A Defence of Nihilism

A Defence of Nihilism PDF Author: James Tartaglia
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1000297381
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 78

Get Book Here

Book Description
This book offers a philosophical defence of nihilism. The authors argue that the concept of nihilism has been employed pejoratively by almost all philosophers and religious leaders to indicate a widespread cultural crisis of truth, meaning, or morals. Many religious believers think atheism leads to moral chaos (because it leads to nihilism), and atheists typically insist that we can make life meaningful through our own actions (thereby avoiding nihilism). In this way, both sides conflate the cosmic sense of meaning at stake with a social sense of meaning. This book charts a third course between extremist and alarmist views of nihilism. It casts doubt on the assumption that nihilism is something to fear, or a problem which human culture should overcome by way of seeking, discovering, or making meaning. In this way, the authors believe that a revised understanding of nihilism can help remove a significant barrier of misunderstanding between religious believers and atheists. A Defence of Nihilism will be of interest to scholars and students in philosophy, religion, and other disciplines who are interested in questions surrounding the meaning of life.

A Defence of Nihilism

A Defence of Nihilism PDF Author: James Tartaglia
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1000297381
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 78

Get Book Here

Book Description
This book offers a philosophical defence of nihilism. The authors argue that the concept of nihilism has been employed pejoratively by almost all philosophers and religious leaders to indicate a widespread cultural crisis of truth, meaning, or morals. Many religious believers think atheism leads to moral chaos (because it leads to nihilism), and atheists typically insist that we can make life meaningful through our own actions (thereby avoiding nihilism). In this way, both sides conflate the cosmic sense of meaning at stake with a social sense of meaning. This book charts a third course between extremist and alarmist views of nihilism. It casts doubt on the assumption that nihilism is something to fear, or a problem which human culture should overcome by way of seeking, discovering, or making meaning. In this way, the authors believe that a revised understanding of nihilism can help remove a significant barrier of misunderstanding between religious believers and atheists. A Defence of Nihilism will be of interest to scholars and students in philosophy, religion, and other disciplines who are interested in questions surrounding the meaning of life.

The World Philosophy Made

The World Philosophy Made PDF Author: Scott Soames
Publisher: Princeton University Press
ISBN: 069122918X
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 458

Get Book Here

Book Description
How philosophy transformed human knowledge and the world we live in Philosophical investigation is the root of all human knowledge. Developing new concepts, reinterpreting old truths, and reconceptualizing fundamental questions, philosophy has progressed—and driven human progress—for more than two millennia. In short, we live in a world philosophy made. In this concise history of philosophy's world-shaping impact, Scott Soames demonstrates that the modern world—including its science, technology, and politics—simply would not be possible without the accomplishments of philosophy. Firmly rebutting the misconception of philosophy as ivory-tower thinking, Soames traces its essential contributions to fields as diverse as law and logic, psychology and economics, relativity and rational decision theory. Beginning with the giants of ancient Greek philosophy, The World Philosophy Made chronicles the achievements of the great thinkers, from the medieval and early modern eras to the present. It explores how philosophy has shaped our language, science, mathematics, religion, culture, morality, education, and politics, as well as our understanding of ourselves. Philosophy's idea of rational inquiry as the key to theoretical knowledge and practical wisdom has transformed the world in which we live. From the laws that govern society to the digital technology that permeates modern life, philosophy has opened up new possibilities and set us on more productive paths. The World Philosophy Made explains and illuminates as never before the inexhaustible richness of philosophy and its influence on our individual and collective lives.

Beyond Words

Beyond Words PDF Author: Russell Richard
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780578874531
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

Get Book Here

Book Description
Inspired by the unprecedented events of 2020, Beyond Words, An Intersection of Philosophy, Inspiration and Poetry brings to life a mosaic of thoughts and perspectives about subjects and emotions born of human experience and illuminated by a year gripped by wonderment and uncertainty. The year was possibly the most tumultuous year in modern history. It challenged the fortitude of humanity; stretched the fabric of society; and stress-tested governments and institutions worldwide. Through seemingly endless, exhausting news cycles, the world was force-fed a daily diet of crises: a global pandemic, world economic stress, political upheaval across the globe, racial injustice and inequality, public health disparities, wildfires and other global disasters, unemployment, homelessness, food insecurity, devastating hurricanes and flooding, United States Presidential Election and the discovery of a COVID-19 vaccine.This book's perspective about subjects predisposed by the events of 2020 showcase myriad of suggestions relating to life, hope, the future and other subjects. Although these subjects have been contemplated by cultures throughout history, the events of 2020 magnified them through pervasive technology and greater awareness about the subjects and their influence on how humanity thinks and lives. The book uses philosophy, inspiration and poetry to narrate nonfictional themes that inspire thought about personal beliefs and create the opportunity to consider ideas that go beyond conventional and superficial points of view. As you gaze into the window of emotions surrounding these thoughts, you may see reflections of your own emotions. It may prompt an examination of your own beliefs and inspire how you can best navigate an uncertain future.

One Hundred Days of Solitude

One Hundred Days of Solitude PDF Author: Jane Dobisz
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 0861717376
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 162

Get Book Here

Book Description
In One Hundred Days of Solitude: Losing My Self and Finding Grace on a Zen Retreat, American teacher of Korean Zen Jane Dobisz (Zen Master Bon Yeon), recalls her first solitary meditation stint in the woods. Luckily, this is not just a recounting of a winter's worth of cabin fever. Instead, Dobisz takes us into her cabin, and into her mind, as she tries--at least temporarily--to live a Walden-like existence. All the bowing and meditating and wood-chopping that is part and parcel of her retreat is hardly first nature, but the good-humored and tenacious Dobisz is able to adapt, and to relate her hundred days with moving insight and humanity. Her Solitude in fact offers us all a chance to commune with her and to look inside and rediscover our own grace.

The Perennial Philosophy

The Perennial Philosophy PDF Author: Aldous Huxley
Publisher: Harper Collins
ISBN: 0061893315
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 356

Get Book Here

Book Description
An inspired gathering of religious writings that reveals the "divine reality" common to all faiths, collected by Aldous Huxley "The Perennial Philosophy," Aldous Huxley writes, "may be found among the traditional lore of peoples in every region of the world, and in its fully developed forms it has a place in every one of the higher religions." With great wit and stunning intellect—drawing on a diverse array of faiths, including Zen Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Christian mysticism, and Islam—Huxley examines the spiritual beliefs of various religious traditions and explains how they are united by a common human yearning to experience the divine. The Perennial Philosophy includes selections from Meister Eckhart, Rumi, and Lao Tzu, as well as the Bhagavad Gita, Tibetan Book of the Dead, Diamond Sutra, and Upanishads, among many others.

Philosophies of Art & Beauty

Philosophies of Art & Beauty PDF Author: Albert Hofstadter
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
ISBN: 0226348113
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 730

Get Book Here

Book Description
This anthology is remarkable not only for the selections themselves, among which the Schelling and the Heidegger essays were translated especially for this volume, but also for the editors' general introduction and the introductory essays for each selection, which make this volume an invaluable aid to the study of the powerful, recurrent ideas concerning art, beauty, critical method, and the nature of representation. Because this collection makes clear the ways in which the philosophy of art relates to and is part of general philosophical positions, it will be an essential sourcebook to students of philosophy, art history, and literary criticism.

The Book of Hermits

The Book of Hermits PDF Author: Robert Rodriguez
Publisher: Hermitary Press
ISBN: 9781736866504
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 374

Get Book Here

Book Description
A history of hermits and eremitism from antiquity to the present: Greco-Roman influences, early Christianity, hermits in medieval Europe and East Asia, decline in Western modernity, the rise of solitude, and rehabilitation of hermits.

The Gospel in Brief

The Gospel in Brief PDF Author: Leo Tolstoy
Publisher: Harper Collins
ISBN: 0062064169
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 226

Get Book Here

Book Description
The greatest novelist of all time retells the greatest story ever told, the life of Jesus Christ, in The Gospel in Brief—Leo Tolstoy’s riveting, novelistic integration of the four Gospels into a single, twelve-chapter narrative. Virtually unknown to English readers until now, Dustin Condren’s groundbreaking translation from the Russian opens a precious new world of Tolstoy’s masterful literary talent to fans of War and Peace and Anna Karenina.

True Detective and Philosophy

True Detective and Philosophy PDF Author: Jacob Graham
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1119280788
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 231

Get Book Here

Book Description
Investigating the trail of philosophical leads in HBO’s chilling True Detective series, an elite team of philosophers examine far-reaching riddles including human pessimism, Rust’s anti-natalism, the problem of evil, and the ‘flat circle’. The first book dedicated to exploring the far-reaching philosophical questions behind the darkly complex and Emmy-nominated HBO True Detective series Explores in a fun but insightful way the rich philosophical and existential experiences that arise from this gripping show Gives new perspectives on the characters in the series, its storylines, and its themes by investigating core questions such as: Why Life Rather Than Death? Cosmic Horror and Hopeful Pessimism, the Illusion of Self, Noir, Tragedy, Philosopher-Detectives, and much, much more Draws together an elite team of philosophers to shine new light on why this genre-expanding show has inspired such a fervently questioning fan-base

The Ground Between

The Ground Between PDF Author: Veena Das
Publisher: Duke University Press
ISBN: 0822376431
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 362

Get Book Here

Book Description
The guiding inspiration of this book is the attraction and distance that mark the relation between anthropology and philosophy. This theme is explored through encounters between individual anthropologists and particular regions of philosophy. Several of the most basic concepts of the discipline—including notions of ethics, politics, temporality, self and other, and the nature of human life—are products of a dialogue, both implicit and explicit, between anthropology and philosophy. These philosophical undercurrents in anthropology also speak to the question of what it is to experience our being in a world marked by radical difference and otherness. In The Ground Between, twelve leading anthropologists offer intimate reflections on the influence of particular philosophers on their way of seeing the world, and on what ethnography has taught them about philosophy. Ethnographies of the mundane and the everyday raise fundamental issues that the contributors grapple with in both their lives and their thinking. With directness and honesty, they relate particular philosophers to matters such as how to respond to the suffering of the other, how concepts arise in the give and take of everyday life, and how to be attuned to the world through the senses. Their essays challenge the idea that philosophy is solely the province of professional philosophers, and suggest that certain modalities of being in the world might be construed as ways of doing philosophy. Contributors. João Biehl, Steven C. Caton, Vincent Crapanzano, Veena Das, Didier Fassin, Michael M. J. Fischer, Ghassan Hage, Clara Han, Michael Jackson, Arthur Kleinman, Michael Puett, Bhrigupati Singh