The End of Enlightenment
A landmark study of of one of the most controversial periods in history, from an eminent historian The Enlightenment is popularly seen as the Age of Reason, a key moment in human history when ideals such as freedom, progress, natural rights and constitutional government prevailed. In this radical re-evaluation, historian Richard Whatmore shows why, for many at its center, the Enlightenment was a profound failure. By the early eighteenth century, hope was widespread that Enlightenment could be coupled with toleration, the progress of commerce and the end of the fanatic wars of religion that were destroying Europe. At its heart was the battle to establish and maintain liberty in free states - and the hope that absolute monarchies such as France and free states like Britain might even subsist together, equally respectful of civil liberties. Yet all of this collapsed when states pursued wealth and empire by means of war. Xenophobia was rife and liberty itself turned fanatic. The End of Enlightenment traces the changing perspectives of economists, philosophers, politicians and polemicists around the world, including figures as diverse as David Hume, Adam Smith, Edmund Burke and Mary Wollstonecraft. They had strived to replace superstition with reason, but witnessed instead terror and revolution, corruption, gross commercial excess and the continued growth of violent colonialism. Returning us to these tumultuous events and ideas, and digging deep into the thought of the men and women who defined their age, Whatmore offers a lucid exploration of disillusion and intellectual transformation, a brilliant meditation on our continued assumptions about the past, and a glimpse of the different ways our world might be structured - especially as the problems addressed at the end of Enlightenment are still with us today.
Useful Not True
Personal effectiveness: "Useful Not True" is about reframing.Success in anything starts with your perspective which affects your strategy - your actions.Your first thought ("this is a disaster") feels true, but it's not the only perspective.Your first thought is an obstacle you need to get past by realizing no thoughts are necessarily true.After your initial impulse, consider other perspectives, then choose the thought that's more useful to you - the one that makes you take effective actions.Understanding others: People share perspectives, not facts. They tell you how they see things.Like someone across the world telling you the time. Maybe it's true for them, but not for you, and not for most other people.Brains lie to their owners. Nobody knows the real reasons why they do anything.When someone says, "I believe...", then whatever they say next is not a fact. No beliefs are necessarily true.Beliefs are perspectives. Explanations are confabulated. Obligations are wishes. Rules are arbitrary. They're useful, but not necessarily true.Knowing this gives you empathy, as you understand people's incentives behind their beliefs.
The breath of the machine
Artificial intelligence can teach you, write your songs, shape your desires. It can talk to you like a friend or guide you like a coach. It's brilliant. It's useful. It can "do" anything... Except breathe. Except love. Except be.'The Breath of the Machine' is not a book about technology. It's a book about us.Tomorrow, artificial intelligence will allow an employee to do 40 hours of work in 10.The real question isn't technological, it's human: what will we do with these 30 freed-up hours?Will we demand that this employee produce four times as much? Or will we offer them the time to do something else? The time to breathe with their loved ones, to love, to create useless things, to finally live.In this philosophical narrative, as lucid as it is touching, Martin Blais doesn't speak of the future of work, but of the future of our humanity. He explores a powerful idea: what if the greatest wealth AI could offer us wasn't a gain in productivity, but a gain in humanity?Drawing on the powerful distinction between "doing" (the performance of the machine) and "being" (the richness of human consciousness), this narrative guides us through the great challenges that AI poses to us: Words without an author: What is the worth of moving verses when no soul has birthed them?Ideas without thought: How can we distinguish an authentic discovery from a mere statistical recombination?Emotions without a heart: Can we trust an empathy simulated by a cold mirror?Decisions without a conscience: Can we delegate the weight of a life to a calculation that feels nothing?By revealing how AI, used wisely, can free us from a portion of "doing," this book offers us a historic opportunity to dedicate ourselves to deepening our being.More than an essay on technology, The Breath of the Machine is a guide for the soul-a manifesto for choosing not to fear the future, but to infuse it with our own humanity.
Toward an Ontology of Social Communities
This is the first full-text English translation of a seminal book within the phenomenological movement. The work was orginally published in 1922 in Edmund Husserl's yearbook Jahrbuch f羹r Philosophie und ph瓣nomenologische Forschung, and has had a wide impact on work in phenomenology (Husserl, Heideger, Stein) and social ontology. Gerda Walther broaches the topic of social ontology, i.e., a study of social communities. She carries out this task by using the phenomenological method, that is, a study of the first-person (both singular and plural) experience of being a part of a community, what it feels like internally (and its constitutive elements), how it relates to other individuals or other communities, and how unifications between individiuals and communities or between communities take place. The book is an important contribution to the phenomenology of intersubjectivity or the study of social ontology. Social ontology has been an important and fruitful field of research in contemporary social theory, cognitive science, and other disciplines. It will be a crucial contribution to current research.
Sex Beyond Yes
Every discussion of sexual ethics revolves around consent, but is this notion enough to help us understand good sex? How does the dominance of consent help or prevent us from negotiating the complexities of intimacy and pleasure?Georgetown professor Quill R Kukla argues that the idea that consent is the gatekeeper between the realms of good and bad sex does not give us the tools we need to navigate pleasure and intimacy. They claim that traditional discussions of consent make no room for the reality that we can have good sex even though we may get drunk or high, or become forgetful with age, or be limited by social pressures and power relationshipsKukla explores the ambiguous realms in which sexual agency requires much more than the ability to just say "yes" or "no" to sex. They confront moments of discomfort: How does consent work for people with dementia, a condition that is also associated with increased libido? Or in sex work, where sexual contracts challenge our traditional conceptions of ethical sex? How can we express our agency when exploring new kinks, where our hesitations and ambivalence are part of the thrill? Or even in everyday sex--where partners inevitably differ in enthusiasm, power dynamics, and experience?Combining rigorous research and universal lessons that apply both in and out of the bedroom, Kukla approaches the concepts of sexual agency, sexual pleasure, and consent with unapologetic verve. Challenging readers to think beyond reductive concepts of consent, gender, and freedom, Sex Beyond "Yes" reframes the communication and social support we need to establish sexual relationships founded on genuine respect, open discourse, and unhindered joy.
The Supremacy of Selective Awareness
From Noise to Focus: Unlocking the Secret of Selective AwarenessDrowning in distractions? Overwhelmed by information overload? What if the ability to control your focus was the ultimate superpower-a power that could transform your reality? The Supremacy of Selective Awareness, the fourth volume in the Arcanum of Awareness series, is both a groundbreaking manual and an exploration into the profound depths of focused perception. This book reveals the secrets to mastering disciplined perception, strategic thinking, and laser-sharp attention, empowering you to become the architect of your own destiny.Learn how to cut through the noise, shatter self-imposed limitations, dissect complex problems with surgical precision, and cultivate unwavering determination. From achieving peak performance and navigating complex relationships to shaping your reality through autosuggestion and even influencing the collective mind, discover the secrets of selective awareness. But be warned: with this newfound power comes great responsibility. Are you ready to unlock the hidden potential within and step into a world of heightened perception?
All Things Are Full of Gods
A world-renowned philosopher's genre-defying exploration of the mystery of consciousness "[A] masterpiece. . . . The most thorough and rigorous account of the nature of reality to be published in a century."--James Matthew Wilson, World Magazine In a blossoming garden located far outside all worlds, a group of aging Greek gods have gathered to discuss the nature of existence, the mystery of mind, and whether there is a transcendent God from whom all things come. Turning to Eros, Psyche asks, "Do you see this flower, my love?" So begins David Bentley Hart's unprecedented exploration of the mystery of consciousness. Writing in the form of a Platonic dialogue, he systematically subjects the mechanical view of nature that has prevailed in Western culture for four centuries to dialectical interrogation. Powerfully rehabilitating a classical view in which mental acts are irreducible to material causes, he argues through the gods' exchanges that the foundation of all reality is spiritual or mental rather than material. The structures of mind, organic life, and even language together attest to an infinite act of intelligence in all things that we may as well call God. Engaging contemporary debates on the philosophy of mind, free will, revolutions in physics and biology, the history of science, computational models of mind, artificial intelligence, information theory, linguistics, cultural disenchantment, and the metaphysics of nature, Hart calls readers back to an enchanted world in which nature is the residence of mysterious and vital intelligences. He suggests that there is a very special wisdom to be gained when we, in Psyche's words, "devote more time to the contemplation of living things and less to the fabrication of machines."
The Joy of Consent
A Seminary Co-op Notable Book "Timely and captivating...advances a powerful critique against the contemporary discourse on consent...offers sharp observations throughout." --Times Literary Supplement "Thought-provoking...Garcia argues that we need an emancipatory sexual politics based on a deeper understanding of how social norms generate sexual injustices. Ultimately, she advocates a contextually sensitive approach to consent, a notion that responds to the specifics of sexual situations and is relational in nature." --Los Angeles Review of Books "A brilliant interrogation of the complexities of consent. Manon Garcia shows us that consent can be liberating--for reasons we might not have expected--in enabling good, joyful sex. A must-read." --Kate Manne, author or Entitled: How Male Privilege Hurts Women Consent has become the ultimate answer to problems of sexual harassment and violence: as long as all parties agree to sex, the act is legitimate. Critics reply that the awkwardness of confirming consent robs sex of its sexiness. Supporters answer that opposing the consent regime entails defending a patriarchal erotics of silence and mystery. Philosopher Manon Garcia upends the debate, reframing consent as an ally of pleasure rather than a legalistic killjoy. In doing so, she rejects conventional wisdom on all sides. Garcia challenges simplistic equations between consent and noncoercion and shows that consent alone doesn't make sex licit. Drawing on sources from Kantian ethics to kink practices, she offers an alternative framework grounded in commitments to autonomy and dignity. And if consent provides a rickety legal standard, Garcia argues that it is essential to the realization of intimate desire. By appreciating consent as a source of sexual flourishing rather than a legal litmus test, The Joy of Consent adds a fresh voice to the struggle for freedom from sexist violence.
How to Be Caring
A vivid new translation of selections from an inspiring guide to self-transformation through kindness by an eighth-century Buddhist monk Written by the medieval Indian Buddhist monk Shantideva, The Bodhicaryavatara is one of the most beloved and frequently taught works in Buddhism and a favorite of the Dali Lama. An inspiring and powerful poem that uses a gripping, first-person, confessional voice, it is the most systematic work of ethical thought in the Indo-Tibetan Buddhist tradition. And its invaluable insights, exhortations, and encouragements about how we can relieve suffering by becoming more caring and compassionate are universal. In How to Be Caring, philosopher and Buddhist scholar Jay Garfield presents a lively new translation of selected verses from Shantideva's text that capture its powerful lessons for all of us. The result is the clearest, most concise, and most accessible introduction to this masterful Buddhist guidebook about how we can change the world by changing ourselves. Focusing on the life of a bodhisattva, a person committed to attaining awakening for the benefit of all beings, Shantideva argues that the first step to reducing suffering and making the world better is to conquer our own psychopathologies. Urging us to remember that we won't live forever and therefore need to think about what is most important, the work seeks to inspire us and teach us how to be more generous, thoughtful, polite, patient, committed, and self-aware. Featuring an introduction and the original Tibetan text on facing pages, this dazzling volume is filled with wisdom that still speaks directly to readers today.
Mary B. Hesse (1924-2016): Metaphors, Models, and the Growth of Scientific Knowledge
Indigenous Systems, Colonialism, Colonial Legacies, and Africa's Economic Challenges
This book is an exploration of Africa's enduring struggles and immense potential. It examines the historical roots of Africa's socio-economic challenges, from the disruption of indigenous systems to the lasting effects of colonialism and neo-colonialism. By blending African philosophical perspectives with incisive critiques of globalization and governance, it provides a fresh and compelling analysis of the continent's path toward true sovereignty and sustainable development. Rich with historical depth and philosophical insight, this work challenges conventional narratives about African development and offers innovative strategies for breaking free from dependency on global capitalist systems. With its interdisciplinary approach and forward-looking solutions, this book is an essential resource for scholars, policymakers, and anyone invested in Africa's transformation.
Angolan Political Thought
Angolan Political Thought introduces anticolonial thinkers whose writings on colonialism and liberation have been instrumental in the formation of Angolan identity. It focuses on the political nature of these thinkers and how their work has impacted Angolan political reality. Lu穩s Cordeiro-Rodrigues both introduces and critically analyzes the thought of Queen Njinga, M獺rio Pinto de Andrade, Agostinho Neto and Pepetela and systematically addresses five important topics in Angolan political thought. Firstly, it gives a general introduction to African political philosophy and explains the place of Angolan political thought in this. Secondly, it explains how different Angolan thinkers have conceptualized colonialism and its effects on the global Black community. Thirdly, the book surveys what key Angolan thinkers have identified as legitimate and effective tools of liberation and resistance from colonialism. For example, it addresses the place of poetry for liberation, as well as the justification for war against colonial powers. Fourth, this book will explain the different theories that Africa and, in particular, African identity, consists of. Finally, it will look at Angolan theories of distributive justice and compensation for historical injustices.
The Social Contract
We are all parties to a social contract and obligated under it. Or is this mere fiction? How is such an agreement possible in a society riven by deep moral disagreement? William Edmundson explains the social-contract tradition from its beginnings in the English Revolution, through Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau to its culmination in the work of John Rawls. The idea that legitimate government rests on the consent of free equals took shape in the seventeenth century and was developed in the eighteenth but fell into disuse in the nineteenth century even as democracy, toleration, and limited government gained ground. Edmundson shows how Rawls revived the idea of a social contract in the mid-twentieth century to secure these gains, as the then-dominant moral theories, such as utilitarianism, could not. The book also defends Rawls's conviction that political equality is integral to the idea of reciprocity at the heart of the tradition.
The Moral Psychology of Fear
The Moral Psychology of Fear brings together contemporary philosophers to consider how fear can shape or compromise moral motivation, and in particular the ways in which fear might motivate morally and politically troubling actions for individuals and communities. While the topics addressed by the chapters vary widely, the contributors share a commitment to analyzing the moral significance of fear for motivation, action, and responsibility in novel and creative ways.Edited by Ami Harbin, the volume is divided into four parts: In Part I, authors lay the groundwork for new philosophical analyses of fear by establishing some theoretical considerations about the connection of fear to injustice and the scope of what kinds of experiences count as fear. Part II turns to everyday experiences of fear-like fear of missing out and fear of one's own death-that can have surprising moral implications. Part III delves into the way fears have been present in contexts of climate and public health crisis. Part IV offers reflections on the complex position of fear in some of the most charged political issues facing communities: migration, political polarization, violence, and oppressive ideologies more broadly.
Deception and Self-Deception
Received theories of self-deception are problematic. The traditional view, according to which self-deceivers intend to deceive themselves, generates paradoxes: you cannot deceive yourself intentionally because you know your own plans and intentions. Non-traditional views argue that self-deceivers act intentionally but deceive themselves unintentionally or that self-deception is not intentional at all. The non-traditional approaches do not generate paradoxes, but they entail that people can deceive themselves by accident or by mistake, which is controversial. The author argues that a functional analysis of deception solves these problems. On the functional view, a certain thing is deceptive if and only if its function is to mislead; hence, while (self-)deception may but need not be intended, it is never accidental or a mistake. Also, self-deceivers need not benefit from deception and they need not end up with epistemically unjustified beliefs; rather, they must 'not be themselves'. Finally, self-deception need not be adaptive.
The State
The State: A New Translation presents Plato's seminal work traditionally known as The Republic in a clear, modern translation by Filibooks Translation. Plato's profound exploration of justice, virtue, governance, and society begins with Socrates drawn into a lively debate on the nature of justice. Through layered dialogues, Socrates and his interlocutors examine the foundations of a just city, debating virtue, education, the division of labor, and the qualities necessary in rulers. Plato systematically questions the principles of justice and the good life, arguing for an ideal society governed by philosopher-kings who balance wisdom, courage, moderation, and justice. This translation reinvigorates Plato's famous dialogues, making complex philosophical arguments accessible to contemporary readers and scholars alike.
Ask Yourself
"You do not need to know exactly who you are to take the next step. You only need to be willing to meet yourself again and again with more softness, more courage, and more truth."What if the most important answers in life were actually questions?Life does not come with instructions. It comes with seasons. Some full of joy. Others marked by loss, uncertainty, or quiet change. And in those seasons, we are often met with questions. Not always loud ones. Sometimes they come as a pause. A feeling. A nudge.Ask Yourself: 35 Questions About Life is a reflective and gentle companion. It is written for those who want to slow down, listen inward, and explore who they are becoming. Not through formulas, but through honest questions.It reads like a conversation with a friend sitting beside you. One who does not rush to speak, but simply listens and invites you to see things more clearly. Each chapter begins with a question. Then comes a story, a reflection, a quiet moment from a life being lived. The rest is for you. A blank page to write on.35 thoughtful questions across themes like identity, purpose, love, loss, fear, change, and legacyHonest reflections drawn from personal experience, not instructionOpen space after each chapter for your own thoughts and memoriesA meaningful gift for anyone seeking clarity, quiet, or a return to themselvesThis is not a book of answers. It does not try to be loud or certain. It is simply an offering. A place to pause and ask yourself what really matters.This book was written in the hope that someone, somewhere, might find a moment of clarity or feel a little less alone in their own questions.Written by Joshua Sievert, a consultant turned writer who explores life's essential questions through storytelling, reflection, and lived experience.
Trilism
Trilism: A New Code for the Mind, Body, and Soul In a world full of noise, confusion, and contradictions, Trilism brings clarity. Based on six fundamental virtues and built around the harmony of Mind, Body, and Soul, this philosophy is a practical guide for living with intention-without dogma, leaders, or illusions. A manifesto for personal responsibility, authentic living, and compassionate action, Trilism speaks to thinkers, reformers, and anyone weary of moral chaos. No sacred texts. No followers. Just you, your conscience, and the courage to live better.
The Boundless Being
Are you tired of the relentless pursuit of approval, the sting of an inner critic, and the constant feeling of being perpetually incomplete? What if these burdens aren't a part of life but a result of a mistaken belief in a separate self?In The Boundless Being, Deepak Kant Gir offers a transformative, two-part journey to unveil your true nature. Drawing on insights from neuroscience and ancient wisdom, this book first helps you understand and systematically deconstruct the ego-the constructed "I"-that limits your true potential. You'll then be guided through a series of practical, experiential exercises to rediscover the boundless, inherently free, and interconnected being that lies within.Move beyond the invisible chains of anxiety and a fragmented identity. Learn to: Dissolve the Inner Critic: Find unshakable inner peace and resilience.Embrace True Agency: Flow with life's currents instead of forcing control.Cultivate Intrinsic Fulfillment: Discover a deep sense of worth independent of external validation.Forge Deeper Connections: Experience profound belonging by dissolving the barriers of separation.This isn't a call to abandon your life but an invitation to live it with greater authenticity, clarity, and purpose. The Boundless Being is your guide to a life of effortless flow, unwavering freedom, and profound joy.
E. E. Constance Jones
E. E. Constance Jones (1848-1922) published widely in philosophical logic and in ethics and moral psychology and was an active member of the British philosophical community from 1890 until her death. Her contributions to philosophical logic were wide-ranging and sophisticated, anticipating celebrated insights of later twentiethcentury philosophy of language and logic. In ethics, her writings on hedonism and practical reason, though influenced by her mentor, Henry Sidgwick, were innovative and merit further examination.
Human Cognitive Diversity
We humans are diverse. But how to understand human diversity in the case of cognitive diversity? This Element discusses how to properly investigate human behavioural and cognitive diversity, how to scientifically represent, and how to explain cognitive diversity. Since there are various methodological approaches and explanatory agendas across the cognitive and behavioural sciences, which can be more or less useful for understanding human diversity, a critical analysis is needed. And as the controversial study of sex and gender differences in cognition illustrates, the scientific representations and explanations put forward matter to society and impact public policy, including policies on mental health. But how to square the vision of human cognitive diversity with the assumption that we all share one human nature? Is cognitive diversity something to be positively valued? The author engages with these questions in connection with the issues of neurodiversity, cognitive disability, and essentialist construals of human nature.
Deception and Self-Deception
Received theories of self-deception are problematic. The traditional view, according to which self-deceivers intend to deceive themselves, generates paradoxes: you cannot deceive yourself intentionally because you know your own plans and intentions. Non-traditional views argue that self-deceivers act intentionally but deceive themselves unintentionally or that self-deception is not intentional at all. The non-traditional approaches do not generate paradoxes, but they entail that people can deceive themselves by accident or by mistake, which is controversial. The author argues that a functional analysis of deception solves these problems. On the functional view, a certain thing is deceptive if and only if its function is to mislead; hence, while (self-)deception may but need not be intended, it is never accidental or a mistake. Also, self-deceivers need not benefit from deception and they need not end up with epistemically unjustified beliefs; rather, they must 'not be themselves'. Finally, self-deception need not be adaptive.
Light on Tantra in Kashmir Shaivism - Volume 4 - Chapter Five
The Tantrāloka is a voluminous masterwork of the 10th century philosopher-saint, Abhinavagupta. It is a veritable encyclopedia of non-dual Shaivism, a spiritual treasure-trove containing a glorious synthesis of all the schools that make up Kashmir Shaivism, also known as Trika. This fourth volume contains an English translation of the fifth āhnika (chapter) of the Tantrāloka, Abhinavagupta directs our attention to the various practices associated with the so-called lowest upaya - Anavopaya, the means pertaining to the individual (Anu). Swamiji informs us, however, "You should not think when you adopt the means of anavopaya you are adopting the inferior means. It is not inferior means, it is actually the real means, the real way."The subtleties of this formidable, though accessible practice are clearly and forcefully presented by Swami Lakshmanjoo, the last accomplished exponent in the ancient line of Kashmir Shaiva masters. In the accompanying audio, the sincere student can hear the words of a completely realized master who lived and breathed Kashmir Shaivism in its fullness.
The Will to Power by Friedrich Nietzsche
Uncover the raw and profound insights of Friedrich Nietzsche in The Will to Power, a compelling collection of his unpublished and unedited writings. Compiled after his death in 1900, this work offers a unique window into the mind of one of philosophy's most revolutionary thinkers. First published in 1901, The Will to Power explores Nietzsche's groundbreaking ideas on nihilism, morality, religion, knowledge, and art. These writings capture both his enduring philosophies and the evolution of his thought, providing an unparalleled understanding of his intellectual journey. This edition includes both posthumously released volumes I and II, translated by Anthony M. Ludovici, and is printed on premium acid-free paper. A cornerstone for students, scholars, and admirers of Nietzsche's work, The Will to Power remains an essential text for exploring the depths of his philosophy.
Absolute Duty to God
Embark on a profound exploration of moral obligations and the absolute duty to God with Absolute Duty to God: Exploring Moral Obligations. Within the pages of this compelling compilation, readers are invited to delve into the depths of ethical inquiry and contemplate the nature of our obligations to a higher power. Drawing upon philosophical, theological, and ethical perspectives, this compilation discusses the complexities of moral duty and the relationship between humanity and the divine. It prompts readers to examine the foundations of moral obligations, considering whether our ultimate duty lies in our obligations to God. Through engaging discourse and rigorous analysis, Absolute Duty to God invites readers to critically evaluate their moral frameworks and reflect on the implications of recognizing an absolute duty to a higher power. It explores the intersection of faith, reason, and moral decision-making, encouraging readers to contemplate the ways in which our obligations to God shape our understanding of right and wrong.
Periphyseon
Called the "final achievement" of ancient philosophy, Periphyseon draws on knowledge of both the Greek and Latin Christian theological traditions, remarkable in the Carolingian world. It presents a Neoplatonic cosmology in the form of a catechetical dialogue between master and pupil covering the fourfold division of nature, in which all of reality is involved in a procession from and return to the One. Periphyseon was written by Johannes Scotus Eriugena (ca. 810-ca. 877), an Irish monk, translator, and philosopher. By 851, he was at the West Frankish court of Charles the Bald, where he would remain for the rest of his life at the palace school. Although Eriugena had followers in his time and later among the mystics--the School of St. Victor, Eckhart, Tauler, Ruysbroeck, and the German mystics, and Nicholas of Cusa and his professed disciple Giordano Bruno--many in the West did not welcome his ideas, and his work was condemned by Honorius III in 1225.
Art-Making as Problem-Solving
What is art-making? What is it in virtue of which an artifact counts as a work of art? In this book, Melvin Chen contends that art-making is best understood in the context of problem-solving. Works of art are various ways in which artists solve problems and overcome obstacles, while typically exhibiting creative thinking. Using the theory of problem-solving, its theoretical milieu, and various philosophical tools, Chen builds a robust, coherent, and consistent computationalist approach to art-making and the production of works of art. This computationalist approach to art-making and the production of works of art, in turn, is articulated against the backdrop of an information-theoretic philosophy of art. This computationalist approach takes discussions in the philosophy of art into the twenty-first century.
From the Mental State of Noise to the New Frontiers of Techno-Human Cognition
Anchored by the republication of Steven Sands and John Ratey's influential 1986 article "The concept of noise", this volume explores how noise transcends its traditional definition as unwanted sound or mere signal interference to become a generative force in our increasingly complex, digitized world.
The Difference Between Western and Zen-Buddhist Thinking
When psychology turns to religions or other cultural traditions and phenomena, it looks at them with a different objective from the one that such disciplines as that of history or religious studies have. Psychology views these phenomena as products and manifestations of the soul. Instead of trying to find out what a culture's highest values, teachings and convictions mean, psychology has rather the task of seeing through to the soul's logical life that animates them. It is in this spirit that this book examines such a Zen-Buddhist goal as the Great Awakening, the ontology of Emptiness, the thesis of the absolute oneness of knower and known, and the "aesthetic solution" to conflicts characteristic of Zeninspired Japan, and confronts and contrasts them with the soul dynamic at work in phenomena most representative of Western thinking, such as the emergence of the monotheistic God, the implications of the Socratic dictum, "I know that I know nothing", and the Western I. This confrontation sharpens the mutual contours. The analyses of this book may help Japanese readers to grasp more clearly the inner logic of Zen and their own culture, while reminding Western readers of their own Western tradition, its pulsating inner life, and what is at stake in it.
Bertrand Russell Collection, Selected Works, 1912-1922
Embark on an intellectual odyssey through the transformative era of the early 20th century with the "Bertrand Russell Collection, Selected Works, 1912-1922." This compilation illuminates the genius of Bertrand Russell, spanning his influential contributions to analytic philosophy, psychology, and social critique. "The Problems of Philosophy" and "The Analysis of Mind" unveil Russell's groundbreaking insights into the nature of thought and consciousness. In "Why Men Fight," Russell explores the root causes of human conflict, offering a probing analysis of the motivations behind war. Meanwhile, "Free Thought and Official Propaganda" critically examines intellectual freedom and the impact of propaganda on society. This collection invites readers to engage with the multifaceted brilliance of Russell, experiencing his nuanced perspectives on philosophy, psychology, and the pursuit of peace during a pivotal period in history.
The Serpent's Tale
There is a standard narrative that recurs throughout popular writings on yoga and tantra, from South Asian texts to Western esoteric thought: Kuṇḍalinī is the Serpent Power. She rests coiled at the base of the spine. If awakened, this divine feminine energy rises toward the crown of the head. Some are apprehensive of Kuṇḍalinī's intense power, fearing physical and psychological turmoil. Others seek it out, hungry for experiences, both spiritual and sensual. But what does this story leave out? What are its cultural and historical roots? What do the many ways of experiencing Kuṇḍalinī tell us about this elusive phenomenon? The Serpent's Tale traces the intricate global histories of Kuṇḍalinī, from its Sanskrit origins to its popularity in the West. Sravana Borkataky-Varma and Anya Foxen explore its symbolic link with the serpent, its fraught connections to sexuality, and its commercialization in the form of Kuṇḍalinī yoga. Ranging from esoteric texts to global gurus, from the cliffs of California to the charnel grounds of Assam, they show that there has never been one single "authentic" model of Kuṇḍalinī but a multiplicity of visions. Bridging the gaps between textual and historical analysis and the complexities of embodied practice, Borkataky-Varma and Foxen reflect on the narration and transmission of experiences, including their own. Lively, accessible, and nuanced, The Serpent's Tale offers rich insights for scholars, practitioners, and all readers drawn to Kuṇḍalinī.
Mental Powers
This edited volume presents a general account of the concept of 'mental power' in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, focusing on the issue of how a sample of influential thinkers of that period analyzed, described, and conceived the human agent's mental abilities and skills as governing perception, action and moral behavior.
The Serpent's Tale
There is a standard narrative that recurs throughout popular writings on yoga and tantra, from South Asian texts to Western esoteric thought: Kuṇḍalinī is the Serpent Power. She rests coiled at the base of the spine. If awakened, this divine feminine energy rises toward the crown of the head. Some are apprehensive of Kuṇḍalinī's intense power, fearing physical and psychological turmoil. Others seek it out, hungry for experiences, both spiritual and sensual. But what does this story leave out? What are its cultural and historical roots? What do the many ways of experiencing Kuṇḍalinī tell us about this elusive phenomenon? The Serpent's Tale traces the intricate global histories of Kuṇḍalinī, from its Sanskrit origins to its popularity in the West. Sravana Borkataky-Varma and Anya Foxen explore its symbolic link with the serpent, its fraught connections to sexuality, and its commercialization in the form of Kuṇḍalinī yoga. Ranging from esoteric texts to global gurus, from the cliffs of California to the charnel grounds of Assam, they show that there has never been one single "authentic" model of Kuṇḍalinī but a multiplicity of visions. Bridging the gaps between textual and historical analysis and the complexities of embodied practice, Borkataky-Varma and Foxen reflect on the narration and transmission of experiences, including their own. Lively, accessible, and nuanced, The Serpent's Tale offers rich insights for scholars, practitioners, and all readers drawn to Kuṇḍalinī.
Dreaming
A comprehensive proposal for a conceptual framework for describing conscious experience in dreams, integrating philosophy of mind, sleep and dream research, and interdisciplinary consciousness studies. Dreams, conceived as conscious experience or phenomenal states during sleep, offer an important contrast condition for theories of consciousness and the self. Yet, although there is a wealth of empirical research on sleep and dreaming, its potential contribution to consciousness research and philosophy of mind is largely overlooked. This might be due, in part, to a lack of conceptual clarity and an underlying disagreement about the nature of the phenomenon of dreaming itself. In Dreaming, Jennifer Windt lays the groundwork for solving this problem. She develops a conceptual framework describing not only what it means to say that dreams are conscious experiences but also how to locate dreams relative to such concepts as perception, hallucination, and imagination, as well as thinking, knowledge, belief, deception, and self-consciousness. Arguing that a conceptual framework must be not only conceptually sound but also phenomenologically plausible and carefully informed by neuroscientific research, Windt integrates her review of philosophical work on dreaming, both historical and contemporary, with a survey of the most important empirical findings. This allows her to work toward a systematic and comprehensive new theoretical understanding of dreaming informed by a critical reading of contemporary research findings. Windt's account demonstrates that a philosophical analysis of the concept of dreaming can provide an important enrichment and extension to the conceptual repertoire of discussions of consciousness and the self and raises new questions for future research.
Signs from the Future
We are constantly being warned, but we seldom heed warnings. Cautioned about authoritarian leaders, climate change, technological dystopias, or other catastrophes, we fail to take action or even take them seriously. Too often warnings are dismissed--much like the artists, scientists, environmentalists, and intellectuals who deliver them. Why don't we listen? Santiago Zabala asks us to think of philosophy as a warning, a call to heed ominous "signs from the future." He argues that warnings--as distinct from predictions--invite us to see the possibility of a radical break from the present. Predictions tell us to submit to the inevitable, but warnings ask us to take part in shaping a different future. A philosophy of warnings offers an alternative horizon of understanding beyond "the real" and "the normal," and a politics of warnings helps us confront hidden emergencies through collective interpretation, listening, and action. Signs from the Future places thinkers such as Nietzsche, Heidegger, de Beauvoir, and Arendt into conversation with present-day politics, art, and culture, drawing our attention to unheeded warnings. This timely and engaging book shows why unresolved crises from the past must be interpreted anew today if we are to imagine an equitable future--or a future at all.
The Reality of the Ideal
Immanuel Kant claimed that when we act on the moral law, we engage in a collective project to bring about a world that we can only grasp in reason. The resulting image of an ideal world, Kant called, the "highest good." Since Kant's time, this ideal has challenged philosophical interpretation. What, after all, is its use, if (as Kant thought) the moral law is sufficient to determine how we should act? What is the highest good actually good for in everyday life? In contrast to standard readings, which see the highest good's main importance related to action, The Reality of the Ideal presents a fresh perspective according to which the highest good's primary importance is for certain moments of contemplation, both local and global in scope. Englert posits that on one hand, it is important locally as a point of comparison that enables us to judge moral progress or degrees of morality (and its opposite) in experience. On the other hand, it becomes important globally as a point of reference in relation to which we can construct a harmonious worldview. In both instances, it ultimately serves as a perfect point of comparison for an imperfect world. These contemplative moments, in sum, show that the highest good is an ineliminable feature of experience, anchoring a deep sense of meaning of how the whole of experience might fit together coherently. Out of this analysis, it becomes clear that while not existing in a standard sense, the ideal is anything but a fiction.
Tribalism and Cosmopolitanism
The Make America Great Again movement in the United States gives voice to a rising nationalism and tribalism we see around the world, from Modi's India, to Putin's Russian, Orban's Hungary, and Netanyahu's Israel. Against such a tribalism is the dream of a world citizenship, the cosmopolitan ideal that sees all human beings as part of one large political world. Tribalism and Cosmopolitanism is dedicated to exploring the humanity of both tribal affiliation and cosmopolitan dreams. Volume 13 of the HA. The Yearbook of Hannah Arendt Center for Politics and Humanities centers on the compelling theme of tribalism and cosmopolitanism. Inspired by the 2024 Hannah Arendt Center Conference Tribalism and Cosmopolitanism: How Can We Imagine a Pluralist Politics, it brings together contributions by prominent thinkers such as Sebastian Junger, Fintan O'Toole, Seyla Benhabib, Niobe Way, Leon Botstein, Lyndsey Stonebridge, and more, featuring insightful conversations and talks held at the conference, alongside in-depth essays that build on and expand on the themes of tribalism and cosmopolitanism. An illuminating anthology of texts relating to both tribalism and cosmopolitanism from Anthony Appiah, Hannah Arendt, Aristotle, Thomas Aquinas, Cicero, Emile Durkheim, Epictetus, Sigmund Freud, Immanuel Kant, Ibn Khald羶n, Martha Nussbaum, and more enriches the volume. The goal is to offer a broad introduction to the inquiry into the human tension between our need to belong to tribes and our aspirations to cosmopolitan humanism. Present scholarship and canonical texts are put into conversation to provide an extended sourcebook of ideas for the interested reader.
An Idealist View Of Life
One of the most profoundly religious books of our time - The Spectator Science is a system of second causes, which cannot describe the world adequately, much less account for it. In this remarkable treatise, Radhakrishnan explores aspects of the modern intellectual debate on science vis-a-vis religion and the vain attempts to find a substitute for religion. He discusses, drawing upon the traditions of East and West, the nature and validity of religious experience.Finally, he creates a fine vision of mans evolution and the emergence of higher values. The range of subjects combined with the authors own faith, undogmatic and free of creed, makes this book a philosophical education in itself.
Understanding Joy And Sorrow
The cycle of joy and sorrow is perennial. Yet, they are largely of our own making. There is no market where we can go and buy either. As their source is not outside but within us, therefore, it is possible for us to transform or control them too. This is a vastly complex subject that man has struggled with for aeons. In Understanding Joy and Sorrow, Acharya Mahapragya, the tenth Acharya of the Jain Swetambar Terapanth sect and one of the most respected Jain thinkers of the world, outlines the causes, aspects and remedies of our unhappiness in twenty-one succinct chapters. Given here are chapters that address the role of anger, stress and desire in sorrow and those like detachment and fearlessness which help us be happy. Drawing upon anecdotes and examples, he holds up a mirror to our innermost fears and concerns. Alongside are five key exercises such as kayotsarga and antaryatra that provide a pathway to reaching mental calm. Kayotsarga is the process of relaxation of all the muscles in the body that helps one to release stress; antaryatra is the focussing of attention on the body's centre of energy to reach a state of balance and peace. Together with the other exercises given in the book these make it one of the most accessible books available on the subject, one that any reader can keep handy and benefit from by dipping into time and again.
Within Us
Within Us may be the book that speaks to anyone going through harsh experiences in life. The main character in the novelette is kept anonymous; the character is 'She', and hence the book talks about 'Her'. The novelette contains partial events that took place in her life, with deep philosophical reflections on these events, using simple and primary concepts and philosophies. The story could be a similar experience occurring to anyone in this life, especially girls who are going through confusing times.The book describes the ongoing and constant conflict between what we carry within us, and what we collide with in life. The book also describes what is within our control and power, or within our reach; and what is beyond our control and power, or beyond our reach.
May Contain Truth
We do not know if the self exists ...You may ask, "How could we be unsure if the self exists?" To respond, we must first explore what the self is, through an examination of the natural principles that exist outside of the self. This is the philosophical paradox of the modern day. Philosophy is dead. This manuscript seeks to revive it. Moreover, in the recesses of its mind, these essays contemplate that back in 1882, Nietzsche claimed that "God is dead." Now, before knowing if there is still a god, today we must first ask if there is still a self. It is this disenchantment with the self, this separation between the experiences of the known and unknown relative to the self that informs our every decision ... or lack thereof. Philosophy was once a fundamental pillar of Literature. With it, we think critically, capture the world linguistically, and refine the art of being human through dialogue with others.If you find yourself contending with hope in the world, feeling plagued by meaninglessness and replaceable values, this read will enthuse your mind to recognize the eloquence and truth that rests all around you. Through an exploration of visceral abstractions (language, reason, and beauty, to name a few), infused with carefully constructed and unique questioning, you will revive the thoughts that the prudent act of philosophy calls for. With this relationship to life's principles, you can therein communicate the human condition, know clearly what to value, and develop an enthusiasm for the world in return. From here, a comprehensive experience of self can emerge.May Contain Truth invites you on this critical yet metaphysical experience of passion and curiosity.
Radical Philosophy 2.19
COMMENTARIESLaw's search for biological truth. For Women Scotland and the UK Supreme Court, by Flora RenzARTICLESReproductive subsumption. Notes on the making of reproductive labour in capitalism, by Elena BaglioniPhenomenology of necessary illusion. Gillian Rose on personification and the failure to think the absolute, by Robert Lucas ScottOn the bourgeois concept of real abstraction. For a non-dualistic ontology of capital, by F.T.C.ManningBreaking out of the circle. On the life and work of Ghassan Kanafani, by Francesco AnselmettiINTERVIEWSSmash the feminist family. An interview with Sophie Lewis REVIEWSChristoph Schuringa, A Social History of Analytic Philosophy, by Adam KnowlesVictoria Browne, Pregnancy Without Birth: A Feminist Philosophy ofMiscarriage, by Sophie A. JonesWalter Benjamin, On Goethe, by Christopher LawRobert Linhart, The Sugar and The Hunger, by Jacob SeagraveMichael Hardt, The Subversive Seventies, by TreyTaylorDavid Gordon Scott, ed., Abolitionist Voices and David Gordon Scott and Emma Bell, eds., Envisioning Abolition, by Isabella GregoryAndr矇s Saenz de Sicilia, Subsumption in Kant, Hegel and Marx, by Christopher Geary Melyana Kay Lamb, Philosophical History of Police Power, by Oscar Talbot Mohammad Reza Naderi, Badiou, Infinity, and Subjectivity, by Joe StapletonOBITUARYPaulin Jidenu Hountondji, 1942-2024, by Zeyad el Nabolsy
The Power of Love; a Lecture
"The Power of Love; a Lecture" explores the profound influence of love on human life and society. Drawing upon philosophical and spiritual insights, L.J. Vaughan delves into the nature of love, its transformative potential, and its capacity to inspire ethical behavior and personal growth. This lecture examines love not merely as an emotion, but as a fundamental force that shapes our relationships, communities, and individual selves.Vaughan's work serves as a timeless exploration of love's enduring power. Readers seeking to understand the deeper meaning of love and its impact on human existence will find this lecture both enlightening and inspiring. This early 20th-century lecture offers a perspective on love that remains relevant for contemporary audiences.This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
The Moral Aphorisms and Terseological Teachings of Confucius ..
The Moral Aphorisms and Terseological Teachings of Confucius is a timeless collection of wisdom from one of history's most influential philosophers. Translated and compiled in 1870, this work presents the core principles of Confucian thought in a readily accessible format, offering profound insights into ethics, governance, and personal conduct.Confucius's teachings, presented here through concise aphorisms, address fundamental questions of morality and social harmony. Readers will discover enduring guidance on cultivating virtue, maintaining social order, and achieving personal fulfillment. This edition serves as an invaluable resource for anyone seeking to understand the foundations of Confucianism and its lasting impact on Eastern thought and culture.This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
