematics The Middle Voice Always Already Chapter 4: Form and Structure 103 On Form On Structure The Derridean Circle Mediation The Triadic Circle in its Historical Moment Conclusion: The Structures of Ethnocentrism Chapter 5: The Look and its Inner Narrativizations 150 The Look The other-as-object The Look The Meta-narrativity of the Look A Critique and Extension of the NMN-structure The Form of Form Chapter 6: The Sartre-Derrida Homology 180 The Inside of the Outside, the Supplement A Note on "Infrastructure" Separation in Immediacy, the Hymen The Role of Narrative The Social Text of the Glyph Dissemination Reading the Imagination as Reading Conclusion Chapter 7: Circularities and Foundations 238 Bringing the Incommensurable into Dialogue The Reader The Circle Derrida's Deconstruction of the Subject Sartre's Deconstruction of the Subject Chapter 8: A Theory of Dialogue 270 An Elementary Particle of the Social Being for Others as a Micro-socius The Boundary between Subjectivities The Ontological Structure of Dialogue The Semiotic Structure of Dialogue The Derridean Moment of the Social Listening and (Re)Construction Conclusions Chapter 9: A theory of language 314 Shifts in Social Semiosis The Circle and the Social The Colonial Principle Chauvinism and the Sundering of the Circle. On Metaphysics A Third Domain? The Circle as Analysand Endnotes 357Bibliography 427

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Book SynopsisQuestions for Further Consideration and Recommended Further Reading, which follow each relevant chapter, encourage readers to think further and to craft their own perspectives.Trade ReviewA very fine book on human nature, both what it is and what philosophers have thought about it--philosophers in an inclusive sense, from Plato and Aristotle to Mengzi and Xunzi, from Hume and Kant to Ibn al-Arabi to Marx and Rousseau and including many others. The writing is lively and accessible, the philosophy insightful, and the sense of human possibilities conveyed admirable. It will fit nicely into many different sorts of classes. --John Perry, Stanford UniversityI find this text very good and comprehensive for an introductory level course to introduce students to some major theories. The first two chapters are great for setting the stage for what philosophy is. --Patricia Murphy, Saint Joseph's University

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Book SynopsisThis compilation of writings from Erasmus and Luther's great debate--over free will and grace, and their respective efficacy for salvation--offers a fuller representation of the disputants' main arguments than has ever been available in a single volume in English. Included are key, corresponding selections from not only Erasmus' conciliatory A Discussion or Discourse concerning Free Will and Luther's forceful and fully argued rebuttal, but--with the battle now joined--from Erasmus' own forceful and fully argued rebuttal of Luther. Students of Reformation theology, Christian humanism, and sixteenth-century rhetoric will find here the key to a wider appreciation of one of early modern Christianity’s most illuminating and disputed controversies.Trade ReviewAmong the most dramatic exchanges in Western intellectual history was the confrontation between Erasmus and Luther over freedom of the will--or, as Luther conceived of it, bound choice. Clarence H. Miller provides extensive selections from both sides of this vital debate--from Erasmus' A Discussion or Discourse concerning Free Will; from Luther's reply, The Enslaved Will; and from Erasmus' extensive rebuttal, The Shield-Bearer Defending 'A Discussion'--outfitting them with helpful notes that bring readers into the world of the texts. James D. Tracy's Introduction masterfully and concisely depicts the two participants in this literary disputation, the concerns that governed their thinking, and the intellectual context of their debate—one that still offers much to readers reflecting on what it means to be human in our own age. --Robert A. Kolb, Missions Professor of Systematic Theology Emeritus, Concordia SeminaryErasmus has the first and last word in this version of the famous debate on free will. He needs all the help he can get, given that Luther captivates the readers with his scathing wit, pristine deductive logic, and pithy if dismissive rejoinders. . . . This volume of substantial excerpts translated by Clarence H. Miller and Peter Macardle . . . provides Reformation scholars with the most comprehensive existing treatment of the exchange between Erasmus and Luther on the Reformation exegesis, philosophy, and politics of free will, grace, and Law. The comprehensive and detailed biographical and theological introduction concisely covers the cultural history and the central doctrinal issues informing the debate, most notably the Pauline influences." --Alice Crawford Berghof, English, UC Irvine (adapted from Comitatus)As James D. Tracy notes in the excellent introduction to Clarence H. Miller's Erasmus and Luther: The Battle over Free Will, 'In the history of the European Reformation, few issues were as important as the one debated by Erasmus and Luther: Are human beings capable of contributing to their own salvation by what they choose to do or not to do?' Miller's edition provides a more comprehensive view of the debate than the usual English texts used in classrooms and accurately reflects the history of the debate. Miller and Macardle's translation is clear and flows well. Compared to Winter’s text, this edition offers a stronger supportive apparatus, including helpful notes and an updated bibliography. Erasmus' and Luther's debate over the freedom of the will remains a central point of access to the study of the Reformation. It highlights the fundamental issues of the Reformation as well as the differences between those eager for reform within the Church and those who believed that the Church was so fundamentally off track that no reform could sufficiently set it right. Luther's vehemence and self-assurance in The Enslaved Will say almost as much about his reform movement as his arguments do. Erasmus' three efforts to defend the freedom of the will demonstrate not only his nuanced approach to theology, Scripture, and Church tradition, but also his concern for the consequences of Church schism." --Greta Grace Kroeker, History, University of Waterloo (condensed from Erasmus of Rotterdam Society Yearbook)Table of ContentsPreface; Introduction; An Outline of All Three Works; Erasmus: A Discussion or Discourse Concerning Free Will (1524); Luther: The Enslaved Will (1525); Erasmus: The Shield-Bearer Defending, A Discussion, Part 1 (1526); Erasmus: The Shield-Bearer Defending, A Discussion, Part 2 (1527); Bibliography & Abbreviations; Index.

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Book SynopsisThis anthology provides a set of distinctive, influential views that explore the mysteries of human nature from a variety of perspectives. It can be read on its own, or in conjunction with Joel Kupperman’s text, Theories of Human Nature.Table of ContentsIntroduction; Indian Philosophy: The Upanishads & Buddha Katha Upanishad; The Buddhist Dhamapada; Confucius Analects; Plato & Aristotle, & Freudian Echoes of Plato Republic; Nicomachean Ethics; The Ego & the Id; Mengzi & Xunzi: The Capacity for True Benevolence; Human Imperfection in the Judeo-Christian Tradition: From Adam to St. Augustine; The King James Bible; Confessions; Hobbes Leviathan; Butler & Hume: Inherent Tendencies toward Altruism Sermon I; A Treatise of Human Nature; Book III: Of Morals; Kant: The Need for Reason to Dominate Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals; Marx & Alienation: Our Flawed Participation in Life Alienated Labor; The Communist Manifesto; Sartre & Kierkegaard: Radical Incompleteness as the Human Lot Being & Nothingness; The Sickness unto Death.

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Book SynopsisThis anthology provides a set of distinctive, influential views that explore the mysteries of human nature from a variety of perspectives. It can be read on its own, or in conjunction with Joel Kupperman’s text, Theories of Human Nature.Table of ContentsIntroduction; Indian Philosophy: The Upanishads & Buddha Katha Upanishad; The Buddhist Dhamapada; Confucius Analects; Plato & Aristotle, & Freudian Echoes of Plato Republic; Nicomachean Ethics; The Ego & the Id; Mengzi & Xunzi: The Capacity for True Benevolence; Human Imperfection in the Judeo-Christian Tradition: From Adam to St. Augustine; The King James Bible; Confessions; Hobbes Leviathan; Butler & Hume: Inherent Tendencies toward Altruism Sermon I; A Treatise of Human Nature; Book III: Of Morals; Kant: The Need for Reason to Dominate Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals; Marx & Alienation: Our Flawed Participation in Life Alienated Labor; The Communist Manifesto; Sartre & Kierkegaard: Radical Incompleteness as the Human Lot Being & Nothingness; The Sickness unto Death.

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Book SynopsisAn elegant English version of La Boetie's Discourse on Voluntary Servitude, which is both a key to understanding much of Montaigne and a major piece of early modern political thought. --Timothy Hampton, Professor of French and Comparative Literature, University of California, BerkeleyTrade ReviewAn excellent translation: clear, crisp and accurate. The introduction is also a helpful contextualization of the text, Boétie's relation to Montaigne, and a brief discussion of the history of this important text on non-cooperation in the 20th-Century. I highly recommend it for courses in the history of political theory and of non-cooperation as a means of regime change. --James Tully, Department of Political Science, University of VictoriaA powerful rendition of La Boetie's soldierly prose (as Montaigne would have it). . . . With this unassuming book, the authors have not only offered a solid introduction to Étienne de La Boétie and his legacy, but also passed on to us a living document (Harry Kurz) which may yet find resonance in our own troubled times. --Jeremie Korta, Harvard University, in Sixteenth Century Journal

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Book SynopsisNow available together as a set for a discounted price: Theories of Human Nature, with, Human Nature: A Reader, by Joel J. Kupperman.On Theories of Human Nature:A very fine book on human nature, both what it is and what philosophers have thought about it--philosophers in an inclusive sense, from Plato and Aristotle to Mengzi and Xunzi, from Hume and Kant to Ibn al-Arabi to Marx and Rousseau and including many others. The writing is lively and accessible, the philosophy insightful, and the sense of human possibilities conveyed admirable. It will fit nicely into many different sorts of classes. --John Perry, Stanford UniversityOn Nature: A Reader: This anthology provides a set of distinctive, influential views that explore the mysteries of human nature from a variety of perspectives.Trade ReviewOn Theories of Human Nature : A very fine book on human nature, both what it is and what philosophers have thought about it--philosophers in an inclusive sense, from Plato and Aristotle to Mengzi and Xunzi, from Hume and Kant to Ibn al-Arabi to Marx and Rousseau and including many others. The writing is lively and accessible, the philosophy insightful, and the sense of human possibilities conveyed admirable. It will fit nicely into many different sorts of classes. --John Perry, Stanford UniversityOn Theories of Human Nature : I find this text very good and comprehensive for an introductory level course to introduce students to some major theories. The first two chapters are great for setting the stage for what philosophy is. --Patricia Murphy, Saint Joseph's University

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Book SynopsisThis book focuses on the genealogy of modernity as it has been articulated by the original contributions of Kant, Nietzsche, and Foucault, in their respective conceptions of truth, power, and ethics. The author seeks to show that in order to articulate a philosophical discourse on modernity one must not only refer to cultural, historical events associated with modern conceptions of truth, power, and ethics, but also undertake an analysis of how these different axes concur to determine what we call "modernity." Such is in effect the genealogical thrust of this study, which is explicitly based upon Foucault''s readings of Kant and Nietzsche, so as to show that critique and genealogy constitute a highly original contribution of Foucault''s social philosophy to the study of modernity. The "genealogy of modernity" is shown to constitute the major thesis of a Foucauldian "philosophical discourse of modernity" which, contrary to Habermas''s criticisms, does not evade questions of truth, normativity, and value, but rather contradict them. The genealogy of modernity is itself made possible by the articulation of the three axes of truth, power, and ethics that determine the historical a priori of our modern ethos as the condition of who we are, that is, the formation of modern subjectivity with its regimes of veridiction and jurisdiction, modes of subjectivation and practices of freedom.

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Book SynopsisIn this engaging introductory dialogue, Todd Moody maps the spectrum of philosophical arguments and counterarguments for the existence of God. Structuring colloquial conversations along classical lines, he presents a lively and accessible discussion of issues that are central to both theist and atheist thinking, including the burden of proof, the first cause, a necessary being, the natural order, suffering, miracles, experience as knowledge, and rationality without proof.The second edition is a significant and comprehensive revision. Moody broadens and deepens the conversation by addressing additional arguments, such as the problem of animal suffering, the moral argument, intelligent design, and human exceptionalism. The discussion of the cosmological argument is updated to reflect recent work on the Kalam Cosmological Argument.A short preface explains the scope of the work and the purpose of the dialogue form. Suggested further readings of contemporary and classical sources are also included.Trade ReviewComments on the first edition: . . . absolutely superb . . . simply brilliant, a perfect combination of philosophical depth, balance, clarity, and good writing. It is quite the best philosophical dialogue I have ever read, better than Plato in sustaining attention to the pros and cons of the issues in question. --James N. Jordan, Queens College

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Book SynopsisIn this engaging introductory dialogue, Todd Moody maps the spectrum of philosophical arguments and counterarguments for the existence of God. Structuring colloquial conversations along classical lines, he presents a lively and accessible discussion of issues that are central to both theist and atheist thinking, including the burden of proof, the first cause, a necessary being, the natural order, suffering, miracles, experience as knowledge, and rationality without proof.The second edition is a significant and comprehensive revision. Moody broadens and deepens the conversation by addressing additional arguments, such as the problem of animal suffering, the moral argument, intelligent design, and human exceptionalism. The discussion of the cosmological argument is updated to reflect recent work on the Kalam Cosmological Argument.A short preface explains the scope of the work and the purpose of the dialogue form. Suggested further readings of contemporary and classical sources are also included.Trade ReviewComments on the first edition: . . . absolutely superb . . . simply brilliant, a perfect combination of philosophical depth, balance, clarity, and good writing. It is quite the best philosophical dialogue I have ever read, better than Plato in sustaining attention to the pros and cons of the issues in question. --James N. Jordan, Queens College

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Book SynopsisThis anthology provides a set of distinctive selections that explore both Western and Eastern views of lying and truthfulness, including selections from Augustine, Grotius, Aristotle, the Mahābhārata, Confucius, Kant, Plato, Sunzi, Han Feizi, Aquinas, the Lotus Sutra, Hobbes, Hume, Locke, Bacon, Nietzsche, and more. Hackett Readings in Philosophy is a versatile series of compact anthologies, each devoted to a topic of traditional interest in philosophy or political theory. Selections are chosen for their accessibility, significance, and ability to stimulate thought and discussion.

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Book SynopsisThe Plotinus Reader provides a generous selection of translations from the fifty-four treatises that together make up the Enneads of Plotinus, a central work in the history of philosophy. They were prepared by a team of specialists in ancient philosophy and edited by Lloyd P. Gerson. Based on the definitive critical edition of the Greek along with decades of additional textual criticism by many scholars, these translations aim to provide a readable, accurate rendering of Plotinus’s often very difficult language. Included are extensive references to Plotinus’s sources, scores of cross-references, and an extensive glossary of technical terms.

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Book SynopsisThe Plotinus Reader provides a generous selection of translations from the fifty-four treatises that together make up the Enneads of Plotinus, a central work in the history of philosophy. They were prepared by a team of specialists in ancient philosophy and edited by Lloyd P. Gerson. Based on the definitive critical edition of the Greek along with decades of additional textual criticism by many scholars, these translations aim to provide a readable, accurate rendering of Plotinus’s often very difficult language. Included are extensive references to Plotinus’s sources, scores of cross-references, and an extensive glossary of technical terms.

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Book SynopsisCarmen Sylva, when she discovered that I was writing, instead of laughing at me and being ironical about my modest attempts at literature, encouraged me from the very first in every way. She was getting old, her imagination was running dry, and she declared that mine had come just in time to replace hers, which was a generous thing to say. She declared that it was a happy and blessed discovery that I could hold a pen, and no end of kind and enthusiastic things. She spurred me on to write, and each time I had finished a story she immediately wanted to have it so as to translate it into German. Queen Marie of Romania about Carmen Sylva (Queen Elisabeth of Romania). The history of the monarchy in Romania and of its four kings would be incomplete without the story of the queen consorts, who seem to have been even more fascinating personalities than the kings were. Especially the first two queen consorts, Elisabeth (Carmen Sylva) and Marie of Romania, became famous as writers during their lifetime. They both wrote in their mother tongues, Elisabeth in German and Marie in English, and published many of their books, not only in Romania, but also abroad, thus reaching a widespread readership, worldwide publicity, and literary recognition. This affectionately collected, critically edited volume comprises the most precious tales and essays by the queen consorts, either translated into English (Carmen Sylva) or in the original English version (Marie of Romania).

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Book SynopsisThis book engages critically with some of the major assumptions of prominent Transhumanists such as Nick Bostrom of Oxford University and Stefan Sorgner of John Cabot University at Rome. More broadly, questions concerning the complex relationships between society, technology, and ethics are widely explored. Major thinkers such as St. Augustine, Nietzsche, Bertrand Russell, and C. S. Lewis are enlisted to highlight and support the major arguments presented by the author. The book aims at a general readership interested in the current claims and possible outcomes of the Transhumanist and Posthumanist movement. It strikes a cautionary note about humanity's reliance on emerging technologies, particularly their potential to enhance and, eventually transform, human life span, cognition, and emotion.

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Book SynopsisThe principles and practices of intercultural humanism as an inclusive vision for humanity

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Book SynopsisOn the threshold of Modernity: from the Book of Nature to the inward writing

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Book SynopsisSimilarly, both Coomaraswamy and Horner also discuss the issues of heresiology, dhamma for the common folk, sacrifices, treatment of animals, and familial and societal responsibilities from Buddhaâs perspective.

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Book SynopsisThis book aims to give an exposition of basle tenets of Advaitism as propounded by Sankara in a succinct yet comprehensive manner. It is often claimed that Sankara looked upon the world as a Maya or illusion and rejected karmayoga. It has been clearly brought out how these widespread beliefs are unfounded.

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Book SynopsisIs a universal world order mere conjecture and an utopian dream? Or is it a foregone conclusion? A book that exhorts the reader to publicly express his views on creating a world union and brotherwood of man so that a feasible approach towards it can be chalked out.

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Book SynopsisThe Danish Yearbook of Philosophy is a peer reviewed journal committed to publishing high quality articles from Danish and international scholars and encourages papers across a wide range of philosophical issues.

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Book SynopsisThe Danish Yearbook of Philosophy is a peer reviewed journal committed to publishing high quality articles from Danish and international scholars, and encourages papers across a wide range of philosophical issues. Volume 44 includes the following: Unreduced Experience in the Medium of Conceptual Reflection: Adorno and the Future of Post-Analytical Philosophy; Dissent in Communicative Ethics and Political Philosophy; A Brief History of Climatological Time; Modalities of Science: Narrative, Phronesis, and the Practices of Medicine; Humanities for Humanity 2.0: The Problem of ''Human'' as a Projectible Predicate; A New Start for the Humanities Is Required for the 21st Century: A Debate among Steve Fuller, Ronald Schleifer, and Robert Markley.

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Book SynopsisSprituality is a process of attaining inner purity, harmony, peace and contentment, through modification and transformation of the behaviours and attitudes that split the personality. this context is the process of purification that drive out inner disturbances and brings inner peace.

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