Description
Book SynopsisThis book investigates how a number of influential philosophies arose out of catastrophes, such as wars, plagues, and earthquakes. Central to the project is an explanation of how these catastrophes led to the questioning of basic assumptions and the introduction of new ideas to make sense out of a chaotic and often unintelligible world.
Trade ReviewThe book presents a unique way of doing philosophy. It offers points of view from diverse scholars to deal with some of the most pressing problems faced by humanity including “existential catastrophes such as environmental degradation, global warming, overpopulation, the threat of nuclear conflagration, and widespread economic upheaval.” Through these multiple perspectives, Professor David Rosner is able to capture “the sense-making activity” of the traditional philosophy, thus resuscitating philosophy and its sustained relevance during the 21st century. A must read for all those who want to make sense of the human crises in all domains of life posed by the super-abundance of useless and useful information that is bombarded on the mind of the 21st century person. -- Ashok Kumar Malhotra, Emeritus SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor of Philosophy
In this book David Rosner skillfully brings together a number of essays that deal with maybe the most significant issue of any given period of time: catastrophe that radically affects our lives and our civilization. It seems that Emil Cioran is right when he says that civilizations begin in myth and end in doubt. A catastrophe brings us to a major dilemma related to the fundamental need of making sense in life and the non-sense and doubt that it implies and generates. The book illustrates powerfully how catastrophes change philosophies and worldviews and how changed philosophies might help deal with these types of extreme situations. This is a work of high relevance to our contemporary troubled world on many fronts as it offers empowering and valuable guidelines that could help in time of need. -- Theodor Damian, Metropolitan College of New York
Table of ContentsIntroductory Essay: Catastrophe and the Limits of Understanding, by David J. Rosner Part I: The Ancient World Catastrophe and Enlightenment: The Genesis of Buddhism's First Noble Truth, by JeiDong Ryu The Missing God: Voices of Despair and Empathy in the Book of Lamentations, by Sarah K. Corrigan Patterns of Post-Catastrophic Thought in Ancient China: The Growth of Philosophy after the Warring States Period, by Kwon Jong Yoo Athens in Ruins: Plato and the Aftermath of the Peloponnesian War, by John Ross Part II: The Middle Ages/Renaissance Augustine’s Anti-Catastrophe, by Steven Cresap Values in the Time of Plague: Civilizational Trauma and Moral Nihilism in Boccaccio's Decameron, by David J. Rosner The Search for Stability in Chaotic Times: Machiavelli, by Diana Prokofyeva Part III: Modernity I: Early Modern Period Three Catastrophes and One Philosopher: Atrocious Wars, and the Political Ideas of Thomas Hobbes, by David Wilkinson “A New Philosophy Calls All into Doubt”: The Epistemological Crises of Early Modernity (and why they matter now), by David J. Rosner & Steven Cresap The Metaphysics of Catastrophe: Voltaire's Candide, by Carsten Meiner Part IV: Modernity II: High Modernity Nietzsche and the Catastrophe of Nineteenth Century Democracy, by Phil Washburn Wittgenstein and Pre-War Hapsburg Vienna, by John Ross Atonality in Music and the Upheavals of High Modernity, by Robert Quist Toynbee: From the Great War Catastrophe through the Philosophy of History to the Theory of Civilizations, by David Wilkinson Catastrophe and Decadence in The Great Gatsby, by Peter Wakefield Deep Silence in the Holocaust Stories of Tadeusz Borowski, by Nancy Reale Part V: Post-Modernity States of Exception and the Problem of Detention in Post 9/11 American Jurisprudence, David Chalfin Swords of Damocles: An Essay on Catastrophe and Globalization, by Pedro Geiger Part VI: Conclusion Concluding Postscript: Coping with Catastrophe: Developing Pathways towards Resilience Primary Life Orientations and Philosophical Response to Catastrophe, by Marek Celinski
