|
Showing 1 - 13 of
13 matches in All Departments
Originally published in 1968. Scepticism is generally regarded as a
position which, if correct, would be disastrous for our everyday
and scientific beliefs. According to this view, a sceptical
argument is one that leads to the intuitively false conclusion that
we cannot know anything. But there is another, much neglected and
more radical form of scepticism, Pyrrhonism, which neither denies
nor accepts the possibility of knowledge and is to be regarded not
as a philosophical position so much as the expression of a
philosophical way of life. Professor Naess argues that, given a
sympathetic interpretation, Sextus Empiricus's outline of
Pyrrhonian scepticism provides the essentials of a genuine and
rational sceptical point of view. He begins with a brief account of
Pyrrhonism, then goes on to argue for the psychological possibility
of this kind of scepticism, defending it against common objections,
and examining some of its implications. The last two chapters
provide detailed support for the rationality of Pyrrhonism, drawing
mainly on certain methodological distinctions in semantics which
both justify the Pyrrhonist's failure to make assertions and
restrict the scope of recent epistemological arguments against
scepticism in such a way as to modify severely the conclusions
based on them.
Originally published in 1968. Scepticism is generally regarded as a
position which, if correct, would be disastrous for our everyday
and scientific beliefs. According to this view, a sceptical
argument is one that leads to the intuitively false conclusion that
we cannot know anything. But there is another, much neglected and
more radical form of scepticism, Pyrrhonism, which neither denies
nor accepts the possibility of knowledge and is to be regarded not
as a philosophical position so much as the expression of a
philosophical way of life. Professor Naess argues that, given a
sympathetic interpretation, Sextus Empiricus's outline of
Pyrrhonian scepticism provides the essentials of a genuine and
rational sceptical point of view. He begins with a brief account of
Pyrrhonism, then goes on to argue for the psychological possibility
of this kind of scepticism, defending it against common objections,
and examining some of its implications. The last two chapters
provide detailed support for the rationality of Pyrrhonism, drawing
mainly on certain methodological distinctions in semantics which
both justify the Pyrrhonist's failure to make assertions and
restrict the scope of recent epistemological arguments against
scepticism in such a way as to modify severely the conclusions
based on them.
This book provides an introduction to the theory of relativity and
the mathematics used in its processes. Three elements of the book
make it stand apart from previously published books on the theory
of relativity. First, the book starts at a lower mathematical level
than standard books with tensor calculus of sufficient maturity to
make it possible to give detailed calculations of relativistic
predictions of practical experiments. Self-contained introductions
are given, for example vector calculus, differential calculus and
integrations. Second, in-between calculations have been included,
making it possible for the non-technical reader to follow
step-by-step calculations. Thirdly, the conceptual development is
gradual and rigorous in order to provide the inexperienced reader
with a philosophically satisfying understanding of the theory. The
goal of this book is to provide the reader with a sound conceptual
understanding of both the special and general theories of
relativity, and gain an insight into how the mathematics of the
theory can be utilized to calculate relativistic effects.
In twenty short books, Penguin brings you the classics of the
environmental movement. Emphasizing joy in the world, human
cooperation and the value of all living things, this selection of
Arne Naess' philosophical writings is filled with wit, learning and
an intense connection with nature. Over the past 75 years, a new
canon has emerged. As life on Earth has become irrevocably altered
by humans, visionary thinkers around the world have raised their
voices to defend the planet, and affirm our place at the heart of
its restoration. Their words have endured through the decades,
becoming the classics of a movement. Together, these books show the
richness of environmental thought, and point the way to a fairer,
saner, greener world.
This book provides an introduction to the theory of relativity and
the mathematics used in its processes. Three elements of the book
make it stand apart from previously published books on the theory
of relativity.
First, the book starts at a lower mathematical level than standard
books with tensor calculus of sufficient maturity to make it
possible to give detailed calculations of relativistic predictions
of practical experiments. Self-contained introductions are given,
for example vector calculus, differential calculus and
integrations. Second, in-between calculations have been included,
making it possible for the non-technical reader to follow
step-by-step calculations. Thirdly, the conceptual development is
gradual and rigorous in order to provide the inexperienced reader
with a philosophically satisfying understanding of the theory.
The goal of this book is to provide the reader with a sound
conceptual understanding of both the special and general theories
of relativity, and gain an insight into how the mathematics of the
theory can be utilized to calculate relativistic effects.
This book of readings, meditations, rituals and workshop notes
prepared on three continents helps us remember that environmental
defense is nothing less than "Self" defense. Including magnificent
illustrations of Australia's rainforests, Thinking Like a Mountain
provides a context for ritual identification with the natural
environment, inviting us to begin a process of "community therapy"
in defense of Mother Earth. It helps us experience our place in the
web of life, rather than on the apex of some human-centred pyramid.
An important deep ecology educational tool for activist, school and
religious groups, Thinking Like a Mountain can also be used for
personal reflection. Thinking Like a Mountain has been made
available through New Catalyst Books. New Catalyst Books is an
imprint of New Society Publishers, aimed at providing readers with
access to a wider range of books dealing with sustainability issues
by bringing books back into print that have enduring value in the
field. For more information on New Catalyst Books click here .
'The smaller we come to feel ourselves compared with the mountain,
the nearer we come to participating in its greatness.' Philosopher,
mountaineer, activist and visionary, Arne Naess's belief that all
living things have value made him one of the most inspirational
figures in the environmental movement. Drawing on his years spent
in an isolated hut high in the Norwegian mountains, and on
influences as diverse as Gandhi's nonviolent action and Spinoza's
all-encompassing worldview, this selection of the best of his
writings is filled with wit, charisma and intense connection with
nature. Emphasizing joy, cooperation and 'beautiful actions', they
create a philosophy of life from a man who never lost his sense of
wonder at the world. 'Arne Naess's ideas ... inspired
environmentalists and Green political activists around the world'
The New York Times
This work is about physical, ecological and political designs for
sharing the global resources and services of the planet to meet the
needs of all living beings and their community patterns. It uses
ecological design to create a simple method to implement and manage
the sharing. First, we assess what the planet needs to develop in a
stable flow, then we set aside a satisfactory area of the planet to
ensure the continuing operation of evolution in wild systems. Next,
we measure the ranges of productivities of wild ecosystems as well
as agricultural and urban systems, and use those results to
determine optimum human populations for local places, regions and
the planet. Finally, within human systems, every culture would
claim a share of local resources and global services not set aside
for wild regeneration. The equal apportionment of resources to all
cooperating participants in the global commons is supported by the
practice of recognizing and honoring the 'legacy' of the entire
planet that hosts its legatees as tenants, and is supported by the
'rule' of all beings, although in the human legal system, humans
represent the interests of all other beings, much as we are
starting to do now. This reapportionment is enhanced by the wisdom
of harmony and by the drawing and making of ecological zones, which
emphasize ranges of separation of wild and artificial areas. This
reapportionment of 'resources' that human communities have already
claimed, as well as of resources that have been badly distributed
as a result of theft or violence, may cause some degree of
discomfort or suffering for wealthier people, but that is minimal
compared to the suffering and death under the current industrial
system, which encourages overconsumption and large, immoral
differences in the distribution of wealth. Ecological design would
work on local and regional scales, as well as on the global scale.
Like metaphysics, ecological design has a vision that exceeds its
bounds and a reach that exceeds its grasp. And, we have to use it
to explore possibilities of local and global harmony, without
having complete knowledge or experience. Ecological design requires
participation and cooperation to accomplish its ambitious goals. It
has to be flexible and adapt to changing environments. This means
understanding challenges and problems, as well as natural and
artificial ecosystems, histories and cycles, before using a variety
of physical and conceptual tools to create ecological designs on
local scales, but considering the regional and global implications.
This means trying to design places, ecosystems and landscapes, as
well as cycles and processes. It means redesigning flows of
minerals and gases, wetlands and streams, domestic and wild
forests, and animal paths and reserves. It means redesigning human
patterns, from transportation corridors to traditional and modern
cultures. It means redesigning agriculture, cities-traditional
cities and proposed arcologies-buildings, neighborhoods, vehicles,
industries, and medicine. It means trying to redesign social traps,
cultural adaptations, corporate goals and responsibilities, formal
commons, styles of conflict, economic frameworks, political forms
and sizes, religious applications, and even advertising. And, the
purpose of all this is to restore harmony to systems that support
and encourage health and development, under emergency conditions.
Arne Ness (Naess) (1912-2009) shows with careful questioning of
people who are not professional philosophers that there is no
single common notion of truth, and indeed the variety of views that
philosophers hold on truth are held by more or less equal
proportions of those he interviews. "Non-philosophers have no
theory of truth, no general opinion on the notion of truth, neither
explicit nor implicit, which distinguishes them-as a group-from
philosophers." p. 159 "The misconception that non-philosophers
adhere-explicitly or implicitly-to a definite type of opinion on
the notion of truth is primarily due to an ignorance of the extreme
diversity of opinion found among non-philosophers as soon as they
are invited to speak about the notion of truth. Secondarily, the
misconception is due to belief in intuitively obtained information
as to the "essence" of the philosophic attitude towards things in
general. The attitude of non-philosophers towards the notion of
truth has been deduced from alleged knowledge of their character
and ideology. A deduction of this kind is meaningless and
impossible, even if such knowledge should be available." p. 160 The
Advanced Reasoning Forum is pleased to make available in its
Classic Reprints series this exact reproduction of the 1938 text.
Cricket diplomacy, playing an important part in the
Pakistani-Indian peace process, is more relevant than ever twenty
years after Pakistani president Zia went cricket-watching to India
in 1987. Sport has been widely recognized in recent years for its
potential for peace in capacity of bringing people together,
bridging differences and promoting communication and understanding.
Still, very little academic literature exists on the relationship
between sport on the hand and the realm of politics and diplomacy
on the other. Traditional diplomatic approaches are no longer
sufficient as the use of sport clashes with what is considered the
normal diplomatic landscape. This book, therefore, attempts first
to bridge the gap between sport and politics and establish use of
sport in diplomacy. Second, it situates cricket diplomacy in the
sport diplomacy universe, and finally, it discusses whether and how
cricket diplomacy between India and Pakistan has been successful.
The analysis should help shed some light on this under-researched
field, and should be equally useful to professionals in politics
and diplomacy as anyone else interested in the fascinating
intertwining of sport and politics.
Ecology, Community and Lifestyle is a revised and expanded translation of Naess' book Okologi, Samfunn og Livsstil, which sets out the author's thinking on the relevance of philosophy to the problems of environmental degradation and the rethinking of the relationship between mankind and nature. The text has been thoroughly updated by Naess and revised and translated by David Rothenberg.
Norwegian philosopher Arne Naess' meditation on the art of living
is an exhortation to preserve the environment and biodiversity. Now
in his nineties, Naess offers a bright and bold perspective on the
power of feelings to move us away from ecological and cultural
degradation toward sound, future-focused policy and action.Naess
acknowledges the powerlessness of the intellect without the heart,
and, like Thoreau before him, he rejects the Cartesian notion of
mind-body separation. He advocates instead for the integration of
reason and emotion - a combination Naess believes will inspire us
to make changes for the better. Playful and serious, this is a
guidebook for finding our way on a planet wrecked by the harmful
effects of consumption, population growth, commodification,
technology, and globalization.
Now available in English for the first time, Norwegian philosopher
Arne Naess's meditation on the art of living is an exhortation to
preserve the environment and biodiversity. As Naess approaches his
ninetieth year, he offers a bright and bold perspective on the
power of feelings to move us away from ecological and cultural
degradation toward sound, future-focused policy and action. Naess
acknowledges the powerlessness of the intellect without the heart,
and, like Thoreau before him, he rejects the Cartesian notion of
mind-body separation. He advocates instead for the integration of
reason and emotion-a combination Naess believes will inspire us to
make changes for the better. Playful and serious, this is a
guidebook for finding our way on a planet wrecked by the harmful
effects of consumption, population growth, commodification,
technology, and globalization. It is sure to mobilize today's
philosophers, environmentalists, policy makers, and the general
public into seeking-with whole hearts rather than with superficial
motives-more effective and timelier solutions. Naess's style is
reflective and anecdotal as he shares stories and details from his
rich and long life. With characteristic goodwill, wit, and wisdom,
he denounces our unsustainable actions while simultaneously
demonstrating the unsurpassed wonder, beauty, and possibility our
world offers, and ultimately shows us that there is always reason
for hope, that everyone is a potential ally in our fight for the
future.
|
You may like...
Loot
Nadine Gordimer
Paperback
(2)
R398
R330
Discovery Miles 3 300
|