Social and political philosophy Books
Wilder Publications Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844 and the Manifesto of the Communist Party
£12.84
Gray Rabbit Publishing President Wilson's Addresses
Book Synopsis
£9.66
Nova Science Publishers Inc Biopolitics: The Political Potential of the Life
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£152.99
The New Press Empire of Resentment: Populism’s Toxic Embrace of
Book SynopsisFrom a leading scholar on conservatism, the extraordinary chronicle of how the transformation of the American far right made the Trump presidency possible—and what it portends for the future Since Trump's victory and the UK's Brexit vote, much of the commentary on the populist epidemic has focused on the emergence of populism. But, Lawrence Rosenthal argues, what is happening globally is not the emergence but the transformation of right-wing populism. Rosenthal, the founder of UC Berkeley's Center for Right-Wing Studies, suggests right-wing populism is a protean force whose prime mover is the resentment felt toward perceived cultural elites, and whose abiding feature is its ideological flexibility, which now takes the form of xenophobic nationalism. In 2016, American right-wing populists migrated from the free marketeering Tea Party to Donald Trump's "hard hat," anti-immigrant, America-First nationalism. This was the most important single factor in Trump's electoral victory and it has been at work across the globe. In Italy, for example, the Northern League reinvented itself in 2018 as an all-Italy party, switching its fury from southerners to immigrants, and came to power. Rosenthal paints a vivid sociological, political, and psychological picture of the transnational quality of this movement, which is now in power in at least a dozen countries, creating a de facto Nationalist International. In America and abroad, the current mobilization of right-wing populism has given life to long marginalized threats like white supremacy. The future of democratic politics in the United States and abroad depends on whether the liberal and left parties have the political capacity to mobilize with a progressive agenda of their own.Trade ReviewPraise for Empire of Resentment:"This book is a worthy addition to the growing body of literature that seeks to understand Donald Trump and how he came to inhabit the Oval Office."—Berkeleyside“A timely, substantial, and eloquent contribution to our national dialogue with respect to the rise of an American attempt at authoritarian rule as evidenced in the Republican support of Donald Trump’s corrosive effect on the institutions and norms of American Democracy.”—Midwest Book Review "Cogent political analysis. . . . A welcome exposé of the politics of wounded resentment and the manipulators behind it."—Kirkus Reviews "Frightening and informative, this lucid exposé makes a strong case that American democracy is under threat."—Publishers Weekly "In this clear-eyed, non-alarmist account, Rosenthal asks what history tells us about the rise of fascism and how close we've come to it. Whatever the outcome of the next presidential election, this book provides a brilliantly clear guideline for what to watch out for—and avoid."—Arlie Hochschild, author of Strangers in Their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Right "Rosenthal offers a cogent account of one of the most consequential developments in U.S. politics, connecting the threads of populist anti-elitism with nationalist resurgence and the eventual emergence of the 'alt right.' Should be required reading for anyone trying to make sense of where we are, how we got here and what the future holds for liberal democracy."—Cynthia Miller-Idriss, author of Hate in the Homeland: The New Global Far Right "The rise of right-wing populism has surprised many political observers, but not Lawrence Rosenthal. His book is essential for understanding the racism, resentments, and reactionary fantasies of the right-wing populism that fueled the political rise and reign of Donald Trump, and that will endure long after he is gone. Rosenthal's deep knowledge and lucid prose illuminate the dark, dangerous, authoritarian politics in the U.S. and around the world still growing in the third decade of the twenty-first century."—Harry Levine, City University of New York
£17.99
The New Press Practical Radicals: Seven Strategies to Change
Book SynopsisA clear, expert, and inspiring guide to social change, based on case studies of grassroots movements that won, from two leading community and labor experts“Our movements must seek and win governing power to achieve our visions for a more just society. This book is a vital resource for progressives who want to win.” —Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), chair, Congressional Progressive CaucusHow do underdogs, facing far stronger opponents, sometimes win? In the tradition of Saul Alinsky’s Rules for Radicals and Sun Tzu’s The Art of War, Deepak Bhargava and Stephanie Luce’s Practical Radicals offers winning strategies, history, and theory for a new generation of activists.Based on interviews with leading organizers, this groundbreaking book describes seven strategies to bring about transformative change. It incorporates stories of organizations and movements that have won, including Make the Road NY, the St. Paul Federation of Educators, the welfare rights movement, the Working Families Party, New Georgia Project, Occupy Wall Street, 350.org, the Fight for 15, and Gay Men’s Health Crisis. Two overarching case studies anchor the book: the brilliant techniques used by enslaved people and their allies to end slavery, and the sinister but effective ways elites imposed our current system.Practical Radicals offers insights on strategy used by business, military, and political elites, addresses the challenges of overcoming conflict within organizations and movements, and concludes with a discussion of how our movements must adapt to meet new challenges in the twenty-first century.A book for activists, organizers, and anyone hoping to win the fight for a better society, Practical Radicals is a deeply informed resource designed to help us win on the big issues of our time.Trade ReviewPraise for Practical Radicals: "Progressive activists will want to dog-ear, underline, and pore over this well-conceived handbook."—Kirkus Reviews“Our movements must seek and win governing power to achieve our visions for a more just society. This book is a vital resource for progressives who want to win.”—Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus"Being right isn’t enough. This crucial resource provides a map of the strategies we need to achieve our freedom dreams."—Cristina Jiménez, co-founder of United We Dream“We now face an authoritarian coalition that is ruthless and strategic. Organizers must bring more rigor, depth, and a spirit of experimentation to our strategies if we are to prevail. This crucial book is for everyone who cares about the future of racial, gender, and economic justice and the future of democracy.”—Dorian Warren, president of Community Change “Bhargava and Luce bring us a deeply informed and comprehensive analysis of contemporary American social movements. Activists and organizers especially need to read this book, but so do the rest of us.”—Frances Fox Piven"People power on a massive scale is the only solution to the crises facing our planet. This important book helps us learn from the lineage of struggle we are part of and shows how we must innovate to meet today’s challenges."—Varshini Prakash, co-founder and executive director, the Sunrise Movement"This is the book I’ve been waiting for. It reminds progressives that we have a rich lineage of victories to draw on, from abolition to AIDS activism. And it shows us the multiple strategies we need to win today."—Felicia Wong, president, the Roosevelt Institute
£20.89
The New Press Practical Radicals
Book SynopsisA vital resource for progressives who want to win (Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal)Progressive activists will want to dog-ear, underline, and pore over this well-conceived handbook. Kirkus ReviewsHow do underdogs, facing far stronger opponents, sometimes win? In the tradition of Saul Alinsky's Rules for Radicals and Sun Tzu's The Art of War, Deepak Bhargava and Stephanie Luce's Practical Radicals offers winning strategies, history, and theory for a new generation of activists. Based on interviews with leading organizers, Practical Radicals combines the hard-earned wisdom of our movement ancestors, the rigorous theory of serious practitioners and academics and the functional tools organizers need to spring into action (In These Times). Incorporating stories of organizations and movements that have won, including Make the Road NY, the St. Paul Federation of Educators, the welfare rights movement, the Working Families Party, New Georgia Project, Occupy Wall Street, 350.org, the Fight for 15, and Gay Men's Health Crisis, Practical Radicals takes inspiration from successful social movements to identify tactics that pay off. (The Guardian). With a sweeping new afterword by the authors addressing the challenges of 2025 and beyond, the authors explore how the seven strategies the book highlights can provide a toolkit for underdogs looking both to resist authoritarianism and to win alternatives. At a time of immense uncertainty inside the United States, this crucial book is for everyone who cares about the future of racial, gender, and economic justice and the future of democracy. (Dorian Warren, president of Community Change).
£17.09
Angelico Press Liberty, the God That Failed: Policing the Sacred and Constructing the Myths of the Secular State, from Locke to Obama
£24.70
Angelico Press Liberty, the God That Failed: Policing the Sacred and Constructing the Myths of the Secular State, from Locke to Obama
£32.30
Angelico Press The Political and Social Ideas of St. Augustine
£20.58
Angelico Press Liberty or Equality: The Challenge of Our Time
£18.16
£27.83
Anthroposophic Press Inc A Road to Sacred Creation: Rudolf Steiner's
Book Synopsis
£31.50
Steiner Books The Tension Between East and West: (Cw 83)
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£22.50
Steiner Books On the Wings of Words: Conversations and Human
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£13.29
Vernon Press The Dynamics of Bride Price in Zimbabwe and the
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£38.00
Vernon Press Deciding in Unison: Themes in Consensual
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£41.90
Vernon Press The Person at the Crossroads: A Philosophical
Book Synopsis
£57.02
Information Age Publishing Continuing the Journey to Reposition Culture and
Book SynopsisRacial, ethnic, linguistic, and cultural diversity has become of global importance in places where many never would have imagined. Increasing diversity in the U.S., Europe, Africa, New Zealand, and Asia strongly suggests that a homogeneity-based focus is rapidly becoming an historical artifact. Therefore, culturally responsive evaluation (CRE)should no longer be viewed as a luxury or an option in our work as evaluators. The continued amplification of racial, ethnic, linguistic, and cultural diversity and awareness among the populations of the U.S. and other western nations insists that social science researchers and evaluators inextricably engage culturally responsive approaches in their work. It is unacceptable for most mainstream university evaluation programs, philanthropic agencies, training institutes sponsored by federal agencies, professional associations, and other entities to promote professional evaluation practices that do not attend to CRE. Our global demographics are a reality that can be appropriately described and studied within the context of complexity theory and theory of change (e.g., Stewart, 1991; Battram, 1999). And this perspective requires a distinct shift from “simple” linear cause-effect models and reductionist thinking to include more holistic and culturally responsive approaches.The development of policy that is meaningfully responsive to the needs of traditionally disenfranchised stakeholders and that also optimizes the use of limited resources (human, natural, and financial) is an extremely complex process. Fortunately, we are presently witnessing developments in methods, instruments, and statistical techniques that are mixed methods in their paradigm/designs and likely to be more effective in informing policymaking and decision-making. Culturally responsive evaluation is one such phenomenon that positions itself to be relevant in the context of dynamic international and national settings where policy and program decisions take place. One example of a response to address this dynamic and need is the newly established Center for Culturally Responsive Evaluation and Assessment (CREA) in the College of Education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.CREA is an outgrowth of the collective work and commitments of a global community of scholars and practitioners who have contributed chapters to this edited volume. It is an international and interdisciplinary evaluation center that is grounded in the need for designing and conducting evaluations and assessments that embody cognitive, cultural, and interdisciplinary diversity so as to be actively responsive to culturally diverse communities and their aspirations. The Center’s purpose is to address questions, issues, theories, and practices related to CRE and culturally responsive educational assessment. Therefore, CREA can serve as a vehicle for our continuing discourse on culture and cultural context in evaluation and also as a point of dissemination for not only the work that is included in this edited volume, but for the subsequent work it will encourage.
£47.45
Information Age Publishing Continuing the Journey to Reposition Culture and
Book SynopsisRacial, ethnic, linguistic, and cultural diversity has become of global importance in places where many never would have imagined. Increasing diversity in the U.S., Europe, Africa, New Zealand, and Asia strongly suggests that a homogeneity-based focus is rapidly becoming an historical artifact. Therefore, culturally responsive evaluation (CRE)should no longer be viewed as a luxury or an option in our work as evaluators. The continued amplification of racial, ethnic, linguistic, and cultural diversity and awareness among the populations of the U.S. and other western nations insists that social science researchers and evaluators inextricably engage culturally responsive approaches in their work. It is unacceptable for most mainstream university evaluation programs, philanthropic agencies, training institutes sponsored by federal agencies, professional associations, and other entities to promote professional evaluation practices that do not attend to CRE. Our global demographics are a reality that can be appropriately described and studied within the context of complexity theory and theory of change (e.g., Stewart, 1991; Battram, 1999). And this perspective requires a distinct shift from “simple” linear cause-effect models and reductionist thinking to include more holistic and culturally responsive approaches.The development of policy that is meaningfully responsive to the needs of traditionally disenfranchised stakeholders and that also optimizes the use of limited resources (human, natural, and financial) is an extremely complex process. Fortunately, we are presently witnessing developments in methods, instruments, and statistical techniques that are mixed methods in their paradigm/designs and likely to be more effective in informing policymaking and decision-making. Culturally responsive evaluation is one such phenomenon that positions itself to be relevant in the context of dynamic international and national settings where policy and program decisions take place. One example of a response to address this dynamic and need is the newly established Center for Culturally Responsive Evaluation and Assessment (CREA) in the College of Education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.CREA is an outgrowth of the collective work and commitments of a global community of scholars and practitioners who have contributed chapters to this edited volume. It is an international and interdisciplinary evaluation center that is grounded in the need for designing and conducting evaluations and assessments that embody cognitive, cultural, and interdisciplinary diversity so as to be actively responsive to culturally diverse communities and their aspirations. The Center’s purpose is to address questions, issues, theories, and practices related to CRE and culturally responsive educational assessment. Therefore, CREA can serve as a vehicle for our continuing discourse on culture and cultural context in evaluation and also as a point of dissemination for not only the work that is included in this edited volume, but for the subsequent work it will encourage.
£87.40
Hackett Publishing Co, Inc The Essential Leviathan: A Modernized Edition
Book SynopsisThis edition of Leviathan is intended to provide the reader with a modestly abridged text that is straightforward and accessible, while preserving Hobbes' main lines of argument and of thought. It is meant for those who wish to focus primarily on the philosophical aspects of the work, apart from its stylish but often daunting early modern prose. The editors have updated language, style, punctuation, and grammar throughout. Very long, complicated sentences have been broken into two or more sentences for enhanced readability. In some instances, terms within a sentence are rearranged for enhanced clarity. Occasionally, an equivalent contemporary word is substituted for an archaic one. Ellipses indicate omissions of more than one sentence. Care has been taken to maintain the strength, nuance, and flavor of the work, especially of Hobbes' most difficult arguments. In addition, the volume offers a general Introduction and concise headnotes to each chapter. Annotation is geared to the student or novice reader. A glossary of key terms is also included, as well as an index.Trade Review"Essential Leviathan is a translation of Hobbes' work, due to the fact that certain words and grammar have been altered to make the text more approachable. This 'translation' is very good: it makes the text highly accessible, certainly for the first time reader, but achieves this without jeopardizing original spirit or meaning. . . . Stanlick and Collette make up for a short introduction with a wealth of supporting footnotes, which give much needed information and clarification. This method has immediate benefits: it allows for the student to learn the background and context of Leviathan as they read through the text. . . . The footnotes on the intellectual context of Leviathan are particularly well done: they are both extensive and informative, and effectively enlighten the reader to the philosophical issues Hobbes was addressing. . . . [E]xcellent chapter introductions . . . effectively make the purpose of each individual chapter clearer, and link the arguments of different chapters together. . . . Educators . . . will certainly welcome Stanlick and Colette's modernized edition; it is a work which successfully makes Hobbes' arguments clear, approachable, and most importantly, relevant to the Twenty-First Century reader, whilst simultaneously maintaining the spirit and beauty of Hobbes' original text." —Ruairidh J Brown, University of Nottingham Ningbo China, in Hobbes Studies
£14.24
Hackett Publishing Co, Inc The Essential Leviathan: A Modernized Edition
Book SynopsisThis edition of Leviathan is intended to provide the reader with a modestly abridged text that is straightforward and accessible, while preserving Hobbes' main lines of argument and of thought. It is meant for those who wish to focus primarily on the philosophical aspects of the work, apart from its stylish but often daunting early modern prose. The editors have updated language, style, punctuation, and grammar throughout. Very long, complicated sentences have been broken into two or more sentences for enhanced readability. In some instances, terms within a sentence are rearranged for enhanced clarity. Occasionally, an equivalent contemporary word is substituted for an archaic one. Ellipses indicate omissions of more than one sentence. Care has been taken to maintain the strength, nuance, and flavor of the work, especially of Hobbes' most difficult arguments. In addition, the volume offers a general Introduction and concise headnotes to each chapter. Annotation is geared to the student or novice reader. A glossary of key terms is also included, as well as an index.Trade Review"Essential Leviathan is a translation of Hobbes' work, due to the fact that certain words and grammar have been altered to make the text more approachable. This 'translation' is very good: it makes the text highly accessible, certainly for the first time reader, but achieves this without jeopardizing original spirit or meaning. . . . Stanlick and Collette make up for a short introduction with a wealth of supporting footnotes, which give much needed information and clarification. This method has immediate benefits: it allows for the student to learn the background and context of Leviathan as they read through the text. . . . The footnotes on the intellectual context of Leviathan are particularly well done: they are both extensive and informative, and effectively enlighten the reader to the philosophical issues Hobbes was addressing. . . . [E]xcellent chapter introductions . . . effectively make the purpose of each individual chapter clearer, and link the arguments of different chapters together. . . . Educators . . . will certainly welcome Stanlick and Colette's modernized edition; it is a work which successfully makes Hobbes' arguments clear, approachable, and most importantly, relevant to the Twenty-First Century reader, whilst simultaneously maintaining the spirit and beauty of Hobbes' original text." —Ruairidh J Brown, University of Nottingham Ningbo China, in Hobbes Studies
£36.54
Hackett Publishing Co, Inc Utilitarianism: With Related Remarks from Mill’s
Book SynopsisThis edition of Utilitarianism supplements the text of Mill's classic essay with 58 related remarks carefully selected from Mill's other writings, ranging from his treatise on logic to his personal correspondence. In these remarks, Mill comments on specific passages of Utilitarianism, elaborates on topics he handles briefly in Utilitarianism, and discusses additional aspects of his moral thought. Short introductory comments accompany the related remarks, and an editor's introduction provides an overview of Utilitarianism crafted specifically to enhance accessibility for first-time readers of the essay.Trade Review"Some of the ambiguity of Utilitarianism can be resolved, or at least debated, by attention to Mill's other writings. Eggleston's edition provides the primary sources for such discussion in its endnotes. A serious teacher of Utilitarianism should use this edition." —Henry West, Professor of Philosophy Emeritus, Macalester College"Eggleston has produced easily the best edition of Utilitarianism available. By conveniently including so many of the relevant passages from supplementary works, all organized for ease of reference, scholars and students alike will now have at their fingertips the materials needed to make sense of Mill's classic text. This is important not just for an accurate understanding of Mill's own moral and political philosophy, but for a proper appreciation of utilitarianism as a leading moral tradition." —Piers Norris Turner, Associate Professor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University"Wonderful idea to publish Mill's Utilitarianism with related remarks from Mill's other writings. Like Nietzsche, Mill clearly assumed that the readers of Utilitarianism knew his other writings, which is no longer the case. That is why this is such a valuable edition, especially for students." —Robert H. Haraldsson, University of Iceland
£11.39
Hackett Publishing Co, Inc Utilitarianism: With Related Remarks from Mill’s
Book SynopsisThis edition of Utilitarianism supplements the text of Mill's classic essay with 58 related remarks carefully selected from Mill's other writings, ranging from his treatise on logic to his personal correspondence. In these remarks, Mill comments on specific passages of Utilitarianism, elaborates on topics he handles briefly in Utilitarianism, and discusses additional aspects of his moral thought. Short introductory comments accompany the related remarks, and an editor's introduction provides an overview of Utilitarianism crafted specifically to enhance accessibility for first-time readers of the essay.Trade Review"Some of the ambiguity of Utilitarianism can be resolved, or at least debated, by attention to Mill's other writings. Eggleston's edition provides the primary sources for such discussion in its endnotes. A serious teacher of Utilitarianism should use this edition." —Henry West, Professor of Philosophy Emeritus, Macalester College"Eggleston has produced easily the best edition of Utilitarianism available. By conveniently including so many of the relevant passages from supplementary works, all organized for ease of reference, scholars and students alike will now have at their fingertips the materials needed to make sense of Mill's classic text. This is important not just for an accurate understanding of Mill's own moral and political philosophy, but for a proper appreciation of utilitarianism as a leading moral tradition." —Piers Norris Turner, Associate Professor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University"Wonderful idea to publish Mill's Utilitarianism with related remarks from Mill's other writings. Like Nietzsche, Mill clearly assumed that the readers of Utilitarianism knew his other writings, which is no longer the case. That is why this is such a valuable edition, especially for students." —Robert H. Haraldsson, University of Iceland
£29.74
Hackett Publishing Co, Inc Politics: A New Translation
Book SynopsisThis new translation of Aristotle's Politics is a model of accuracy and consistency and fits seamlessly with the translator's Nicomachean Ethics, allowing the two to be read together, as Aristotle intended. Sequentially numbered endnotes provide the information most needed at each juncture, while a detailed Index of Terms indicates places where focused discussion of key notions occurs. A general Introduction prepares the reader for the work that lies ahead, explaining what sort of work it is and what sort of evidence it relies on.Trade Review"David Reeve's new translation of the Politics is certain to become the primary and indispensable tool for anyone undertaking a careful study of Aristotle's great work. Newcomers to this treatise as well as advanced scholars will learn enormously from the Introduction, extensive notes, and detailed index." —Richard Kraut, Northwestern University"C. D. C. Reeve's study of Aristotle's Politics (translation with introduction, hundreds of notes, and a detailed index of terms) does justice to Aristotle's practical philosophy as a whole in an exceptional way. . . . [Far] from being a simple revision of his previous work (Hackett, 1998) [it] provides us with a totally fresh English text in harmony with his recent translation of the Nicomachean Ethics (Hackett, 2014). . . . Among the merits of the edition is Reeve's philosophically illuminating Introduction [which] attempts to situate politics within the framework of Aristotelian sciences. . . . It is a great merit of Reeve's Translation and Commentary that his own views are confined to his Introduction. In his sequentially numbered endnotes we most often hear Aristotle's own voice and not a commentary that might have promoted partial interpretations. Apart from the quotation of a wide range of passages from the Aristotelian corpus, the reader will also find clarifications providing her with the assistance necessary to find her own way in the text. . . . In general, comparing the new translation to the Greek text one can hardly fail to recognize that it attains an admirable balance between fidelity and smoothness: though following the syntax of the Greek text, it remains fluent and readable. . . . In a nutshell, Reeve's new translation and commentary is a masterful work. Both students who wish to study the Politics and advanced scholars will greatly profit from it." —Vasia Vergouli, University of Patras, in Bryn Mawr Classical Review
£51.84
Bridge21 Publications, LLC Order and Revolt: Debating the Principles of
Book SynopsisThese original essays debate two ways of theorizing social life. One way is the integrative or holistic model of thought typified in the writings of Confucius. The other, the revolutionary tradition, is suspicious of holism and harmony as principles of social thought because harmony is seen as something that can genuinely occur only when a society has rectified deeply ingrained injustice. This volume evaluates the alternative priorities of order and revolt, harmony and spontaneity, in social life.
£42.75
Echo Point Books & Media Hegemony and Revolution
£24.95
Stonewell Press Common Sense
£9.89
Stonewell Press On Liberty
£11.83
Stonewell Press The Second Treatise of Civil Government
£11.83
Nova Science Publishers Inc Social Philosophy, Age & Aging
Book SynopsisThis book attempts to unravel the fundamental assumptions of social philosophy and how its different concepts and theories make sense of human aging. The book explores how biomedical ageing dominated thoughts on ageing until social understandings from different disciplines came about that highlighted that ageing could be understood in terms of social class, gender and ethnicity. A key debate in recent years has been the critical approach versus positive approach. The final two chapters of the book explore Foucauldian philosophy applied to instances of the ageing process; whilst the final chapter advocates a focus on personhood and self-actualisation.
£52.49
Nova Science Publishers Inc Flexicurity & Political Philosophy: Towards a
Book SynopsisFlexicurity is a European labour market policy adopted in 2007 within the European Employment Strategy. This policy aims at combining the ongoing flexibilisation of employment relations with the traditions of the European welfare state. This book examines and summarises thirty empirical studies in flexicurity written by the author in 2004 and 2010. The book provides empirical evidence of increasing labour flexibility accompanied by a decline of social security. The author also shows that the countries with higher flexibility are more affected by the crisis. This is a serious warning against improper implementation of flexicurity and its one-sided use in favour of employers.
£63.74
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc Violence, Desire, and the Sacred, Volume 1: Girard's Mimetic Theory Across the Disciplines
Book SynopsisViolence, Desire and the Sacred presents the most up-to-date inter-disciplinary work being developed with the ground-breaking insights of René Girard's mimetic theory. The collection showcases the work of outstanding scholars in mimetic theory and how they are applying and developing Girard's insights in a variety of fields. Girard's mimetic insight has provided a fruitful way for different disciplines, such as literature, anthropology, theology, religion studies, cultural studies, and philosophy, to engage on common anthropological ground, with a shared understanding of the human person. The aim of this edited collection is to present this interdisciplinary work and to illustrate how Girard's insights provide fertile ground for bringing together disparate disciplines in a shared purpose. As academic work on Girard's insights is growing, this collection would meet the need to show the critical, interdisciplinary applications of these insights.Trade ReviewThis very impressive volume shows how mimetic theory has broken free of its transatlantic origins, inspiring first-rate scholarship from around the world, most notably Australia. The interdisplinary richness of the theory remains intact: established scholars and new voices provide the customary insightful readings of theological and literary texts, alongside new trajectories, in history and in neuroscience. Violence, Desire and the Sacred is an indispensible survey of the state of play with regard to the latest wave of Girardian studies. -- Dr Michael Kirwan SJ, Head of Theology, Heythrop College, University of LondonA fascinating contribution to the growing intellectual excitement about a major insight into the causes and possible cures for the violence that threatens us from within and without. René Girard's mimetic theory brings together not just philosophers, theologians, and literary people, but also theoreticians and practitioners from practically all the social and natural sciences to talk about and work toward lessening the internal and external violence that threatens our human existence. Remarkable that such a rich conversation could come from just one country! -- Robert J. Daly, S.J., Professor Emeritus of Theology, Boston CollegeThis superbly-edited collection addresses the key issues in mimetic theory for this century, all of which require the interdisciplinary approach followed here. Readers who have been following the resurgent interest in René Girard's work will recognize the names of James Alison, Wolfgang Palaver, Jeremiah Alberg and Chris Fleming. To the centers already known at Stanford, Paris and Innsbruck, which generate scholarship and attract fellow researchers as students and colleagues, we must now add The Australian Girard Seminar. -- William A. Johnsen, Editor, Contagion. Journal of Violence, Mimesis, and CultureTable of ContentsForeword Ann Astell Contributors Introduction Scott Cowdell, Joel Hodge and Chris Fleming Part I: Finding Our Bearings 1. René Girard, Modernity, and Apocalypse Scott Cowdell Part II: Biblical Studies 2. "Like Being Dragged Through a Bush Backwards": Hints of the Shape of Conversion's Adventure James Alison 3. Finding the Way: How to Study Scripture with the Help of Scripture and the Desert Fathers Draško Dizdar 4. Sacred Men and Sacred Goats: Mimetic Theory in Levitical and Passion Intertext Debra Anstis Part III: Theology 5. Beyond Locked Doors: The Breath of the Risen One Anthony J. Kelly, CSsR 6. Torture and Faith: The Violent Sacred and Christian Resistance in East Timor Joel Hodge 7. Girard and the Tasks of Theology Kevin Lenehan Part IV: Literary Studies 8. René Girard, Jacques Derrida's The Gift of Death, and Salman Rushdie Vijay Mishra 9. Grace Can Be Violent: Flannery's O'Connor's Novelistic Truth Jeremiah Alberg Part V: History and Political Thought 10. Europe and Enmity: How Christianity Can Contribute to a Positive Identity Wolfgang Palaver 11. Herodian Aspects of the English Reformation Monarchy: Girardian Insights into Unacknowledged Brutality Ivan Head 12. Human Rights: Controlling the Uncontrollable? Peter Stork Part VI: Developments and Critiques 13. Hard Evidence for Girardian Mimetic Theory? Intersubjectivity and Mirror Neurons Scott Cowdell 14. Nietzsche, the Last Atheist Chris Fleming and John O'Carroll 15. Is All Desire Mimetic? Lonergan and Girard on the Nature of Desire and Authenticity Neil Ormerod Glossary of Key Girardian Terms Some Further Reading Index
£32.99
PM Press No Gods, No Masters, No Peripheries: Global
Book Synopsis
£22.94
WW Norton & Co On Tocqueville: Democracy and America
Book SynopsisIn On Tocqueville, Alan Ryan brilliantly illuminates the observations of the French philosopher who first journeyed to the United States in 1831 and went on to catalogue the unique features of the American social contract. Tocqueville’s prescient analyses of American life remain as relevant today as when they were first written. On Tocqueville features a chronology, biography and excerpts from Tocqueville’s major works.Trade Review"Ryan's excellent introduction makes Tocqueville's observations and anxieties vitally relevant for 21st-century readers."
£11.39
WW Norton & Co On Marx: Revolutionary and Utopian
Book SynopsisIn On Marx, Alan Ryan examines Marx’s writing, not within the framework of Lenin or Tolstoy but within its own time, tracing its Hegelian roots and providing a sterling explication and critique of his theories of alienation, class struggle and revolution. This volume provides the clearest, most accessible introduction to Marx’s theories in recent years. On Marx features a chronology, biography and excerpts from Marx’s major works.
£10.99
WW Norton & Co The Knowledge Machine: How Irrationality Created
Book Synopsis• Why is science so powerful? • Why did it take so long—two thousand years after the invention of philosophy and mathematics—for the human race to start using science to learn the secrets of the universe? In a groundbreaking work that blends science, philosophy, and history, leading philosopher of science Michael Strevens answers these challenging questions, showing how science came about only once thinkers stumbled upon the astonishing idea that scientific breakthroughs could be accomplished by breaking the rules of logical argument. Like such classic works as Karl Popper’s The Logic of Scientific Discovery and Thomas Kuhn’s The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, The Knowledge Machine grapples with the meaning and origins of science, using a plethora of vivid historical examples to demonstrate that scientists willfully ignore religion, theoretical beauty, and even philosophy to embrace a constricted code of argument whose very narrowness channels unprecedented energy into empirical observation and experimentation. Strevens calls this scientific code the iron rule of explanation, and reveals the way in which the rule, precisely because it is unreasonably close-minded, overcomes individual prejudices to lead humanity inexorably toward the secrets of nature. “With a mixture of philosophical and historical argument, and written in an engrossing style” (Alan Ryan), The Knowledge Machine provides captivating portraits of some of the greatest luminaries in science’s history, including Isaac Newton, the chief architect of modern science and its foundational theories of motion and gravitation; William Whewell, perhaps the greatest philosopher-scientist of the early nineteenth century; and Murray Gell-Mann, discoverer of the quark. Today, Strevens argues, in the face of threats from a changing climate and global pandemics, the idiosyncratic but highly effective scientific knowledge machine must be protected from politicians, commercial interests, and even scientists themselves who seek to open it up, to make it less narrow and more rational—and thus to undermine its devotedly empirical search for truth. Rich with illuminating and often delightfully quirky illustrations, The Knowledge Machine, written in a winningly accessible style that belies the import of its revisionist and groundbreaking concepts, radically reframes much of what we thought we knew about the origins of the modern world.Trade Review"Riveting… Strevens promises his readers a better explanation of scientific progress than those given by his two illustrious predecessors, Karl Popper and Thomas Kuhn…[He] sustains his polemical fireworks with a steady succession of examples drawn from the history of science…Worth reading for the quality of Mr. Strevens’s prose alone, his crystal-clear, unfussy sentences, the crisp metaphors(comparing, say, an electron’s complex “superposition” in quantum mechanics to a cocktail mixed from many ingredients) and many excellent quips… As a hard-nosed, wonderfully timely plea for taking science seriously, for allowing scientists to do their work without interference, The Knowledge Machine is unparalleled." -- Christoph Irmscher - Wall Street Journal"A provocative and fascinating book.... Strevens’s book contains a number of surprises, including an elegant section on quantum mechanics that coolly demonstrates why it’s such an effective theory.... Ambitious.... Strevens builds on the work of philosophers like Karl Popper and Thomas Kuhn to come up with his own original hypothesis about the advent of modern science and its formidable consequences." -- Jennifer Szalai - New York Times"Strevens shows scientists exerting themselves intellectually.... [and] aims to identify that special something." -- Joshua Rothman - The New Yorker"One of the better examinations of the origins of the scientific revolution." -- Kirkus Reviews"[Strevens], an NYU philosophy professor, takes a scholarly look at how modern science arose with this erudite study. . . . For readers curious about why science works as well as it does, Strevens provides a convincing answer." -- Publishers Weekly"The Knowledge Machine is the most stunningly illuminating book of the last several decades regarding the all-important scientific enterprise." -- Rebecca Newberger Goldstein, author of Plato at the Googleplex"Michael Strevens is one of the leading philosophers of science at work today, so I knew this book would be powerful, bracingly argued, and important. What I did not expect was that it would be such a rollicking good read." -- Jim Holt, author of Why Does the World Exist?"Strevens treats us to fascinating episodes in the history of science, wittily and illuminatingly recounted, and to beautifully lucid and accessible accounts of the underlying philosophical issues. A rare achievement, it is entertaining and edifying all at once." -- Paul Boghossian, Silver Professor of philosophy, New York University"A book as thrilling to read as it is important. . . . To move through The Knowledge Machine is to have one’s assumptions about evidence-based inquiry challenged in captivating fashion; I read it in a trance of delight." -- Nathan Heller, The New Yorker staff writer"As with Kuhn’s Structure of Scientific Revolutions, its brevity and simplicity cannot conceal the boldness of its conception, the extraordinary scope of its ambition. It is a very important, perhaps even a great book." -- David Wootton, author of The Invention of Science"A delight to read. . . . The Knowledge Machine is richly illustrated with wonderfully told, easy-to-understand incidents from the history of natural science." -- Nancy Cartwright, University of California–San Diego"In this beautifully written, accessible, and often entertaining book, Michael Strevens takes up the serious task of accounting for the success of science, and why it took so long to achieve it." -- Philip Kitcher, Columbia University"There could hardly be a better introduction to the philosophy of science than The Knowledge Machine." -- Alan Ryan, author of On Politics"A stylish and accessible investigation into the nature of the scientific method." -- Nigel Warburton - Philosophy Times"Without the benefits of science, everyday life would be almost medieval. Michael Strevens pulls off the ambitious task of revealing how science really works as he defends the power and effectiveness of the scientific method to reveal the true nature of things against those who deny it very existence. The Knowledge Machine is an engaging must-read if you want to find out what’s so special about science." -- Manjit Kumar, author of Quantum"It is easy to take science for granted, but in truth it is a peculiar institution that is absent from most of human history. Michael Strevens puts his finger on its essential core—a self-denying rejection of any reasoning that does not trade in new observational evidence—and shows how this ‘iron rule’ explains both why science is strange and why it is successful. Strevens wears his learning lightly, but this elegant book takes us to the heart of the scientific enterprise." -- David Papineau, King’s College London, author of Knowing the Score
£22.79
WW Norton & Co The Internet of Us: Knowing More and
Book SynopsisThis "fascinating new book" (The New Yorker) shows how our digital way of life makes us overvalue some ways of processing information over others and thus risks distorting what it means to be human. Lynch argues that it will be the way in which we adapt our minds to these new tools that will ultimately decide whether or not the "Internet of Things" will be a net gain for humanity.Trade Review"Lynch’s basic argument is that if we understand better the conditions under which knowledge is produced and disseminated—conditions he explores clearly and cogently—then we will become more 'responsible' knowers." -- The Wall Street Journal
£12.34
WW Norton & Co Know-It-All Society: Truth and Arrogance in
Book SynopsisTaking stock of our fragmented political landscape, Michael Patrick Lynch delivers a trenchant philosophical take on digital culture and its tendency to make us into dogmatic know-it-alls. The internet—where most shared news stories are not even read by the person posting them—has contributed to the rampant spread of “intellectual arrogance.” In this culture, we have come to think that we have nothing to learn from one another; we are rewarded for emotional outrage over reflective thought; and we glorify a defensive rejection of those different from us. Interweaving the works of classic philosophers such as Hannah Arendt and Bertrand Russell and imposing them on a cybernetic future they could not have possibly even imagined, Lynch delves deeply into three core ideas that explain how we’ve gotten to the way we are: • our natural tendency to be overconfident in our knowledge; • the tribal politics that feed off our tendency; • and the way the outrage factory of social media spreads those politics of arrogance and blind conviction. In addition to identifying an ascendant “know-it-all-ism” in our culture, Lynch offers practical solutions for how we might start reversing this dangerous trend—from rejecting the banality of emoticons that rarely reveal insight to embracing the tenets of Socrates, who exemplified the humility of admitting how little we often know about the world, to the importance of dialogue if we want to know more. With bracing and deeply original analysis, Lynch holds a mirror up to American culture to reveal that the sources of our fragmentation start with our attitudes toward truth. Ultimately, Know-It-All Society makes a powerful new argument for the indispensable value of truth and humility in democracy.Trade Review"The book is accessible, admirably concise, clearly written, and richly insightful, both as a cultural diagnosis and as an exemplar of applying philosophical inquiry—ancient or otherwise—to everyday problems." -- Chad Comello - Booklist"Lynch offers an insightful, timely message." -- Kirkus Reviews"This book is both a treasure and a treat—that rare volume that is philosophically rich, politically relevant, and lyrically written." -- Eboo Patel, author of Out of Many Faiths"A sharp and engaging critique of the tribal arrogance that’s so common in contemporary life, by one of our leading public philosophers. Lynch has a lot of provocative ideas—about social media, the rise of Donald Trump, whether we have to listen to neo-Nazis, and much else—and his rich book is a delight to engage with." -- Paul Bloom, Professor of Psychology, Yale University, and author of Against Empathy: The Case for Rational Compassion"Michael Lynch has done it. Finally, someone has answered the question that has exasperated so many in this ‘post-truth’ era: Why are some people unconvinced by facts? The answer lies not in irrationality but identity. In these polarized times, to question someone’s beliefs is to question their sense of self. In this book, Lynch brilliantly demonstrates that a solution to the problem of belief lies not just in valuing truth and evidence but reforming some of the toxic mental attitudes that exist not just in others but ourselves." -- Lee McIntyre, author of The Scientific Attitude"A timely book on an important topic in our political culture today. Lynch is just the person to bring philosophical insight to these challenges—of trust, expertise, disagreement, and the prospects for conversation across the deep political chasms of our day." -- Sanford Goldberg, author of To the Best of Our Knowledge"If we have learned anything over these past few years, it is that democracy is difficult. In this essential book for our times, Michael Lynch unflinchingly lays out its central conundrums in painfully recognizable ways, and bravely offers hope, and perhaps, some ways out. A remarkable achievement." -- Jason Stanley, author of How Fascism Works"Michael Patrick Lynch’s book uses the classics of philosophy to examine why our society, in a modern age of technology and education, is increasingly centered around a dysfunctional, narcissistic rejection of objectivity and reason. Know-It-All Society challenges us to consider why we arrogantly refuse to listen to each other, no matter what our politics or our beliefs." -- Tom Nichols, author of The Death of Expertise"Professor Lynch not only diagnoses the reasons for our current predicament but also suggests ways in which we can begin to challenge our tribal arrogance. Know-It-All Society is an important (and wonderfully readable) book." -- David Edmonds, host of BBC’s The Big Idea
£19.94
WW Norton & Co On Politics: A History of Political Thought: From
Book SynopsisPraised widely upon hardcover publication, Alan Ryan’s “masterpiece” (David Ulin, Los Angeles Times) blends history and philosophy to examine three thousand years of political thought. Drawing on three decades of research, Ryan insightfully traces the origins of political philosophy from the ancient Greeks to the present and evokes the lives and minds of our greatest thinkers in a way that makes reading about them a “remarkable experience” (Jeremy Waldron, New York Review of Books). Whether writing about Plato or Augustine, Tocqueville or Jefferson, Ryan illuminates John Dewey’s dictum that the role of philosophy is less to see truth than to enhance life. With this “epic” (John Keane, Financial Times) tour de force, Ryan affirms his place as one of the most influential political philosophers of our time.
£22.79
Restless Books Machiavelli: On Politics and Power
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£14.24
Easton Studio Press The Cosmic Ocean: New Answers to Big Questions
Book SynopsisThe Cosmic Ocean shares the treasures that Paul K. Chappell, a West Point graduate and Iraq War veteran, who grew up in a violent household, has extracted from trauma. To explain how these treasures--which take the form of timeless truths--can help us solve our personal, national, and global problems, this book uses personal stories and extensive research to journey through time, around the world, and into every facet of the human condition. To survive and progress as a global human family, Chappell explains that we need a paradigm shift that can transform our understanding of peace, justice, love, happiness, and what it means to be human. To help create this paradigm shift, The Cosmic Ocean explores diverse subjects such as empathy, rage, nonviolent struggle, war, beauty, religion, philosophy, science, Gandhi, the Iliad, slavery, human sacrifice, video games, sports, and our shared humanity.
£14.99
Easton Studio Press Illuminating Philosophy: Stories Beyond
Book SynopsisIn these 25 true stories, a widely published philosopher recounts 60 years of interaction with people in all walks of life – some extremely famous, others complete strangers – from hospitals to restaurants, concert halls to airplanes, in private conversations and nationally broadcast interviews. Stories can be heartbreaking, distracting, funny, shocking, inspiring, revealing, and sometimes unforgettable – and all those attributes appear here. There’s no substitute for learning what it’s like to be someone else, to see the world as that other person does and reconsider our own views in light of that learning. These compelling and accessible stories motivate and enable us to do that, illuminating the unexpected relationships among all domains of human concern, the wellsprings of creativity, the elusive character of good judgment, and the pathways to social justice. They help us see more clearly what we care most about: deep features of human character and difficult choices, of social structures, of the power of imagination, of how to take account of the importance of what cannot be counted, and of bogus boundaries and assumptions that can repress clear thinking in any domain. These stories will make the reader more powerful in service of those values.Trade Review“These stories are great! And they teach you a lot in a wonderfully informative, reflective, and insightful way. Read them—you’ll love it.”—Margaret “Peggy” Battin, PhD, MFA, Distinguished Professor of Philosophy and Adjunct Professor of Internal Medicine, Program in Medical Ethics and Humanities, University of Utah
£14.24
Museum of Modern Art Adrian Piper: A Reader
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£28.00
Prometheus Books Functional Inefficiency: The Unexpected Benefits
Book SynopsisHow can we reduce unemployment? As this insightful and counterintuitive book shows, the surprising answer is inefficiency. Some of the most labor-intensive sectors of the economy, the author notes, are also the most inefficient. But this inefficiency is functional--rather than impairing the economy, it bolsters employment and fosters economic growth. Technological progress increases efficiency and reduces the need for workers in manufacturing, mining, agriculture, and many services. So how do we keep people working? By maintaining inefficiencies in other areas, such as in our systems of transportation and healthcare. The author documents the waste of time and money in hospital systems, the insurance and pharmaceutical industries, automotive travel, road construction, and road maintenance. These inefficiencies are tolerated because they provide a lot of jobs and promote economic growth, making them functional inefficiencies. Most of these inefficiencies can be reduced without increasing unemployment or impairing economic growth, the author claims, through increased investment in physical and human infrastructure. However, continued inefficiencies inherent in consumerism can't be eradicated without economic decline, making some inefficiency essential as well as functional. Functional Inefficiency offers a wealth of details and a unique analysis of our economic system, plus hope for our future prospects through reduced inefficiency.
£16.99
Trine Day Technofascism: The New World Disorder
Book SynopsisWhat is it about Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring (1962) that transports so many readers into “life changing” exhortations? Is it the direct yet compassionate radical message of what we as a species have failed to realize in our reckless trajectory toward oblivion? Is it whistle blowing of the highest order? Does it offer solutions along with critical analysis? Whatever the formula for success, her success—despite attempts to ban the book—is not arguable. Were her book to attain a modicum of comparable acceptance in these dystopic times then her mission will have been accomplished. She is not above emulation of the masters, a practice she learned as a composer, not an author. But it is something that suits well whatever creative endeavor we practice. Her response to all queries remains, “read the book.”
£16.16
Pitchstone Publishing Against the New Politics of Identity: How the
Book SynopsisIn Against the New Politics of Identity, philosopher Ronald A. Lindsay offers a sustained criticism of the far-reaching cultural transformation occurring across much of the West by which individuals are defined primarily by their group identity, such as race, ethnicity, gender identity, and sexual orientation.Driven largely by the political Left, this transformation has led to the wholesale grouping of individuals into oppressed and oppressor classes in both theory and practice. He warns that the push for identity politics on the Left predictably elicits a parallel reaction from the Right, including the Right's own version of identity politics in the form of Christian nationalism.As Lindsay makes clear, the symbiotic relationship that has formed between these two political poles risks producing even deeper threats to Enlightenment values and Western democracy. If we are to preserve a liberal democracy in which the rights of individuals are respected, he concludes, the dogmas of identity politics must be challenged and refuted. Against the New Politics of Identity offers a principled path for doing so.
£16.16
Ridge Enterprise Group Pllc Localism: A Philosophy of Government
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£7.99
Autonomedia Wars and Capital
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£23.40
