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Books > Philosophy
The Oxford University Studies in the Enlightenment series,
previously known as SVEC (Studies on Voltaire and the Eighteenth
Century), has published over 500 peer-reviewed scholarly volumes
since 1955 as part of the Voltaire Foundation at the University of
Oxford. International in focus, Oxford University Studies in the
Enlightenment volumes cover wide-ranging aspects of the eighteenth
century and the Enlightenment, from gender studies to political
theory, and from economics to visual arts and music, and are
published in English or French.
Thinking About Stories is a fun and thought-provoking introduction
to philosophical questions about narrative fiction in its many
forms, from highbrow literature to pulp fiction to the latest shows
on Netflix. Written by philosophers Samuel Lebens and Tatjana von
Solodkoff, it engages with fundamental questions about fiction,
like: What is it? What does it give us? Does a story need a
narrator? And why do sad stories make us cry if we know they
aren’t real? The format of the book emulates a lively, verbal
exchange: each chapter has only one author while the other appears
spontaneously in dialogues in the text along the way, raising
questions and voicing criticisms, and inviting responses from their
co-author. This unique format allows readers to feel like they are
a part of the conversation about the philosophical foundations of
some of the fictions in their own lives. Key Features Draws on a
wide range of types of narrative fiction, from Harry Potter to
Breakfast of Champions to Parks and Recreation. Explores how
fiction, despite its detachment from truth, is often best able to
teach us important things about the world in which we live.
Concludes by asking in the final chapter whether we all might be
fictions. Includes bibliographies and suggested reading lists in
each chapter
We probably went to school for what felt like a very long time. We
probably took care with our homework. Along the way we surely
learnt intriguing things about equations, the erosion of glaciers,
the history of the Middle Ages, and the tenses of foreign
languages. But why, despite all the lessons we sat through, were we
never taught the really important things that dominate and trouble
our lives: who to start a relationship with, how to trust people,
how to understand one's psyche, how to move on from sorrow or
betrayal, and how to cope with anxiety and shame? The School of
Life is an organisation dedicated to teaching a range of emotional
lessons that we need in order to lead fulfilled and happy lives -
and that schools routinely forget to teach us. This book is a
collection of our most essential lessons, delivered with directness
and humanity, covering topics from love to career, childhood trauma
to loneliness. To read the book is to be invited to lead kinder,
richer and more authentic lives - and to complete an education we
began but still badly need to finish. This is homework to help us
make the most of the rest of our lives.
The Oxford University Studies in the Enlightenment series,
previously known as SVEC (Studies on Voltaire and the Eighteenth
Century), has published over 500 peer-reviewed scholarly volumes
since 1955 as part of the Voltaire Foundation at the University of
Oxford. International in focus, Oxford University Studies in the
Enlightenment volumes cover wide-ranging aspects of the eighteenth
century and the Enlightenment, from gender studies to political
theory, and from economics to visual arts and music, and are
published in English or French.
The evolution of modern capitalist society is increasingly being
marked by an undeniable and consistent tension between pure
economic and ethical ways of valuing and acting. This book is a
collaborative and cross-disciplinary contribution that challenges
the assumptions of capitalist business and society. It ultimately
reflects on how to restore benevolence, collaboration, wisdom and
various forms of virtuous deliberation amongst all those who take
part in the common good, drawing inspiration from European history
and continental philosophical traditions on virtue. Editors Kleio
Akrivou and Alejo Jose G. Sison unite well-known academics who
examine new ways of understanding the relations between social
classes, organizations, groups and the role of actors-persons. They
propose ways to restore virtue in our economy-society-person
relations with the purpose of overcoming the current challenges of
capitalism which more often than not sacrifice happiness and
broader, sustained prosperity for the achievement of short-term
efficiency. This book also explores a moral psychology that
underpins normative virtue ethics theory, and seeks a deeper
understanding on how the concept of prudence and the distinct forms
of rational excellence have evolved since Aristotle and the
co-evolution of Western-Aristotelian and Eastern virtue ethics
traditions. This interdisciplinary book will be of interest to
business ethics scholars, organizational behaviour academics,
organizational sociologists, qualitative research scholars and
economic historians. Policy-makers who are interested in improving
collaborative frameworks and cross-institutional collaboration
policies will also find value in this book. Contributors include:
A. Adewale, K. Akrivou, H. Alford, L. Arch, V. Barnes, R. Beadle,
O. Bolade-Ogunfodun, M. Casson, A. Dobie, A. Gonzalez Enciso, D.
Koehn, M. Hanssen, B.M. McCall, G. Moore, L. Newton, J.V. Oron,
G.R. Scalzo, A.J.G. Sison
In this clear and evocative account, John Gaskin unfolds the
thinking about nature, life, death and other worlds that informed
the culture and society of the Classical world, drawing out its
interest for modern readers. Witty sketches and diagrams enliven
the story, which runs from Homeric Greece to the banning of pagan
religions in ad 391. The book concludes with a gazetteer describing
notable sites and the people and ideas connected with them, making
it an ideal companion for visitors to Classical ruins and for all
armchair travellers curious to explore life's big questions.
We are living through a period of cultural climate change. We have
outsourced morality to the markets on the one hand, and the state
on the other. The markets have brought wealth to many, and the
state has done much to contain the worst excesses of inequality,
but neither is capable of bearing the moral weight of showing us
how to live. This has had a profound impact on society and the way
in which we interact with each other. Traditional values no longer
hold, yet recent political swings show that modern ideals of
tolerance have left many feeling rudderless and adrift. In this
environment we see things fall apart in unexpected ways - toxic
public discourse makes true societal progress almost unattainable,
a more divisive society is fuelled by identity politics and
extremism, and the rise of a victimhood mentality calls for 'safe
spaces' but stifles debate. The influence of social media seems
all-pervading and the breakdown of the family is only one result of
the loss of social capital. Many fear what the future may hold.
Delivering a devastatingly insightful critique of our modern
condition, and assessing its roots and causes from the ancient
Greeks through the Reformation and Enlightenment to the present
day, Sacks argues that there is no liberty without morality, and no
freedom without responsibility. If we care about the future of
western civilisation, all of us must play our part in rebuilding
our common moral foundation. Then we will discover afresh the
life-transforming and counterintuitive truths that a nation is
strong when it cares for the weak, and rich when it cares for the
poor. Here is an inspiring vision of a world in which we can all
find our place, and face the future without fear.
Now widely available in English for the first time, this is Carlo
Rovelli's first book: the thrilling story of a little-known man who
created one of the greatest intellectual revolutions Over two
thousand years ago, one man changed the way we see the world. Since
the dawn of civilization, humans had believed in the heavens above
and the Earth below. Then, on the Ionian coast, a Greek philosopher
named Anaximander set in motion a revolution. He not only conceived
that the Earth floats in space, but also that animals evolve, that
storms and earthquakes are natural, not supernatural, that the
world can be mapped and, above all, that progress is made by the
endless search for knowledge. Carlo Rovelli's first book, now
widely available in English, tells the origin story of scientific
thinking: our rebellious ability to reimagine the world, again and
again.
This progressive volume furthers the interreligious, international
and interdisciplinary understanding of the role of religion in the
area of human rights. Building bridges between the often-separated
spheres of academics, policy makers and practitioners, it draws on
the expertise of its authors alongside historical and contemporary
examples of how religion's role in human rights manifests. At the
core of the book are four case studies, dealing with Hinduism,
Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Authors from each religion show
the positive potential that their faith and its respective
traditions has for the promotion of human rights, whilst also
addressing why and how it stands in the way of fulfilling this
potential. Addressed to policy makers, academics and practitioners
worldwide, this engaging and accessible volume provides pragmatic
studies on how religious and secular actors can cooperate and
contribute to policies that improve global human rights.
An essential companion to help students master one of the most
important areas of their Religious Studies course in Ethics:
knowing the key thinkers. // Provides an overview of each thinker's
life and their ideas, with key dates, social context and why they
are important. // Helps students understand the thinkers' main
arguments and how they justified their approach to ethics, allowing
students to evaluate the theories them for themselves. // Exam
guidance section in each chapter provides a focus for revision and
includes advice on how different types of questions could be
tackled. // Encourages students to explore each area of scholarly
knowledge required by the specification, from grasping key ideas to
knowing how to best criticise a thinker's approach. // Puts ideas
and theories into contemporary contexts to help students build
their evaluation skills. // Timeline displaying an overview of the
key dates for each thinker in relation to world events. // Key
thinkers covered include Thomas Aquinas, John Stuart Mill, Thomas
Hobbes and Jeremy Bentham.
The rapid advancement of technology has led to an explosion of
speculative theories about what the future of humankind may look
like. These "technological futurisms" have arisen from significant
advances in the fields of nanotechnology, biotechnology and
information technology and are drawing growing scrutiny from the
philosophical and theological communities. This text seeks to
contextualize the growing literature on the cultural, philosophical
and religious implications of technological growth by considering
technological futurisms such as transhumanism in the context of the
long historical tradition of technological dreaming. Michael
Burdett traces the latent religious sources of our contemporary
technological imagination by looking at visionary approaches to
technology and the future in seminal technological utopias and
science fiction and draws on past theological responses to the
technological future with Pierre Teilhard de Chardin and Jacques
Ellul. Burdett's argument arrives at a contemporary Christian
response to transhumanism based around the themes of possibility
and promise by turning to the works of Richard Kearney, Eberhard
Jungel and Jurgen Moltmann. Throughout, the author highlights
points of correspondence and divergence between technological
futurisms and the Judeo-Christian understanding of the future.
The Oxford University Studies in the Enlightenment series,
previously known as SVEC (Studies on Voltaire and the Eighteenth
Century), has published over 500 peer-reviewed scholarly volumes
since 1955 as part of the Voltaire Foundation at the University of
Oxford. International in focus, Oxford University Studies in the
Enlightenment volumes cover wide-ranging aspects of the eighteenth
century and the Enlightenment, from gender studies to political
theory, and from economics to visual arts and music, and are
published in English or French.
In the neoliberal world, rising individualism has frequently been
linked to rising inequality. Drawing on social theory, philosophy,
history, institutional research and a wealth of contemporary
empirical data, this innovative book analyzes the tangled
relationship between individualism and inequality and explores the
possibilities of rediscovering individualism's revolutionary
potential. Ralph Fevre demonstrates that a belief in individual
self-determination powered the development of human rights and
inspired social movements from anti-slavery to socialism, feminism
and anti-racism. At the same time, every attempt to embed
individualism in systems of education and employment has eventually
led to increased social inequality. The book discusses influential
thinkers, from Adam Smith to Herbert Spencer and John Dewey, as
well as the persistence of discrimination despite equality laws,
management and the transformation of individualism, individualism
in work and mental illness, work insecurity and intensification.
This multi-disciplinary book will be essential reading for students
and scholars of sociology, economics, philosophy, political
science, management science and public policy studies, among other
subjects. It will also be of use to policymakers and those who want
to know how the culture and politics of the neoliberal world are
unfolding.
The Oxford University Studies in the Enlightenment series,
previously known as SVEC (Studies on Voltaire and the Eighteenth
Century), has published over 500 peer-reviewed scholarly volumes
since 1955 as part of the Voltaire Foundation at the University of
Oxford. International in focus, Oxford University Studies in the
Enlightenment volumes cover wide-ranging aspects of the eighteenth
century and the Enlightenment, from gender studies to political
theory, and from economics to visual arts and music, and are
published in English or French.
The complete surviving works of Epictetus, the most influential
Stoic philosopher from antiquity. "Some things are up to us and
some are not." Epictetus was born into slavery around the year 50
CE, and, upon being granted his freedom, he set himself up as a
philosophy teacher. After being expelled from Rome, he spent the
rest of his life living and teaching in Greece. He is now
considered the most important exponent of Stoicism, and his
surviving work comprises a series of impassioned discourses,
delivered live and recorded by his student Arrian, and the
Handbook, Arrian's own take on the heart of Epictetus's teaching.
In Discourses, Epictetus argues that happiness depends on knowing
what is in our power to affect and what is not. Our internal states
and our responses to events are up to us, but the events themselves
are assigned to us by the benevolent deity, and we should treat
them-along with our bodies, possessions, and families-as matters of
indifference, simply making the best use of them we can. Together,
the Discourses and Handbook constitute a practical guide to moral
self-improvement, as Epictetus explains the work and exercises
aspirants need to do to enrich and deepen their lives. Edited and
translated by renowned scholar Robin Waterfield, this book collects
the complete works of Epictetus, bringing to modern readers his
insights on how to cope with death, exile, the people around us,
the whims of the emperor, fear, illness, and much more. CUSTOMER
NOTE: THE HARDCOVER IS FOR LIBRARIES AND HAS NO JACKET.
Why aren’t ordinary Russians more outraged by Putin’s invasion
of Ukraine? Inside the Kremlin’s own historical propaganda
narratives, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine makes complete sense.
From its World War II cult to anti-Western conspiracy theories, the
Kremlin has long used myth and memory to legitimize repression at
home and imperialism abroad, its patriotic history resonating with
and persuading large swathes of the Russian population. In Memory
Makers, Russia analyst Jade McGlynn takes us into the depths of
Russian historical propaganda, revealing the chilling web of
nationwide narratives and practices perforating everyday life, from
after-school patriotic history clubs to tower block World War II
murals. The use of history to manifest a particular Russian
identity has had grotesque, even gruesome, consequences, but it
belongs to a global political pattern – where one’s view of
history is the ultimate marker of political loyalty, patriotism and
national belonging. Memory Makers demonstrates how the extreme
Russian experience is a stark warning to other nations tempted to
stare too long at the reflection of their own imagined and heroic
past.
Some things are a given. The value of a good education. Time's
progress. Death. Except most of the ideas that form Western
Civilisation are just that - ideas. Taking cues from Greek
philosophy and honed in the Enlightenment, certain notions about
humanity and human society grew into the tenets we live by, and we
haven't questioned them a great deal since. But isn't it time we
asked who really benefits from the values at the core of our
society? How much truth lies in a science that conjured up 'race'?
Who do laws and nations really protect? Why does it feel like time
is money? What even is 'art'? And the real question - is the West
really as 'civilised' as it thinks it is? This book will put
everything back on the table and ask readers to reconsider what
they thought they knew about civilisation. Taking 10 core values of
Western Civilisation in turn, it will examine the root of the idea,
how it developed, and how it's impacted the way we live. Most
importantly it will reveal how each of these ideas was either
created in opposition to another group of people, or based on ideas
they had first (and better). Uncivilised will ask readers to open
their eyes to the why behind how they think the world works.
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