Margaret Fuller does not get the attention she deserves. She's one America's early feminists and philosophers. This book is beautifully written gives Margaret Fuller does not get the attention she deserves. She's one America's early feminists and philosophers. This book is beautifully written gives the reader insights as to her thoughts and beliefs about life as it ought to be....more
The things which I like about this book include its well organized format and the author's arguments as to each of the "great ideas" to be discussed. The things which I like about this book include its well organized format and the author's arguments as to each of the "great ideas" to be discussed. (truth, goodness, beauty, liberty, equality, and justice) Also, it is clear and thought provoking. I had to reread several sections, and that is a compliment as to the profundity of his thinking....more
Existentialism has always been difficult to define, and this book makes a good effort. The author uses passages from some of the most famous existentiExistentialism has always been difficult to define, and this book makes a good effort. The author uses passages from some of the most famous existentialists to explain what it is. It's pretty well done....more
Does Sherlock Holmes use deduction to solve crimes as is claimed in the stories, or induction which more accurately involves thinking processes to detDoes Sherlock Holmes use deduction to solve crimes as is claimed in the stories, or induction which more accurately involves thinking processes to determine a possible solution? Several philosophers say it's the latter, claiming A.C. Doyles' possible misuse of the wording. Then there is abduction, a third thinking method, which could be used to create new ideas from available clues, a way to think "outside the box" so to speak. I learned this much and more from this book about a literary character I have enjoyed reading about many times over. ...more
All of us think. Rather we think that we think. We think we are doing it well. But maybe we aren't. This book helps us to organize our thought life foAll of us think. Rather we think that we think. We think we are doing it well. But maybe we aren't. This book helps us to organize our thought life for clarity and rationality. And we learn how to express our thoughts in writing and/or speaking. It' a useful book....more
From where can we understand the source(s) of identity? Is identity natural? Is it conceived? Is it imposed? Is it chosen? Is it the profound understaFrom where can we understand the source(s) of identity? Is identity natural? Is it conceived? Is it imposed? Is it chosen? Is it the profound understanding of the self in isolation, or the self in the polity? Is it none of these? Is it all of these? This book deals with all of this and more, and it does it very well....more
Can the individual challenge the superficial way of life, the demands for conformity, the blandness of a conventional lifestyle in order to create an Can the individual challenge the superficial way of life, the demands for conformity, the blandness of a conventional lifestyle in order to create an individual soul? The discussions in this book may act as a guide to do so. The best chapter is one called "Bohemia". It's about how some have made alternate life choices in order to find authenticity. ...more
Behind all the science, behind all the metaphors, behind all the "sorta" explanations there are intelligent intuitions which may teach us how we thinkBehind all the science, behind all the metaphors, behind all the "sorta" explanations there are intelligent intuitions which may teach us how we think, even how we ought to think....more
Must transcendence be unbounded by experience, or situated within experience? Phenomenologists propose the latter. But I think there is room for discuMust transcendence be unbounded by experience, or situated within experience? Phenomenologists propose the latter. But I think there is room for discussion on this. For example, can transcendence be considered to be immanent while in the confines of experience? There were interesting points of view in this book, however it opened more questions than answers in my mind....more
What is nature? What is the "nature of man?" These are not the same question. Nature may be the world of growth guided by an unseen intelligence or foWhat is nature? What is the "nature of man?" These are not the same question. Nature may be the world of growth guided by an unseen intelligence or force, the trees, the bugs, the weather systems. But nature can also be the mentality or disposition of mankind, and this can be complex and intricate. Is the nature of man the will to survive and/or conquer, or to be subjected to the acceptance of deterministic forces of history. The 18th century philosophers wrestled with all of these ideas and more. ...more
Even though I have never seen this TV series, I was able to appreciate these philosophical "takes" on various aspects of it. My favorite sections dealEven though I have never seen this TV series, I was able to appreciate these philosophical "takes" on various aspects of it. My favorite sections dealt with existentialism, ethics, and morality. Maybe I will get to watch it some day, and make applications to the stories and the characters....more
When I see people so involved with their smartphones I don't know whether to laugh or to cry. There they are, walking along the sidewalk, or standing When I see people so involved with their smartphones I don't know whether to laugh or to cry. There they are, walking along the sidewalk, or standing in line, or (heaven forbid) driving their car, staring down at the little handheld screen reading texts, sending texts, reading promotions, whatever. They willingly allow precious moments of their lives to be sucked away forever. But as the author says, it's not about the technology; it's about the quality of life (p. 253). The book is about "digital minimalism". What a great response to the madness! Where do I sign up?...more
How is you work life related to the rest of your life? Does it mesh with your values and/or your sense of meaning? This book is an excellent discussioHow is you work life related to the rest of your life? Does it mesh with your values and/or your sense of meaning? This book is an excellent discussion of how to keep these things in perspective. The authors use the life and writings of Henry David Thoreau as a kind of inspiration and guide to answer the questions most of us have on this topic....more
Take a number of controversial issues and/or current events, write about them, and then include philosophical commentary, and you have an intriguing bTake a number of controversial issues and/or current events, write about them, and then include philosophical commentary, and you have an intriguing book. Here is Peter Singer's take on everything from abortion to artificial intelligence, and lots in between....more
Sometimes I think stoicism is more an attitude toward life than it is a philosophy. Be that as it may this book is mostly good at dealing with variousSometimes I think stoicism is more an attitude toward life than it is a philosophy. Be that as it may this book is mostly good at dealing with various aspects of this "attitude" and then having the reader make personal applications. We learn the wisdom of what is in our control and what is not, and also how to find a kind of detachment that would help to keep our feelings from becoming extreme. One downside of this book is that it is quite repetitive....more
This is a nifty collection of short essays by people - some of whom I know personally - who speculate about how Henry David Thoreau would respond to mThis is a nifty collection of short essays by people - some of whom I know personally - who speculate about how Henry David Thoreau would respond to modern times' crises. It's cleverly conceived and worth reading....more
While everyone seems to have an opinion about who Henry David Thoreau was, Lawrence Buell makes sure that we can understand that he may have been "allWhile everyone seems to have an opinion about who Henry David Thoreau was, Lawrence Buell makes sure that we can understand that he may have been "all of the above" so to speak. He was a political activist, a natural scientist, a writer, a philosopher, a lecturer, a pencil maker, a tiny house builder, and many more. The big issue seems to be whether Thoreau at some point gave up the life of a transcendentalist seeker and resolved to be student of nature in his later days. Perhaps that wasn't the case. He maintained his search for higher truths throughout his life, no matter what project he had going at any particular time....more
Is this a book about the history of philosophy? Or is it a novel? Or is it a novel within a novel? Or is it two novels in one, two novels which discusIs this a book about the history of philosophy? Or is it a novel? Or is it a novel within a novel? Or is it two novels in one, two novels which discuss philosophy while also telling a story about people who are curious enough to accept the challenges philosophy promotes? The answer is yes, yes to all of these questions. This book is quite an enjoyable journey, made more so for me because of my love of philosophy itself, but also because I love a good story....more
This collection is excellent. I was quite fond of the chapter on "Fate". Emerson's wisdom is timeless.This collection is excellent. I was quite fond of the chapter on "Fate". Emerson's wisdom is timeless....more
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