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The Darwinian Revolution (Elements in the Philosophy of Biology)
by Michael RuseWhat is the Darwinian revolution and why is it important for philosophers? These are the questions tackled in this Element. In four sections, the topics covered are the story of the revolution, the question of whether it really was a revolution, the nature of the revolution, and the implications for philosophy, both epistemology and ethics.
Evolution and Christianity (Elements in the Problems of God)
by Michael RuseThis Element discusses the relationship between Christianity and evolutionary theory, with special emphasis on Darwinian evolutionary theory (Darwinism). The Creationists argue that the two are incompatible and it is religion that is the truth and Darwinism the falsity. The New Atheists argue that the two are incompatible and it is religion that is the falsity and Darwinism the truth. Through a careful examination of both Darwinian theory and Christianity, it is shown that both extremes are mistaken. It is accepted that there are difficult issues to be solved, for example the problem of evil - which some think is exacerbated by Darwinism - and the necessarily appearance of Homo sapiens - which is problematic if evolutionary theory does not guarantee progress and the evolution of humans as the apotheosis. It is argued that there are ways forward, and Christianity and evolutionary thinking can be shown compatible.
Evolutionary Naturalism: Selected Essays
by Michael RuseFirst published in 1995. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.
On Purpose
by Michael RuseA brief, accessible history of the idea of purpose in Western thought, from ancient Greece to the presentCan we live without the idea of purpose? Should we even try to? Kant thought we were stuck with purpose, and even Darwin’s theory of natural selection, which profoundly shook the idea, was unable to kill it. Indeed, teleological explanation—what Aristotle called understanding in terms of “final causes”—seems to be making a comeback today, as both religious proponents of intelligent design and some prominent secular philosophers argue that any explanation of life without the idea of purpose is missing something essential.In On Purpose, Michael Ruse explores the history of the idea of purpose in philosophical, religious, scientific, and historical thought, from ancient Greece to the present. Accessibly written and filled with literary and other examples, the book examines “purpose” thinking in the natural and human world. It shows how three ideas about purpose have been at the heart of Western thought for more than two thousand years. In the Platonic view, purpose results from the planning of a human or divine being; in the Aristotelian, purpose stems from a tendency or principle of order in the natural world; and in the Kantian, purpose is essentially heuristic, or something to be discovered, an idea given substance by Darwin’s theory of evolution through natural selection.On Purpose traces the profound and fascinating implications of these ways of thinking about purpose. Along the way, it takes up tough questions about the purpose of life and whether it’s possible to have meaning without purpose, revealing that purpose is still a vital and pressing issue.
A Philosopher Looks at Human Beings (A Philosopher Looks At)
by Michael RuseWhy do we think ourselves superior to all other animals? Are we right to think so? In this book, Michael Ruse explores these questions in religion, science and philosophy. Some people think that the world is an organism - and that humans, as its highest part, have a natural value (this view appeals particularly to people of religion). Others think that the world is a machine - and that we therefore have responsibility for making our own value judgements (including judgements about ourselves). Ruse provides a compelling analysis of these two rival views and the age-old conflict between them. In a wide-ranging and fascinating discussion, he draws on Darwinism and existentialism to argue that only the view that the world is a machine does justice to our humanity. This new series offers short and personal perspectives by expert thinkers on topics that we all encounter in our everyday lives.
Philosophy after Darwin: Classic and Contemporary Readings
by Michael RuseWittgenstein famously remarked in 1923, "Darwin's theory has no more relevance for philosophy than any other hypothesis in natural science." Yet today we are witnessing a major revival of interest in applying evolutionary approaches to philosophical problems. Philosophy after Darwin is an anthology of essential writings covering the most influential ideas about the philosophical implications of Darwinism, from the publication of On the Origin of Species to today's cutting-edge research.Michael Ruse presents writings by leading modern thinkers and researchers--including some writings never before published--together with the most important historical documents on Darwinism and philosophy, starting with Darwin himself. Included here are Herbert Spencer, Friedrich Nietzsche, Thomas Henry Huxley, G. E. Moore, John Dewey, Konrad Lorenz, Stephen Toulmin, Karl Popper, Edward O. Wilson, Hilary Putnam, Philip Kitcher, Elliott Sober, and Peter Singer. Readers will encounter some of the staunchest critics of the evolutionary approach, such as Alvin Plantinga, as well as revealing excerpts from works like Jack London's The Call of the Wild. Ruse's comprehensive general introduction and insightful section introductions put these writings in context and explain how they relate to such fields as epistemology, philosophy of mind, philosophy of language, and ethics.An invaluable anthology and sourcebook, Philosophy after Darwin traces philosophy's complicated relationship with Darwin's dangerous idea, and shows how this relationship reflects a broad movement toward a secular, more naturalistic understanding of the human experience.
The Philosophy of Human Evolution
by Michael RuseThis book provides a unique discussion of human evolution from a philosophical viewpoint, looking at the facts and interpretations since Charles Darwin's The Descent of Man. Michael Ruse explores such topics as the nature of scientific theories, the relationships between culture and biology, the problem of progress and the extent to which evolutionary issues pose problems for religious beliefs. He identifies these issues, highlighting the problems for morality in a world governed by natural selection. By taking a philosophical viewpoint, the full ethical and moral dimensions of human evolution are examined. This book engages the reader in a thorough discussion of the issues, appealing to students in philosophy, biology and anthropology.
Cambridge Handbooks in Philosophy: The Cambridge Handbook of Evolutionary Ethics (Cambridge Handbooks in Philosophy)
by Michael Ruse Richards Robert J.Evolutionary ethics - the application of evolutionary ideas to moral thinking and justification - began in the nineteenth century with the work of Charles Darwin and Herbert Spencer, but was subsequently criticized as an example of the naturalistic fallacy. In recent decades, however, evolutionary ethics has found new support among both the Darwinian and the Spencerian traditions. This accessible volume looks at the history of thought about evolutionary ethics as well as current debates in the subject, examining first the claims of supporters and then the responses of their critics. Topics covered include social Darwinism, moral realism, and debunking arguments. Clearly written and structured, the book guides readers through the arguments on both sides, and emphasises the continuing relevance of evolutionary theory to our understanding of ethics today.
Evidence and Meaning: A Theory of Historical Studies (Making Sense of History #28)
by Jörn RüsenAs one of the premier historical thinkers of his generation, Jörn Rüsen has made enormous contributions to the methods and theoretical framework of history as it is practiced today. In Evidence and Meaning, Rüsen surveys the seismic changes that have shaped the historical profession over the last half-century, while offering a clear, economical account of his theory of history. To traditional historiography Rüsen brings theoretical insights from philosophy, narrative theory, cultural studies, and the social sciences, developing an intricate but robust model of "historical thinking" as both a cognitive discipline and a cultural practice-one that is susceptible neither to naïve empiricism nor radical relativism.
Humanism: Foundations, Diversities, Developments (Routledge Approaches to History)
by Jörn RüsenThe book describes humanism in a systematic and historical perspective. It analyzes its manifestation and function in cultural studies and its role in the present. Within the book, special attention is given to the intention of contemporary humanism to overcome ethno-centric elements in the cultural orientation of contemporary living conditions and to develop humane dimensions of this orientation. This is linked to a fundamental critique of the current post-human self-understanding of the humanities. Furthermore, the intercultural aspect in the understanding of humanism is emphasized; for non-Western cultures also have their own humanistic traditions. Two further aspects are also addressed: the Holocaust as the most radical challenge to humanistic thinking and the relationship of humanism to nature. Sitting at the intersection of history and philosophy, the book is perfect for those exploring humanism from an historical perspective.
The Cambridge Companion to Critical Theory
by Fred RushDistinguished international contributors examine the major figures in Critical Theory, including Adorno, Benjamin, and Habermas, as well as lesser known but important thinkers. They survey the shared philosophical concerns that have given impetus to Critical Theory throughout its history, and reveal the diversity among its proponents that contributes so much to its richness as a philosophical school.
Parliamentary Socialisation
by Michael Rush Philip GiddingsParliament and MPs are held in low esteem at a time when Britain is facing major challenges. Can Parliament change to help meet these challenges? Or are MPs simply socialised into the ways of the Westminster village? Parliamentary Socialisation is the first book-length study of the socialisation of MPs. Surveying the literature on legislative socialisation, it develops a model of parliamentary socialisation as a framework for the book. Using a series of questionnaires covering two Parliaments, the book explores what MPs think about their roles and how they learn their jobs. MPs' patterns of behaviour are explored through analyses of their participation in debates, use of Parliamentary Questions, and committee work. The book concludes that MPs face a steep learning curve when first elected and that they are subject to a considerable degree of socialisation, but also argues that MPs' attitudes and behaviour can and do change.
The Metaphysics of Logic
by Penelope RushFeaturing fourteen new essays from an international team of renowned contributors, this volume explores the key issues, debates and questions in the metaphysics of logic. The book is structured in three parts, looking first at the main positions in the nature of logic, such as realism, pluralism, relativism, objectivity, nihilism, conceptualism, and conventionalism, then focusing on historical topics such as the medieval Aristotelian view of logic, the problem of universals, and Bolzano's logical realism. The final section tackles specific issues such as glutty theories, contradiction, the metaphysical conception of logical truth, and the possible revision of logic. The volume will provide readers with a rich and wide-ranging survey, a valuable digest of the many views in this area, and a long overdue investigation of logic's relationship to us and the world. It will be of interest to a wide range of scholars and students of philosophy, logic, and mathematics.
Ontology and the Foundations of Mathematics: Talking Past Each Other (Elements in the Philosophy of Mathematics)
by Penelope RushThis Element looks at the problem of inter-translation between mathematical realism and anti-realism and argues that so far as realism is inter-translatable with anti-realism, there is a burden on the realist to show how her posited reality differs from that of the anti-realist. It also argues that an effective defence of just such a difference needs a commitment to the independence of mathematical reality, which in turn involves a commitment to the ontological access problem – the problem of how knowable mathematical truths are identifiable with a reality independent of us as knowers. Specifically, if the only access problem acknowledged is the epistemological problem – i.e. the problem of how we come to know mathematical truths – then nothing is gained by the realist notion of an independent reality and in effect, nothing distinguishes realism from anti-realism in mathematics.
Decisive Treatise And Epistle Dedicatory (Islamic Translations Ser.)
by Averroes Rushd Charles Butterworth AverroesThe Decisive Treatise is perhaps the most controversial work of Averroes (Ibn Rushd, 1126-1198) and belongs to a trilogy which boldly represent the philosophical contribution to Islamic theology of this famous Andalusian commentator on Aristotle. The Decisive Treatise is a fatwa (a legal opinion) that the judge, Averroes, promulgated for his fellow Malikite jurists in order to demonstrate that the study of philosophy is not only licit from the point of view of religious law, but even mandatory for the skilled people. However, many subjects are dealt with in this comparatively short book: An epistemology aimed to show that philosophical truth and religious truth are not in contradiction; a sociology of knowledge pointing out that humans are classified in three classes (philosophers, theologians, common folk); a Qur'anic hermeneutics suggesting how to approach philosophically the Holy Book in agreement with religious requirements and linguistic rules.
Pásate de la raya: Artículos, 1992-2002
by Salman RushdieUna colección de los artículos de prensa de Salman Rushdie escritos entre 1992 y 2002 que recoge sus opiniones. Los artículos que componen este volumen nos descubren el lado más personal y más cercano de uno de nuestros autores contemporáneos más importantes. De una manera franca y directa, Salman Rushdie nos habla de su afición al fútbol, su predilección por la música de U2 o su entusiasmo por El mago de Oz; asimismo, nos da su opinión sobre política o sobre su propia fetua, y también evalúa la obra de varios escritores. Pero lo más valioso de esta recopilación es que nos proporciona la visión íntima de un escritor e intelectual que analiza y juzga nuestra sociedad actual con una profundidad y una precisión expresiva que pocos alcanzan. Un libro que ofrece placeres inesperados a todos los que disfrutan del poder de la palabra. Opinión:«Pásate de la raya es un reconstituyente para la moral... Un libro acerca de la libertad, sus glorias y su alto precio.»The Globe and Mail
Wild Rides and Wildflowers
by Sam Rushforth Scott Abbott"Abbott and Rushforth [have a] knack for entertaining readers."-BOOKLIST"[Wild Rides] becomes about more than riding bikes and admiring nature throughout the four seasons. It also provides an intimate glimpse into the minds and hearts of two men, and the outcome is both surprising and refreshing."--DESERET NEWS"Ride along with Sam and Scott through spectacular landscape and share their vast knowledge of its many plants and creatures and the way their lives-and ours-turn with each new season."-Chip Ward, author of Canaries on the Rim: Living Downwind in the West"It's like Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance meets Desert Solitaire in Utah County."-Scott Carrier, author of Running After Antelope"Come fall in wonder with nature and humankind as these two scholars and mountain bike enthusiasts explore flora, fauna and the follies of life, love, friendship and aging. Abbott and Rushforth are brash and beautiful, their observations clear-eyed, precise and soulful. By the end of the ride you'll understand more about Utah's landscape and two men's hearts than you ever imagined."-Brooke Adams, former editor of the Salt Lake Observer and Salt Lake Tribune reporter"Sometimes you have to get on the bike and go out with the wild things if you're going to get there at all. Scott Abbott and Sam Rushforth show us the way. Mount up. Here's our ticket to ride."-Charles Bowden, author of Blues for Cannibals"Following the conversations and adventures of Scott and Sam in this work was a delight-my only complaint is that I was stung by an absolute desire to join them. The gusto and passion they have for this land comes through on every page."-Steven L. Peck, author of The Scholar of Moab and A Short Stay in Hell"Imagine Plato's Phaedrus and a field guide to Utah fauna and flora left in an inside pocket of a sweaty, oft-used CamelBak get acquainted and copulate. The wise progeny, scratched and scented, philosophizing its way out, would be Wild Rides and Wildflowers, coauthored by Scott Abbott and Sam Rushforth."-Larry Menlove, for The Provo Canyon Review
Federal Intervention in American Police Departments
by Stephen RushinFor much of American history, the federal government has played a limited role in local police regulation. That all changed in 1994, when Congress passed a little known statute that permitted the US Attorney General to reform troubled police departments. Since then, many of the nation's largest police departments - including those in Los Angeles, Chicago, Seattle, Washington, DC, New Orleans, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Albuquerque - have been subject to federal oversight. But until recently, we've known little about how this federal process works. Drawing on original interviews, court documents, statistical data, and media reports, this book provides the first comprehensive account of federal intervention in American police departments. It shows that, under the right circumstances, federal intervention is uniquely effective at combating misconduct in police departments. However, federal intervention is far from perfect. This book concludes by arguing that Congress should expand and improve federal oversight of policing.
Divine Alignment: How Godwink Moments Guide Your Journey
by Squire RushnellIt's happened to you. You received a phone call out of the blue; or you bumped into someone who led you to a new job, a new relationship, or opportunity that totally changed your life. You probably even said, "Wow, what a coincidence I met so and so." But did you ever stop to ask what caused that person to be right there, at that exact moment, in your path? It was Divine Alignment: the arrangement of coincidences into a pattern of alignment so astonishing they could have come only from a higher source. In this inspiring new work, SQuire Rushnell shows readers how they can navigate life's thorniest hurdles, rediscover the deep meaning and impact of personal prayer, and develop the individual conviction and wherewithal it takes to reach their full potential and fulfill their most ambitious dreams by honoring the book's seven easy-to-follow steps. In his charmingly avuncular and wonderfully optimistic voice, SQuire shares moving stories from his own and others' lives to show the awesome strength inherent in what he calls God's Positioning System, or GPS. All of us, he assures readers, can use our own personal GPS to grow more closely aligned with God to become vastly more effective, successful, and fulfilled in our relationships, careers, and everything we do. *** DIVINE ALIGNMENT offers a comprehensive approach for living our lives in harmony with God--every minute of every day--offering a whole new paradigm for understanding the mysterious connections between people and events, challenges and solutions. GPS STEP 1: Speak with the Navigator GPS STEP 2: Listen to Your Own Inner Compass GPS STEP 3: Mapping Your Destination GPS STEP 4: Unshackle Your Baggage GPS STEP 5: Step Out in Faith and Believe You'll Arrive GPS STEP 6: Read the Signs, Recalculate, and Accelerate GPS STEP 7: Gratefully Arrive with a Full Well Within
When God Winks: How the Power of Coincidence Guides Your Life (The Godwink Series #1)
by Squire RushnellIt is not by accident that you just picked up When God Winks.Whether you call it synchronicity or coincidence, what brought you to this book today is worth remembering. In fact, you may have suspected all along that there is more to coincidence than meets the eye. These seemingly random events are actually signposts that can help you successfully navigate your career, relationships, and interests. Squire Rushnell shows us that by recognizing our "God Winks," we can use the untapped power of coincidence to vastly improve our lives. The author applies his compelling theory as to why coincidences exist to fascinating stories in history, sports, medicine, and relationships involving both everyday and famous people including Barbra Streisand, Charles Schulz, Oprah Winfrey, Kevin Costner, Mark Twain, and Presidents John Adams and Thomas Jefferson.
The Moral Foundations of Public Funding for the Arts (New Directions in Cultural Policy Research)
by Michael RushtonThis book provides a detailed account, and critique, of diverse approaches to the arts funding question, with a focus on the arm’s length arts councils that are the norm in the Anglo-American world. It builds on economic methods, the liberal-egalitarian framework of John Rawls, the communitarian opposition to the liberal framework, the capabilities approach to equality, and the cultural conservatism of Roger Scruton and others. In each case, the book considers the very practical aspect of public funding of the arts, namely, what are the implications for what ought to receive priority, and what parts of the cultural world are best left to their own, private sector, devices. It is not a work of “arts advocacy”. Rather, the book challenges assumptions, and sparks critical debate in the field.
On Art and Life
by John RuskinThroughout history, some books have changed the world. They have transformed the way we see ourselves - and each other. They have inspired debate, dissent, war and revolution. They have enlightened, outraged, provoked and comforted. They have enriched lives - and destroyed them. Now Penguin brings you the works of the great thinkers, pioneers, radicals and visionaries whose ideas shook civilization, and helped make us who we are.
Unto This Last and Other Writings
by John RuskinFirst and foremost an outcry against injustice and inhumanity, Unto this Last is also a closely argued assault on the science of political economy, which dominated the Victorian period. Ruskin was a profoundly conservative man who looked back to the Middle Ages as a Utopia, yet his ideas had a considerable influence on the British socialist movement. And in making his powerful moral and aesthetic case against the dangers of unhindered industrialization he was strangely prophetic. This volume shows the astounding range and depth of Ruskin's work, and in an illuminating introduction the editor reveals the consistency of Ruskin's philosophy and his adamant belief that questions of economics, art and science could not be separated from questions of morality. In Ruskin's words, 'There is no Wealth but Life.'
The Little Book of Wonder: Rediscover the power of creativity, curiosity and imagination
by Bernadette RussellWhen was the last time you felt 'wonder'? The feeling of amazement and admiration, caused by something beautiful, remarkable, or unfamiliar is one that, as children, we experienced often. But as adults we have grown tired and cynical and spend more time looking down at our phones than looking up at the sky. We no longer experience the power of awe nor its proven benefits.The Little Book of Wonder encourages you to be creative, feel curious and seek wonder in the world around us. Focussed around seven themes, echoing the seven wonders of the world, the book will explore:1. The Wonder of You2. Into the Woods3. Curious4. Magic5. Creativity6. The Road Less Travelled7. Positivity
The Little Book of Wonder: Rediscover the power of creativity, curiosity and imagination
by Bernadette RussellWhen was the last time you felt 'wonder'? The feeling of amazement and admiration, caused by something beautiful, remarkable, or unfamiliar is one that, as children, we experienced often. But as adults we have grown tired and cynical and spend more time looking down at our phones than looking up at the sky. We no longer experience the power of awe nor its proven benefits.The Little Book of Wonder encourages you to be creative, feel curious and seek wonder in the world around us. Focussed around seven themes, echoing the seven wonders of the world, the book will explore:1. The Wonder of You2. Into the Woods3. Curious4. Magic5. Creativity6. The Road Less Travelled7. Positivity