Search results for ""author brian o'connor""

The first book to challenge modern philosophy’s case against idleness, revealing why the idle state is one of true freedomFor millennia, idleness and laziness have been regarded as vices. We're all expected to work to survive and get ahead, and devoting energy to anything but labor and self-improvement can seem like a luxury or a moral failure. Far from questioning this conventional wisdom, modern philosophers have worked hard to develop new reasons to denigrate idleness. In Idleness, the first book to challenge modern philosophy's portrayal of inactivity, Brian O'Connor argues that the case against an indifference to work and effort is flawed--and that idle aimlessness may instead allow for the highest form of freedom.Idleness explores how some of the most influential modern philosophers drew a direct connection between making the most of our humanity and avoiding laziness. Idleness was dismissed as contrary to the need people have to become autonomous and make whole, integrated beings of themselves (Kant); to be useful (Kant and Hegel); to accept communal norms (Hegel); to contribute to the social good by working (Marx); and to avoid boredom (Schopenhauer and de Beauvoir).O'Connor throws doubt on all these arguments, presenting a sympathetic vision of the inactive and unserious that draws on more productive ideas about idleness, from ancient Greece through Robert Burton's Anatomy of Melancholy, Schiller and Marcuse's thoughts about the importance of play, and recent critiques of the cult of work. A thought-provoking reconsideration of productivity for the twenty-first century, Idleness shows that, from now on, no theory of what it means to have a free mind can exclude idleness from the conversation.

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This book brings together and introduces selections from the main philosophical writings of the German Idealists: Kant, Fichte, Schelling, and Hegel. As well as being the most comprehensive anthology of this period of the history of philosophy it also provides scholarly guides to all of the selected material. Each of the selected texts comes with an editorial introduction to help the reader through the specific problems dealt with in the text as well as explaining its historical context. In addition there is an introductory essay which sets out the many challenges faced in any interpretation of the German Idealist period of philosophy. The material is arranged thematically into the following sections, Self and Knowledge, Freedom and Morality, Law and State, Art and Beauty, History and Reason, Nature and Science, God and Religion. This arrangement enables the reader to appreciate the differing positions of Kant, Fichte, Schelling, and Hegel on the central questions of philosophy. This book is indispensable for those who want to understand the unique character, problems, and questions of German Idealism, and will also be useful to those who want to explore new areas of this influential and original epoch of philosophy. Features *Essential texts combined with a thorough guide to German Idealism *Concentrates on the four major figures of German Idealism - Kant, Fichte, Schelling and Hegel *Thematic sections maximise the book's use for teaching purposes *Makes available material which is difficult to find

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The case for idleness as freedom from usefulness, performance, and the opinion of othersFor millennia, idleness and laziness have been seen as vices. We're all expected to work to survive and get ahead, and devoting energy to anything but labor and self-improvement can seem like a luxury or a moral failure. Far from questioning this conventional wisdom, modern philosophers have entrenched it, viewing idleness as an obstacle to the ethical need people have to be autonomous, to be useful, to contribute to the social good, or simply to avoid boredom. In Idleness, the first book to challenge modern philosophy's portrayal of inactivity, Brian O'Connor argues that the case against an indifference to work and effort is flawed—and that idle aimlessness may instead allow for the highest form of freedom.

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This superb volume brings together for the first time the essential readings selections from Adorno's multidisciplinary work. It will be valuable to readers at various levels as it makes available Adorno material which previously was either difficult to access or was presented in a form which was intimidating.

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In the workplace, dyslexia can be the root cause of under-performance that manifests itself in ways other than those typically associated with child dyslexics. Adult Dyslexia gives practical advice about identifying and helping adult dyslexics in ways that are relevant to the workplace and suitable for adults, rather than being adaptations of methods used with children. * Written by an experienced occupational psychologist * Includes a practical question/answer section and screening tools * Emphasises that dyslexics have strengths as well as weaknesses * An invaluable tool for managers to help develop dyslexic employees

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