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What Would Animals Say If We Asked the Right Questions? (Posthumanities #38)
by Vinciane Despret&“You are about to enter a new genre, that of scientific fables, by which I don&’t mean science fiction, or false stories about science, but, on the contrary, true ways of understanding how difficult it is to figure out what animals are up to.&” —Bruno Latour, form the ForewordIs it all right to urinate in front of animals? What does it mean when a monkey throws its feces at you? Do apes really know how to ape? Do animals form same-sex relations? Are they the new celebrities of the twenty-first century? This book poses twenty-six such questions that stretch our preconceived ideas about what animals do, what they think about, and what they want.In a delightful abecedarium of twenty-six chapters, Vinciane Despret argues that behaviors we identify as separating humans from animals do not actually properly belong to humans. She does so by exploring incredible and often funny adventures about animals and their involvements with researchers, farmers, zookeepers, handlers, and other human beings. Do animals have a sense of humor? In reading these stories it is evident that they do seem to take perverse pleasure in creating scenarios that unsettle even the greatest of experts, who in turn devise newer and riskier hypotheses that invariably lead them to conclude that animals are not nearly as dumb as previously thought.These deftly translated accounts oblige us, along the way, to engage in both ethology and philosophy. Combining serious scholarship with humor that will resonate with anyone, this book—with a foreword by noted French philosopher, anthropologist, and sociologist of science Bruno Latour—is a must not only for specialists but also for general readers, including dog owners, who will never look at their canine companions the same way again.
What Would Be Different: Figures of Possibility in Adorno
by Iain MacdonaldPossibility is a concept central to both philosophy and social theory. But in what philosophical soil, if any, does the possibility of a better society grow? At the intersection of metaphysics and social theory, What Would Be Different looks to Theodor W. Adorno to reflect on the relationship between the possible and the actual. In repeated allusions to utopia, redemption, and reconciliation, Adorno appears to reference a future that would break decisively with the social injustices that have characterized history. To this end, and though he never explains it in any detail—let alone in the form of a full-blown theory or metaphysics—he also makes extensive technical use of the concept of possibility. Taking Adorno's critical readings of other thinkers, especially Hegel and Heidegger, as his guiding thread, Iain Macdonald reflects on possibility as it relates to Adorno's own writings and offers answers to the question of how we are to articulate such possibilities without lapsing into a vague and naïve utopianism.
What Would Buddha Do?: 101 Answers to Life's Daily Dilemmas (Berrett-koehler Ser.)
by Franz Metcalf&“Soothing and surprisingly contemporary advice on topics such as addiction, personal identity struggles, relationship conflicts and financial worries.&” —Publishers Weekly A unique approach to Buddhism, What Would Buddha Do? shows that anyone can find guidance in Buddha&’s teachings. It demonstrates how to use the advice of Buddha to become a better person at work, at home, and in society. Presented in a reader-friendly format, with each page offering a question, a Buddhist quote, and advice from the author, What Would Buddha Do? applies this question to 101 problems confronted in everyday life and reveals how Buddha&’s teachings are still meaningful after 2,500 years.&“In his entertaining and practical paperback What Would Buddha Do? 101 Answers to Life&’s Daily Dilemmas, Franz Metcalf applied ancient wisdom to contemporary questions of personal identity, relationships, and societal issues.&” —Spirituality & Practice
What Would Cervantes Do?: Navigating Post-Truth with Spanish Baroque Literature (McGill-Queen's Iberian and Latin American Cultures Series #2)
by William Egginton David CastilloThe attack on the US Capitol on 6 January 2021 was a tragic illustration of the existential threat that the viral spread of disinformation poses in the age of social media and twenty-four-hour news. From climate change denialism to the frenzied conspiracy theories and racist mythologies that fuel antidemocratic white nationalist movements in the United States and abroad, What Would Cervantes Do? is a lucid meditation on the key role the humanities must play in dissecting and combatting all forms of disinformation.David Castillo and William Egginton travel back to the early modern period, the first age of inflationary media, in search of historically tested strategies to overcome disinformation and shed light on our post-truth market. Through a series of critical conversations between cultural icons of the twenty-first century and those of the Spanish Golden Age, What Would Cervantes Do? provides a tour-de-force commentary on current politics and popular culture. Offering a diverse range of Cervantist comparative readings of contemporary cultural texts – movies, television shows, and infotainment – alongside ideas and issues from literary and cultural texts of early modern Spain, Castillo and Egginton present a new way of unpacking the logic of contemporary media.What Would Cervantes Do? is an urgent and timely self-help manual for literary scholars and humanists of all stripes, and a powerful toolkit for reality literacy.
What Would Madison Do?
by Benjamin Wittes Pietro S NivolaWhat would the father of the Constitution think of contemporary developments in American politics and public policy?Constitutional scholars have long debated whether the American political system, which was so influenced by the thinking of James Madison, has in fact grown outmoded. But if Madison himself could peer at the present, what would he think of the state of key political institutions that he helped originate and the government policies that these institutions produce? In What Would Madison Do?, ten prominent scholars explore the contemporary performance of Madison's constitutional legacy and how much would have surprised him.John DiIulio Jr. (University of Pennsylvania) observes the failure of today's policymakers to address adequately the nation' s long-range financial liabilities.William Galston (Brookings Institution) examines the implications of the rise of political parties and the ascent of "direct versus representative democracy."Pietro Nivola (Brookings Institution) makes the case that the American political system actually acquitted itself comparatively well in contending with the recent Great Recession.R. Shep Melnick (Boston College) challenges the common presumption that the U.S. government is gridlocked.Jonathan Rauch (Brookings Institution) argues that America's political process continues to encourage useful compromise, much as Madison intended.Jack Rakove (Stanford University) ponders what Madison would think of the contemporary U.S. Senate.Martha Derthick (University of Virginia) contemplates the current federal government's extensive involvement in the concerns of states and localities.Eugene Hickok (former deputy secretary of education) discusses Madison's devotion to education and invites us to wonder how he might view the educational system's current condition.Lynn Uzzell (Robert H. Smith Center for the Constitution at James Madison's Montpelier) reflects on how Madison might have regarded the judicial role in resolving constitutional disputes such as those stirred by laws such as the Affordable Care Act.Benjamin Wittes (Brookings Institution) and Ritika Singh (Lawfare) look at the age-old tension between national security interests and safeguarding civil liberties.
What Would Madison Do?
by Benjamin Wittes Pietro S NivolaWhat would the father of the Constitution think of contemporary developments in American politics and public policy?Constitutional scholars have long debated whether the American political system, which was so influenced by the thinking of James Madison, has in fact grown outmoded. But if Madison himself could peer at the present, what would he think of the state of key political institutions that he helped originate and the government policies that they produce? In What Would Madison Do?, ten prominent scholars explore the contemporary performance of Madison's constitutional legacy and how much would have surprised him.Contents:1. Introduction: Perspectives on Madison's Legacy for Contemporary American Politics, Pietro S. Nivola and Benjamin Wittes2. Mr. Madison's Communion Suit: Implementation-Group Liberalism and the Case for Constitutional Reform, John J. DiIulio Jr.3. Constitutional Surprises: What James Madison Got Wrong, William A. Galston4. Overcoming the Great Recession: How Madison's "Horse and Buggy" Managed, Pietro S. Nivola5. Gridlock and the Madisonian Constitution, R. Shep Melnick
What Would Marx Do?: How The Greatest Political Activists Would Solve Your Everyday Problems (What Would Ser.)
by Gareth SouthwellHave you ever wondered what Kant might have to say about your addiction to social media? Or whether Plato would be able to help resolve your constant arguments about what to watch on TV? Or if Hobbes would agree to feed your pet hamster while you're away on holiday?When it comes to the really important questions, who better to ask than the greatest political minds in history, with What Would Marx Do? Using 40 everyday questions and problems as springboards for exploring the great political questions of our time, this book will give you a crash course in political philosophy, and an introduction to the theories and ideas of the greatest political philosophers of all time. Includes questions such as:-Should I bother to vote?-Who should look after the baby?-Do you earn enough?-My car has just been stolen! But can I hold the thieves responsible?-Should I watch what I say on Twitter?-Should your children benefit from your success?-Is it wrong to want a bigger house?With quirky illustrations and intriguing and original takes on the biggest (and smallest) everyday questions, What Would Marx Do? is guaranteed to leave you with a better grasp on political philosophy, and able to discuss Marxism, Libertarian Socialism and Populism with ease.
What Would Marx Do?: How the greatest political theorists would solve your everyday problems
by Gareth SouthwellHave you ever wondered what Kant might have to say about your addiction to social media? Or whether Plato would be able to help resolve your constant arguments about what to watch on TV? Or if Hobbes would agree to feed your pet hamster while you're away on holiday?When it comes to the really important questions, who better to ask than the greatest political minds in history, with What Would Marx Do? Using 40 everyday questions and problems as springboards for exploring the great political questions of our time, this book will give you a crash course in political philosophy, and an introduction to the theories and ideas of the greatest political philosophers of all time. Includes questions such as:-Should I bother to vote?-Who should look after the baby?-Do you earn enough?-My car has just been stolen! But can I hold the thieves responsible?-Should I watch what I say on Twitter?-Should your children benefit from your success?-Is it wrong to want a bigger house?With quirky illustrations and intriguing and original takes on the biggest (and smallest) everyday questions, What Would Marx Do? is guaranteed to leave you with a better grasp on political philosophy, and able to discuss Marxism, Libertarian Socialism and Populism with ease.
What Would Nietzsche Do?: How the greatest philosophers would solve your everyday problems (What Would Ser.)
by Marcus WeeksLet the greatest minds of every generation advise you on the everyday problems in your life.
What Would Nietzsche Do?: Philosophical Solutions To Everyday Problems
by Marcus WeeksEver wondered if Schopenhauer could fix your broken heart? How Heraclitus might help you if you lost your phone? Given the chance, would Foucault leave the toilet seat up?With sections on Relationships, Self and Identity, How to Live, Art and Aesthetics, and Politics, there is an answer to each of modern life's questions here. Each section is comprised of a collection of questions, from 'Is Shakespeare better than the Simpsons?' to 'Should I get a takeaway tonight?'; from little niggling questions, to the great mysteries of human existence. With Marcus Weeks's illuminating commentary on each philosopher's answer to the question at hand, you'll be spouting Socrates and discussing Descartes before you know it. A guide to life, of sorts, and also a fantastic introduction to philosophy for anyone looking to broaden their knowledge of the subject.
What Would Socrates Do?
by Joel Alden Schlosser"Socrates continues to be an extremely influential force to this day; his work is featured prominently in the work of contemporary thinkers ranging from Hannah Arendt and Leo Strauss, to Michel Foucault and Jacques Rancière. Intervening in this discussion, What Would Socrates Do? reconstructs Socrates' philosophy in ancient Athens to show its promise of empowering citizens and non-citizens alike. By drawing them into collective practices of dialogue and reflection, philosophy can help people to become thinking, acting beings more capable of fully realizing the promises of political life. At the same time, however, Joel Alden Schlosser shows how these practices' commitment to interrogation keeps philosophy at a distance from the democratic status quo, creating a dissonance with conventional forms of politics that opens space for new forms of participation and critical contestation of extant ones"--
What Would the Founders Say?
by Larry SchweikartThe #1 New York Times bestselling coauthor of A Patriot's History of the United States examines ten current challenges. America is at a crossroads. We face two options: continue our descent toward big government, higher taxes, less individual liberty, and more debt or pull our country back on the path our Founding Fathers planned for us. But that path isn't always so easy to see. Following the success of his previous books, conservative historian Larry Schweikart tackles some of the key issues confronting our nation today: education, government bailouts, gun control, health care, the environment, and more. For each he asks, "What would the founders say?" and sets out to explore our history and offer wisdom to help us get back on track. What would really be compatible with the vision that Washington, Jefferson, Madison, and the other founders had for America? Written in Schweikart's informal yet informative style, What Would the Founders Say? is sure to delight his fans and anyone looking for a little clarity on tough issues.
What You Need to Know About Voting—and Why (Legal Expert Series)
by Kim Wehle“Now, more than ever, Americans are realizing that their votes count. Kim Wehle’s excellent guide tells you everything you need to know about the laws governing our greatest right and privilege. A must-read, especially in an election year.” —Norah O'Donnell, Anchor and Managing Editor, CBS Evening NewsWant to change the world? The first step is to exercise your right to vote! In this step by step guide, you can learn everything you need to know. In What You Need to Know About Voting—and Why, law professor and constitutional scholar Kimberly Wehle offers practical, useful advice on the mechanics of voting and an enlightening survey of its history and future. What is a primary?How does the electoral college work?Who gets to cast a ballot and why?How do mail-in ballots work?How do I register?For new voters, would-be voters, young people and all of us looking ahead to the next election, What You Need to Know About Voting—and Why is a timely and informative guide, providing the background you need in order to make informed choices that will shape our shared destiny for decades to come.
What a Coincidence!: On Unpredictability, Complexity and the Nature of Time
by Bernhard WesslingHow does chance enter our world? And why is so much not predictable?In an understandable, exciting and amusing narrative, the author takes us into the world of chemistry, quantum physics and biology. Touching on astronomy and philosophy, we witness a rewarding journey of discovery. In the process, he develops a completely new view of chance based on the laws of nature. Here, the omnipresent non-equilibrium plays an extremely decisive role, because it generates the complex structures in our world. Finally, on this basis, he presents an equally simple and captivating hypothesis on the nature of time.This non-fiction book provides a deep insight into the fascination of research, the agonizing search for fundamental understanding, and the struggle for scientific knowledge.
What a Philosopher Is: Becoming Nietzsche
by Laurence LampertThe trajectory of Friedrich Nietzsche’s thought has long presented a difficulty for the study of his philosophy. How did the young Nietzsche—classicist and ardent advocate of Wagner’s cultural renewal—become the philosopher of Will to Power and the Eternal Return? With this book, Laurence Lampert answers that question. He does so through his trademark technique of close readings of key works in Nietzsche’s journey to philosophy: The Birth of Tragedy, Schopenhauer as Educator, Richard Wagner in Bayreuth, Human All Too Human, and “Sanctus Januarius,” the final book of the 1882 Gay Science. Relying partly on how Nietzsche himself characterized his books in his many autobiographical guides to the trajectory of his thought, Lampert sets each in the context of Nietzsche’s writings as a whole, and looks at how they individually treat the question of what a philosopher is. Indispensable to his conclusions are the workbooks in which Nietzsche first recorded his advances, especially the 1881 workbook which shows him gradually gaining insights into the two foundations of his mature thinking. The result is the most complete picture we’ve had yet of the philosopher’s development, one that gives us a Promethean Nietzsche, gaining knowledge even as he was expanding his thought to create new worlds.
What are Universities For?
by Stefan ColliniAcross the world, universities are more numerous than they have ever been, yet at the same time there is unprecedented confusion about their purpose and scepticism about their value. What Are Universities For? offers a spirited and compelling argument for completely rethinking the way we see our universities, and why we need them. Stefan Collini challenges the common claim that universities need to show that they help to make money in order to justify getting more money. Instead, he argues that we must reflect on the different types of institution and the distinctive roles they play. In particular we must recognize that attempting to extend human understanding, which is at the heart of disciplined intellectual enquiry, can never be wholly harnessed to immediate social purposes - particularly in the case of the humanities, which both attract and puzzle many people and are therefore the most difficult subjects to justify.At a time when the future of higher education lies in the balance, What Are Universities For? offers all of us a better, deeper and more enlightened understanding of why universities matter, to everyone.
What is Consciousness?: A Debate (Little Debates about Big Questions)
by Daniel Stoljar Amy KindWhat is consciousness and why is it so philosophically and scientifically puzzling? For many years philosophers approached this question assuming a standard physicalist framework on which consciousness can be explained by contemporary physics, biology, neuroscience, and cognitive science. This book is a debate between two philosophers who are united in their rejection of this kind of "standard" physicalism—but who differ sharply in what lesson to draw from this. Amy Kind defends dualism 2.0, a thoroughly modern version of dualism (the theory that there are two fundamentally different kinds of things in the world: those that are physical and those that are mental) decoupled from any religious or non-scientific connotations. Daniel Stoljar defends non-standard physicalism, a kind of physicalism different from both the standard version and dualism 2.0. The book presents a cutting-edge assessment of the philosophy of consciousness and provides a glimpse at what the future study of this area might bring. Key Features Outlines the different things people mean by "consciousness" and provides an account of what consciousness is. Reviews the key arguments for thinking that consciousness is incompatible with physicalism. Explores and provides a defense of contrasting responses to those arguments, with a special focus on responses that reject the standard physicalist framework. Provides an account of the basic aims of the science of consciousness. Written in a lively and accessibly style. Includes a comprehensive glossary.
What is Consciousness?: Three Sages Look Behind the Veil
by Stanley Krippner Larry Dossey Jean Houston Ervin LaszloWhat is consciousness? Conventional thinking tells us it is the images, sensations, thoughts, and feelings produced by the brain. When the neurons in the brain stop firing, consciousness ceases to be. But does it?
What is Criminology About?: Philosophical Reflections
by Ronnie Lippens Don CreweSince its inception, criminology has had trouble answering the question of what it is about. But although many consider the answer to this question to be self-evident, this book pursues the provocative possibility that criminology does not know what the object of its study is; it merely knows what it is called. Aiming to foster dissent among those who claim to know what criminology is about – and those who don’t – writers from different schools of thought come together in this collection to answer the question "what is criminology about?" Building on a resurgence of interest in the nature of the object of criminology, their responses aim to deepen, and to expand, the current debate. This book will, then, be of considerable interest to contemporary proponents and students of criminology and law.
What is Education for?: The View of the Great Thinkers and Their Relevance Today
by Nicholas TateDr Nicholas Tate looks at the philosophies of 10 great thinkers from history and explains how their ideas put current education issues into a new perspective, while suggesting additional ones to be addressed. The aim is to show how engaging with interesting past minds can both help put current issues in a new perspective and suggest additional ones to be addressed.
What is Education for?: The View of the Great Thinkers and Their Relevance Today
by Nicholas TateDr Nicholas Tate looks at the philosophies of 10 great thinkers from history and explains how their ideas put current education issues into a new perspective, while suggesting additional ones to be addressed. The aim is to show how engaging with interesting past minds can both help put current issues in a new perspective and suggest additional ones to be addressed.
What is Education?
by Jackson Philip W.One day in 1938, John Dewey addressed a room of professional educators and urged them to take up the task of “finding out just what education is. ” Reading this lecture in the late 1940s, Philip W. Jackson took Dewey’s charge to heart and spent the next sixty years contemplating his words. The stimulating result of a lifetime of thinking about educating, What Is Education? is a profound philosophical exploration of how we transmit knowledge in human society and how we think about accomplishing that vital task. Most contemporary approaches to education follow a strictly empirical track, aiming to discover pragmatic solutions for teachers and school administrators. Jackson argues that we need to learn not just how to improve on current practices but also how to think about what education means—in short, we need to answer Dewey by constantly rethinking education from the ground up. Guiding us through the many facets of Dewey’s comments, Jackson also calls on Hegel, Kant, and Paul Tillich to shed light on how a society does, can, and should transmit truth and knowledge to successive generations. Teasing out the implications in these thinkers’ works ultimately leads Jackson to the conclusion that education is at root a moral enterprise. At a time when schools increasingly serve as a battleground for ideological contests, What Is Education? is a stirring call to refocus our minds on what is for Jackson the fundamental goal of education: making students as well as teachers—and therefore everyone—better people.
What is Enlightenment? (Kant's Questions)
by Samuel Fleischacker"Have the courage to use your own understanding! - that is the motto of enlightenment." - Immanuel Kant The Enlightenment is one of the most important and contested periods in the history of philosophy. The problems it addressed, such as the proper extent of individual freedom and the challenging of tradition, resonate as much today as when they were first debated. Of all philosophers, it is arguably Kant who took such questions most seriously, addressing them above all in his celebrated short essay, An Answer to the Question: What is Enlightenment? In this engaging and lucid book, Samuel Fleischacker first explains and assesses Kant’s philosophy of Enlightenment. He then considers critics of Kant’s views - from Burke and Hegel to Horkheimer and Adorno - and figures he regards as having extended Kant’s notion of enlightenment, such as Feuerbach, Marx, Habermas, Foucault, and Rawls. Throughout, he demonstrates how Kant holds two distinct theories of enlightenment. On the one hand, Kant proposes a ‘minimal’ view, where to be enlightened is simply to engage in critical public discussion, allowing diversity of opinion to flourish. On the other, he argues that Kant elsewhere calls for a ‘maximal’ view of enlightenment, where, for example, an enlightened person cannot believe in a traditional religion. With great skill Fleischacker shows how these two views are taken in a multitude of directions by both critics and advocates of Kant’s philosophy. Arguing that Kant’s minimal enlightenment is a precondition for a healthy proliferation of cultures, religious faiths and political movements, What is Enlightenment? is a fascinating introduction to a key aspect of Kant’s thought and a compelling analysis of philosophical thinking about the Enlightenment. Including helpful chapter summaries and guides to further reading, it is ideal for anyone studying Kant or the philosophy of the Enlightenment, as well as those in related disciplines such as politics, history and religious studies.
What is Ethics? (What is Philosophy?)
by James P. SterbaEthics is a field of study that we all need. This is because we all make choices, and ethics is about the general norms that govern how we should make those choices. Not surprisingly, there is disagreement over what the “norms” are, but by working through such disagreement, we can learn how to make better choices. James P. Sterba presents a general overview of ethics, using relevant examples and accessible arguments. He takes up the question of why we should be ethical or moral, discusses competing ethical theories and proposes a way to reconcile them, and considers the relationship between ethics and religion. Ultimately, he reveals how the material discussed in the book can be used to make better ethical choices in our day-to-day lives. What is Ethics? is a book you can rely on to improve your ability to make ethical choices.
What is Good?: The Search For The Best Way To Live
by A. C. GraylingA.C. Grayling answers the most important question - How do we live a good life?One of the most fundamental questions in our life is to find out what we value - what principles we want to live by and which codes we will use to guide our behaviour. Most of us want to live a good life. But what, in today's secular society, does 'good' actually mean?To classical Greeks, the acquisition of knowledge, the enjoyment of the senses, creativity and beauty were all aspects of life to strive for. Then came the volcanic declarations of St Paul and his fundamentalist ideas on sin and human nature. In WHAT IS GOOD?, A.C. Grayling examines these and other proposals on how to live a good life, from the 'heroic' ideals of the Greek poets to Kant's theories on freedom and the UN Declaration on Human Rights.