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The Equations of Life: How Physics Shapes Evolution
by Charles S. CockellA groundbreaking argument for why alien life will evolve to be much like life here on EarthWe are all familiar with the popular idea of strange alien life wildly different from life on earth inhabiting other planets. Maybe it's made of silicon! Maybe it has wheels! Or maybe it doesn't. In The Equations of Life, biologist Charles S. Cockell makes the forceful argument that the laws of physics narrowly constrain how life can evolve, making evolution's outcomes predictable. If we were to find on a distant planet something very much like a lady bug eating something like an aphid, we shouldn't be surprised. The forms of life are guided by a limited set of rules, and as a result, there is a narrow set of solutions to the challenges of existence.A remarkable scientific contribution breathing new life into Darwin's theory of evolution, The Equations of Life makes a radical argument about what life can--and can't--be.
The Erasmus Reader
by Desiderius Erasmus Erika RummelCollected Works of Erasmus ... thoughtfully designed to include major statements of Erasmus on civility in individual morals, humanistic study and education, the Christian life, reform of the church, and the peaceful constraint of political force. It is to my mind the most comprehensive and penetrating anthology of Erasmus' writing, forcefully revealing his central values." - Charles Trinkaus, Emeritus Professor of History, University of Michigan 'Rummel's collection makes available readable translations of Erasmus' most original and influential works - the books that made him the intellectual conscience of his generation of scholars and the inspiration of many Reformers who took positions he did not accept. They reveal the biblical scholar, the humanist and literary theorist, and the social critic that Erasmus was, far more fully and vividly than any previous anthology.' - Anthony Grafton, Program in History of Science, Princeton University 'The high quality of the Toronto edition of the Collected Works of Erasmus has earned it a central place in the libraries of scholars around the world. The Erasmus Reader extends this impact to the carrels and desks of beginning and advanced students of Renaissance and Reformation history.' - Heiko A. Oberman, Director, Division for Late Medieval and Reformation Studies, University of Arizona
The Erich Fromm Reader
by Erich Fromm Rainer Funk Joel KovelFromm's basic idea was to look at the individual as a social being and to look at society as an ensemble of many individuals who have not only common ideas and convictions based on a common practice of life but also a common psychic structure. With his concept of "social character" he created a new interdisciplinary thinking presented in this reader. The Erich Fromm Reader exhibits the true genius of an original thinker in seeing the connections between overlapping knowledge from many different fields. Here interdisciplinarity is not only a lip service but the impact of Erich Fromm's unique social psychological notion.
The Erich Fromm Reader: Readings Selected and Edited by Rainer Funk
by Erich Fromm&“Fromm crossed the boundaries of traditional disciplines to expound his view on the alienation of man in an increasingly technological world.&” —Newsweek Erich Fromm&’s basic idea was to look at the individual as a social being, and to look at society as an ensemble of many individuals who have not only mutual ideas and convictions based on a common practice of life, but also a shared psychic structure. With his concept of &“social character,&” Fromm created a new interdisciplinary thinking presented in this compendium.The Erich Fromm Reader exhibits the true genius of an original thinker in seeing the connections between overlapping knowledge from many different fields. Here, interdisciplinarity is not only a lip service but the impact of Erich Fromm&’s unique social psychological notion.
The Erotic Bird: Phenomenology in Literature
by Maurice NatansonHow does literature illuminate the way we live? Maurice Natanson, a prominent champion of phenomenology, draws upon this method's unique power to show how fiction can highlight aspects of experience that are normally left unexamined. By exploring the structure of the everyday world, Natanson reveals the "uncanny" that lies at the core of the ordinary. Phenomenology--which involves the questioning of that which we usually take for granted--is for Natanson the essence of philosophy.Drawing upon his philosophical predecessors Edmund Husserl, Alfred Schutz, and Jean-Paul Sartre, Natanson paves his own way with stories and examples that themselves bear witness to how phenomenology occurs in literature. In considering such works as Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot, Thomas Mann's The Magic Mountain, and Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis, Natanson shows how literature opens us to the domain of possibility and how metaphor offers philosophical power when we think about freedom and change.This book, written by one of the twentieth century's leading phenomenologists, will interest students in philosophy and in literature. They will value the work particularly for its clarification of concepts and terms that frequently emerge in the contemporary intellectual climate.
The Esoteric Path: An Introduction to the Hermetic Tradition
by Luc BenoistThe Estoric path firmly situates that path in its appropriate, traditional context, and point him or her in the right direction, away from the time-and soul-consuming attractions of those 'paths' that exhibit 9in the author's word) 'the confusion between the spiritual and the psychic...the identification of the spiritual with what is most inferior in the psyche, the identification of religion with magic, totemism, and even sorcey, the popular dissemination of pseudo- or counter-initiatic rituals.'
The Essays: A Selection
by Michel De Montaigne M. A. ScreechTo overcome a crisis of melancholy after the death of his father, Montaigne withdrew to his country estates and began to write. In the highly original essays that resulted he discussed themes such as fathers and children, conscience and cowardice, coaches and cannibals, and, above all, himself. On Some Lines of Virgil opens out into a frank discussion of sexuality and makes a revolutionary case for the equality of the sexes. In On Experience Montaigne superbly propounds his thoughts on the right way to live, while other essays touch on issues of an age struggling with religious and intellectual strife, with France torn apart by civil war. These diverse subjects are united by Montaigne's distinctive voice - that of a tolerant man, sceptical, humane, often humorous and utterly honest in his pursuit of the truth. M. A. Screech's distinguished translation fully retains the light-hearted and inquiring nature of the essays. In his introduction, he examines Montaigne's life and times, and the remarkable self-portrait that emerges from his works.
The Essence of Budo: A Practitioner's Guide to Understanding the Japanese Martial Ways
by Dave LowryThe study of budo, or the Japanese martial arts for self-cultivation, is a lifelong path toward perfection of character. Here, Dave Lowry, a sword master who has practiced and taught budo for over forty years, addresses the myriad issues, vagaries, and inconsistencies that arise for students of karate-do, judo, kendo, kenjutsu, aikido, and iaido as their training develops. He examines such questions as: * What is the relationship between the student and teacher, and what should one expect from the other? * What does rank really mean? * How do you correctly and sensitively practice with someone less experienced than you? * What does practice look like as one ages? * Why do budo arts put such an emphasis on etiquette? * And many others Lowry also gives practical advice for beginning and advanced students on improving structural integrity in posture and movement, focusing under stress, stances and preparatory actions before engaging with an opponent, and recognizing a good teacher from a bad one.
The Essence of Chinese Humanistic Culture (China Academic Library)
by Qizhi ZhangThis book presents a comprehensive and inclusive exploration of the core essence of Chinese civilization and its deeply-rooted humanistic values. It goes beyond the surface and delves into the philosophical, ethical, and historical aspects, aiming to unravel the profound characteristics and spiritual significance of Chinese culture. Taking an interdisciplinary approach, the book carefully examines classical texts, traditional values, moral principles, and cultural legacies that have shaped the Chinese humanistic spirit throughout history. By doing so, it offers readers a deep understanding of the rich cultural heritage that China possesses. One of the highlights of the book is its exploration of the relevance of Chinese cultural traditions and values in today’s society. It sheds new light on the significance of the Chinese humanistic spirit in the modern world, demonstrating its enduring importance and its potential to address contemporary issues.
The Essence of Faith: Philosophy of Religion
by Albert SchweitzerThe Nobel Peace Prize–winning doctor, theologian, and missionary explores the essence of faith in this masterful early work on Kantian metaphysics. Famous for his medical missionary work in what is now the West African country of Gabon, Albert Schweitzer was an accomplished theologian, philosopher, and international bestselling author. While studying for his PhD at the Sorbonne, Schweitzer developed his views on theology through an analysis of Immanuel Kant&’s philosophy of religion. In The Essence of Faith, Schweitzer explores Kantian ideas to arrive at an inspiring meditation on God, faith, and the limits of human understanding. Both an accessible introduction to Schweitzer&’s theology and a strikingly original approach to Kant&’s writing and thought, The Essence of Faith is a slim volume of profound ideas.
The Essence of Happiness
by Dalai Lama Howard C CutlerThe essence of the iconic book The Art of Happiness distilled into a beautiful new format. The Dalai Lama inspired millions around the world with his wisdom and compassion in The Art of Happiness. Now, in The Essence of Happiness, moving insights from His Holiness are gathered in an elegantly designed keepsake book that makes for a handy and accessible medium for that wisdom. Offering sage advice on defeating day-to-day depression, anxiety, anger, jealousy, and other emotions that get in the way of true happiness, the pages of The Essence of Happiness contain transforming reflections on how to overcome suffering and obstacles to create a fulfilled, joyous life. With its new package, ideal for taking anywhere, The Essence of Happiness is poised to become the handbook for living.
The Essence of Jung's Psychology and Tibetan Buddhism
by Radmila MoacaninThe Essence of Jung's Psychology and Tibetan Buddhism cuts to the heart of two very different yet remarkably similar traditions. The author touches on many of their major ideas: the collective unconscious and karma, archetypes and deities, the analyst and the spiritual friend, and mandalas. Within Tibetan Buddhism she focuses on tantra and relates its emphasis on spiritual transformation, also a major concern of Jung. This expanded edition includes new material on the integration of the two traditions, and the importance of these paths of the heart in today's unsteady world.
The Essence of Nihilism
by Alessandro Carrera Emanuele Severino Giacomo Donis Ines TestoniA groundbreaking classic of contemporary philosophy for the first time in English translationBetween 1961 and 1970, Emanuele Severino was subjected to a thorough investigation by the Vatican Inquisition. The "fundamental incompatibility" identified between his thought and Christian doctrine ejected him from his position as Professor of Philosophy at the Catholic University in Milan. The Essence of Nihilism, published in 1972, was the first book to follow his expulsion, and it established Severino's preeminent position within the the constellation of contemporary philosophy.In this groundbreaking and classic book--now for the first time available in English--Severino reinterprets the history of Western philosophy as the unfolding of "the greatest folly," that is, of the belief that "things come out of nothing and fall back into nothing." According to Severino, such a typically Western understanding of reality has resulted in a conviction that there is a radical "nothingness" to existence. In turn, this justifies the treatment of the world as an object of exploitation, degradation and destruction. To move beyond Western nihilism, suggests Severino, we must first of all "return to Parmenides." Joining forces with the most venerable of Greek philosophers, Severino confutes nihilism's "path of night", and develops a new philosophy grounded on the principle of the eternity of reality and of every single existent thing.From the Trade Paperback edition.
The Essence of Numbers (Lecture Notes in Mathematics #2278)
by Frédéric PatrasThis book considers the manifold possible approaches, past and present, to our understanding of the natural numbers. They are treated as epistemic objects: mathematical objects that have been subject to epistemological inquiry and attention throughout their history and whose conception has evolved accordingly. Although they are the simplest and most common mathematical objects, as this book reveals, they have a very complex nature whose study illuminates subtle features of the functioning of our thought. Using jointly history, mathematics and philosophy to grasp the essence of numbers, the reader is led through their various interpretations, presenting the ways they have been involved in major theoretical projects from Thales onward. Some pertain primarily to philosophy (as in the works of Plato, Aristotle, Kant, Wittgenstein...), others to general mathematics (Euclid's Elements, Cartesian algebraic geometry, Cantorian infinities, set theory...). Also serving as an introduction to the works and thought of major mathematicians and philosophers, from Plato and Aristotle to Cantor, Dedekind, Frege, Husserl and Weyl, this book will be of interest to a wide variety of readers, from scholars with a general interest in the philosophy or mathematics to philosophers and mathematicians themselves.
The Essence of Phenomenology and Its Meaning for the Scientific Study of Religion
by Thomas RybaReligious studies is rife with confusion over what the phenomenology of religion is. Conventional approaches dwell on the dissimilarity of the meanings of 'phenomenology' and 'phenomenology of religion' and ignore their synonymy. The purpose of this book is to challenge this trend by examining seven significant historical examples of philosophical phenomenology in order to develop a synthetic definition of 'phenomenology' which will both resolve the perceived conflicts in meaning and lead to a useful augmentation of religious methodology.
The Essence of Plato's Philosophy (Routledge Revivals)
by Constantin RitterThis book, first published in English in 1933, provides a detailed analysis of the life and concepts of the Greek philosopher Plato. The Essence of Plato’s Philosophy explores epistemology and ontology, the philosophy of nature, ethics and the philosophy of the state, and aesthetics and religion. This book will be of interest to students of philosophy.
The Essence of Reality: A Defense of Philosophical Sufism (Library of Arabic Literature)
by ʿAyn al-QuḍātA groundbreaking exposition of Islamic mysticism The Essence of Reality was written over the course of just three days in 514/1120, by a scholar who was just twenty-four. The text, like its author ʿAyn al-Quḍāt, is remarkable for many reasons, not least of which that it is in all likelihood the earliest philosophical exposition of mysticism in the Islamic intellectual tradition. This important work would go on to exert significant influence on both classical Islamic philosophy and philosophical mysticism. Written in a terse yet beautiful style, The Essence of Reality consists of one hundred brief chapters interspersed with Qurʾanic verses, prophetic sayings, Sufi maxims, and poetry. In conversation with the work of the philosophers Avicenna and al-Ghazālī, the book takes readers on a philosophical journey, with lucid expositions of questions including the problem of the eternity of the world; the nature of God’s essence and attributes; the concepts of “before” and “after”; and the soul’s relationship to the body. All these discussions are seamlessly tied into ʿAyn al-Quḍāt’s foundational argument—that mystical knowledge lies beyond the realm of the intellect.An English-only edition.
The Essence of T'ai Chi
by Waysun LiaoThe deepest benefits of T'ai Chi cannot be realized without an understanding of its underlying principles. This book presents these principles through translations of three core classics of T'ai Chi that are often considered the "T'ai Chi Bible," accompanied by the author's insightful commentary. Master Liao demonstrates how to increase the body's inner energy (ch'i) and transform it into power, health, and well-being. By reading the clear and precise explanations of the fundamental principles of T'ai Chi, students can develop a more complete understanding of the art and philosophy of this traditional martial art.
The Essence of Tsongkhapa's Teachings: The Dalai Lama on the Three Principal Aspects of the Path
by Dalai LamaLearn from the Dalai Lama the three steps to awakening: 1) renunciation, 2) the awakening mind, and 3) emptiness.His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s commentary on Tsongkhapa’s Three Principal Aspects of the Path helps us integrate the full Buddhist path into our own practice. His Holiness offers a beautiful elucidation of the three aspects of the path: true renunciation based on the wish for freedom, the altruistic awakening mind ( bodhichitta ), and the correct view of emptiness. These three aspects of the path are the axis of all the practices of both sutra and tantra, and they encapsulate Tsongkhapa’s vision of the Buddhist path in its entirety. In their absence, it is impossible for us to develop the great compassion that aspires to liberate other sentient beings from samsara and we will not be able to go beyond this cycle of existence. Practitioners will find The Three Principal Aspects of the Path invaluable as a manual for daily meditation. The universal and timeless insights of this text speak to contemporary spiritual aspirants, East and West. The root verses are presented in both Tibetan and English translation to accompany these profound teachings.
The Essence of Yoga: Essays on the Development of Yogic Philosophy from the Vedas to Modern Times
by Georg Feuerstein Jeanine MillerA collection of classic essays by two highly regarded scholars on the development of yoga and its rapport with other religious traditions. Georg Feuerstein, one of the world's foremost scholars of yoga, and Jeanine Miller, long recognized for her insightful commentaries on the RgVeda, here pool their considerable talents in a look at the development of yogic thought across the ages and its similarities with the Christian mysticism of Meister Eckhart. Two of their essays included here, one concerning the essence of yoga and the other looking at the meaning of suffering in yoga, have long been singled out by indologists for correcting prevalent misconceptions and providing a conceptual framework for many of the subsequent studies in that field. The reprinting of these important essays in The Essence of Yoga gives new readers a chance to share some of the authors' earliest insights into yoga and their deep conviction that these discoveries are of the highest significance for a proper understanding of the human condition.
The Essence of Zen
by Daigaku Rumme Sekkei HaradaThe Essence of Zen is an expert's guided tour of the ins and outs of the tradition's approach to meditation, enlightenment, and the oneness of all things. To read it is to enter into one of modern Japanese Zen's most subtle and sophisticated minds. Sekkei Harada skillfully pushes us to drop those parts of ourselves that grasp and make demands regarding our understanding or progress in meditation practice. He enables us to see clearly-and steer clear of-the philosophical stumbling blocks that can make the path precarious. The Essence of Zen represents the most succinct of his teachings, making it of immediate value to anyone with an interest in Zen. The book also contains Harada's explanations of the differences between the tradition's primary schools, making it particularly helpful to newcomers.
The Essence of the Self: In Defense of the Simple View of Personal Identity (Routledge Studies in Contemporary Philosophy)
by Geoffrey MadellIn this volume, Geoffrey Madell develops a revised account of the self, making a compelling case for why the "simple" or "anti-criterial" view of personal identity warrants a robust defense. Madell critiques recent discussions of the self for focusing on features which are common to all selves, and which therefore fail to capture the uniqueness of each self. In establishing his own view of personal identity, Madell proposes (a) that there is always a gap between ‘A is f and g’ and ‘I am f and g’; (b), that a complete description of the world offered without recourse to indexicals will fail to account for the contingent truth that I am one of the persons described; and (c), that an account of conscious perspectives on the world must take into account what it means for an apparently arbitrary one of these perspectives to be mine. Engaging with contemporary positions on the first person, embodiment, psychological continuity, and other ongoing arguments, Madell contends that there can be no such thing as a criterion of personal identity through time, that no bodily or psychological continuity approach to the issue can succeed, and that personal identity through time must be absolute, not a matter of degree. Madell’s view that the nature of the self is substantively different from that of objects in the world will generate significant discussion and debate among philosophers of mind.
The Essential Aristotle
by AristotleAristotle was a Greek philosopher and a student of Plato. He taught Alexander the Great, and wrote on many subjects, including physics, metaphysics, poetry, theater, music, logic, rhetoric, politics, government, ethics, biology, and zoology. Together with Plato and Socrates, Aristotle is one of the most important founding figures in Western philosophy. He was the first to create a comprehensive system of Western philosophy, encompassing morality and aesthetics, logic and science, politics and metaphysics. Aristotle's views on the physical sciences profoundly shaped medieval scholarship, and their influence extended well into the Renaissance.
The Essential Baruch Spinoza: How to Improve Your Mind, The Road to Inner Freedom, and The Book of God
by Baruch SpinozaThree philosophical works by the seventeenth-century Enlightenment thinker and author of Ethics.How to Improve Your MindIn this earlier work, Dutch philosopher Baruch Spinoza articulates his view that life is best lived with the supreme happiness of knowing God&’s infinite love. By extension, all earthly pursuits—including money, fame, and sex—are mere distractions from the greater joy of the soul&’s quietude.Translated by the philosopher and founder of the Philosophical Library, Dagobert D. Runes. Runes also provides exclusive commentary and biographical notes.The Road to Inner FreedomSpinoza views the ability to experience rational love of God as the key to mastering the contradictory and violent human emotions.The Book of GodThe Book of God, one of Spinzoa&’s earliest works, came to light only a hundred years ago in two slightly varying Dutch manuscripts. Its youthful author lived in turbulent times, when the Western world was torn by civil and religious strife, and bullies, bigots and pseudo-prophets vied for the ear of a fearful people. While Europe was in an uproar over the right church, Spinoza was seeking the right God. This book is the first known report of his findings. Translated by Dr. A. Wolf from the Dutch [the author&’s Tractatus de Deo et homine version] and edited and with an introduction by Dagobert D. Runes.
The Essential Bernie Sanders and His Vision for America
by Jonathan TasiniMeet the essential Bernie Sanders--an authentic and uncompromising champion of the people. Independent United States Senator Bernie Sanders--with a thirty-five-year career in public service, first as Burlington, Vermont's mayor, then as Vermont's sole representative to Congress, and currently as a United States senator--is now campaigning to become president of the United States. His goal is to build a movement to take back our country from the rich and powerful, and return it to its rightful owners--we, the American people. Sanders' common sense, populist message is resonating with Democrats, Republicans, independents, as well as ordinary working- and middle-class Americans from all walks of life, including millennials, seniors, veterans, immigrants, environmentalists, union workers, and more. In this short, accessible book, author Jonathan Tasini draws heavily from Sanders' ample public record of speeches, statements, and interviews, and couples his working-class spirit with specific legislation he has championed on a number of core proposals that comprise a broader people's agenda for America, including: A national, single-payer health care system; Free public higher education; Taking on wealth and income inequality; Preserving Social Security; Caring for our veterans; Ensuring civil rights for all; Combatting climate change; Reforming Wall Street, and much more. The Essential Bernie Sanders and His Vision for America is a must-read for anyone who shares a vision for a forward-looking, sustainable, and more just United States of America, and is eager to change the course of history.