Long before postmodern or deconstructionist ideas became current, Simone Weil was concerned with recognizing the absence of consistency and the continual presence of reversals and contradictions in life. She was someone for whom the task of clarifying her perceptions of reality and meaning was an ongoing one. She challenged contemporary views on such complex issues as human nature, good and evil, divinity and truth. Weil's work offers a voice for those segments of society that are generally under-represented, misrepresented or totally silent in conventional historical and philosophical writings. In this introduction to Simone Weil's ideas, and the political and intellectual circumstances of her work, the authors make Weil's complex and at times elusive ideas accessible to readers. They delineate how her ideas evolved, and provide compelling excerpts from her writings to let her speak for herself. In addition, the authors provide their own interpretation of Weil's work.
Foucault's work presents a challenge to orthodox, habitual forms of belief and practice. This text, with an interdisciplinary focus, argues that one of the keys to understanding Foucault is his political thought. It is this which he expressed in his last writings and which pulled together his earlier interests in power, agency and subjectivity. In this volume Foucault scholars and commentators on politics explore the significance of these last writings. They examine such issues as the question of Foucault and human rights; his relationship to ethical thought, power and freedom; his relationship to feminism; and comparisons for his work with Levinas and Rawls.
Rejecting Hegelian idealism for the pragmatism of William James, the author, through his collection of essays, articulates his philosophical concepts of knowledge and truth and the nature of reality. He introduces his scientific method and uses critical intelligence to reject the traditional ways of viewing philosophical discourse.
In such seminal works as Madness and Civilization, Discipline and Punish, and The History of Sexuality, the late philosopher Michel Foucault explored what our politics, our sexuality, our societal conventions, and our changing notions of truth told us about ourselves. In the process, Foucault garnered a reputation as one of the pre-eminent ......
In such seminal works as Madness and Civilization, Discipline and Punish, and The History of Sexuality, the late philosopher Michel Foucault explored what our politics, our sexuality, our societal conventions, and our changing notions of truth told us about ourselves. In the process, Foucault garnered a reputation as one of the pre-eminent ......
The contributors to Postmodernism and Christian Philosophy bring a wealth of philosophical insights and methodological approaches to bear on a common concern, namely, the possibility and extent of a fruitful dialogue between Christian philosophy and postmodern thought. They tackle the timely question of how realism ought to respond to the threat ......
We often hear it said that "each person is unique and unrepeatable" or that "each person is his own end and not a mere instrumental means." But what exactly do these familiar sayings mean? What are they based on? How do we know they are true? In this book, John F. Crosby answers these questions by unfolding the mystery of personal individuality ......
Authentic Knowing is an accessible and humane presentation of our most basic concerns and draws on a wide variety of, disciplines, including philosophy, psychology, and theoretical physics. Enhanced with the author's own varied experiences and copious references for those who seek to read further, this book will appeal to and challenge scientists, ......
