On its publication in 1957, The Poverty of Historicism was hailed by Arthur Koestler as 'probably the only book published this year which will outlive the century.' A devastating criticism of fixed and predictable laws in history, Popper dedicated the book to all those 'who fell victim to the fascist and communist belief in Inexorable Laws of Historical Destiny.' Short and beautifully written, it has inspired generations of readers, intellectuals and policy makers. One of the most important books on the social sciences since the Second World War, it is a searing insight into the ideas of this great thinker.

In the second of two volumes of this magnificently illustrated cultural history--the tie-in to the PBS and BBC series The Story of the Jews--Simon Schama details the story of the Jewish people, spanning from their expulsion from Spain in the Inquisition across six hundred years to the present day. It is a story like no other: an epic of endurance against destruction, of creativity in the face of oppression, joy amidst grief, the affirmation of life against the steepest of odds. It spans the centuries and the continents--from the Iberian Peninsula and the collapse of "the golden age" to the shtetls of Russia to the dusty streets of infant Hollywood. Its voices ring loud and clear, from the philosophical musings of Spinoza to the poetry written on slips of paper in concentraion camps. Within these pages, the Enlightenment unfolds, a great diaspora transforms a country, a Viennese psychaiatrist forever changes the conception of the human mind. And a great story unfolds. Not--as often imagined--of a culture apart, but of a Jewish world immersed in and imprinted by the peoples among whom they have dwelled, from the Egyptians to the Greeks, from the Arabs to the Christians, from the Soviets to America. Which makes the story of the Jews everyone's story, too.

Dr. Peikoff identifies the cause of Nazism--and the ominous parallels between the intellectual history of Germany and of the United States. He demonstrates that there is a science which has been all but obliterated in the modern world. "Yet this science determines the destiny of nations and the course of history ...," he writes. "It is a science which has to be destroyed, if the catastrophes of our time were to become possible. The science is philosophy."

Europe was in the long slumber of the Dark Ages, the Roman Empire was in tatters, and the Greek language was all but forgotten, until a group of Arab, Jewish, and Christian scholars rediscovered and translated the works of Aristotle. His ideas spread across Europe like wildfire, offering the scientific point of view that the natural world, including the soul of man, was a proper subject of study. The Catholic Church convulsed, and riots took place at the universities of Paris and Oxford.

One of Slate ’s 10 Best Books of the Year Anthony Gottlieb’s landmark The Dream of Reason and its sequel challenge Bertrand Russell’s classic as the definitive history of Western philosophy. Western philosophy is now two and a half millennia old, but much of it came in just two staccato bursts, each lasting only about 150 years. In his landmark survey of Western philosophy from the Greeks to the Renaissance, The Dream of Reason , Anthony Gottlieb documented the first burst, which came in the Athens of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. Now, in his sequel, The Dream of Enlightenment , Gottlieb expertly navigates a second great explosion of thought, taking us to northern Europe in the wake of its wars of religion and the rise of Galilean science. In a relatively short period—from the early 1640s to the eve of the French Revolution—Descartes, Hobbes, Spinoza, Locke, Leibniz, and Hume all made their mark. The Dream of Enlightenment tells their story and that of the birth of modern philosophy. As Gottlieb explains, all these men were amateurs: none had much to do with any university. They tried to fathom the implications of the new science and of religious upheaval, which led them to question traditional teachings and attitudes. What does the advance of science entail for our understanding of ourselves and for our ideas of God? How should a government deal with religious diversity—and what, actually, is government for? Such questions remain our questions, which is why Descartes, Hobbes, and the others are still pondered today. Yet it is because we still want to hear them that we can easily get these philosophers wrong. It is tempting to think they speak our language and live in our world; but to understand them properly, we must step back into their shoes. Gottlieb puts readers in the minds of these frequently misinterpreted figures, elucidating the history of their times and the development of scientific ideas while engagingly explaining their arguments and assessing their legacy in lively prose. With chapters focusing on Descartes, Hobbes, Spinoza, Locke, Pierre Bayle, Leibniz, Hume, Rousseau, and Voltaire—and many walk-on parts— The Dream of Enlightenment creates a sweeping account of what the Enlightenment amounted to, and why we are still in its debt.

First published originally in German in 1921, "Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus" is the only book-length philosophical work by Austrian philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein published during his lifetime. Based upon notes made during his time serving in World War I, the treatise is composed of 526 numbered declarative statements that are presented without argument and were seen by Wittgenstein as being self-evident. Wittgenstein's style is succinct and sparse and his ideas are presented in a highly logical, organized, and scientific manner. Wittgenstein proposes that the solution to all major philosophical problems can be solved only with logic and a scientific analysis of language and its meaning. His idea that philosophy is not about metaphysics and mysticism, but about critical and rational thought led to a massive shift in philosophical theories after its publication. The treatise was influential with many of the "logical positivists" of the Vienna Circle, such as Rudolf Carnap and Friedrich Waismann, and to philosophers such as Bertrand Russell. Considered one of the most significant and influential philosophical works of the twentieth century, this treatise is an important read for any student of the history of language and ideas. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper.

21. "A Brief Evaluation of Nietzsche's Theory." Three Attempts to Discredit It. Stephen Potter, Est. Hitler. Women. St. Paul. Camus. -- 22. "Universal Laws" Versus "A Mere Working Hypothesis."--Part III: Nietzsche: Psychology of World Views, Psychohistory, and Masks -- 23. "Nietzsche's Third Major Contribution ... 'The Psychology of World Views.' " Resentment. Psychology of Faith. -- 24. "Nietzsche's Fourth Major Contribution ... He Pioneered Psychohistory."--25. "The Origin of the 'Bad Conscience.' " -- 26. "Nietzsche's Fifth and Final Contribution ... His Philosophy of Masks." The Relevant Material. Contrast with Sartre. -- 27. Nietzsche did not Think of Masks as Necessarily Inauthentic and Evil." Roles and Women. -- 28. "How can Nietzsche Reconcile His Non-Judgmental Attitude toward Masks ... with His Celebration of 'The Intellectual Conscience'?" -- 29. "Whatever is Profound Loves Masks." -- 30. "Many German Philosophers ... have Tried to Reconcile Kant and Nietzsche." -- Part IV: Heidegger's Dogmatic Anthropology -- 31. "It was Heidegger's Discovery of Nietzsche that Precipitated the Later Phase of his Philosophy." "I am no Philosopher." "I am a 'Christian theologian.'" -- 32. Heidegger's Reading of Nietzsche Rests on Three Very Clear and Simple Principles." -- 33. "The Central Point of my Critique of Heidegger is to Show How He Impeded the Discovery of the mind." "His Influence" "I shall Concentrate on S & Z." -- 34. First Thesis: Heidegger's 'Existential Ontology' is Dubious Anthropology." -- 35. "Second Thesis: Heidegger's Thinking is Deeply Authoritarian." -- 36. "He Says a Hundred Things I've been Unconsciously Hoping to Hear from Someone who Could Assert them with Authority." "Husserl's and Heidegger's Bias Against Empirical Science and Psychology in Particular was Rooted in their Hunger for Certainty and Apodictic Discourse

Julien Benda's classic study of 1920s Europe resonates today. The "treason of the intellectuals" is a phrase that evokes much but is inherently ambiguous. The book bearing this title is well known but little understood. This edition is introduced by Roger Kimball. From the time of the pre-Socratics, intellectuals were a breed apart. They were non-materialistic knowledge-seekers who believed in a universal humanism and represented a cornerstone of civilized society. According to Benda, this all began to change in the early twentieth century. In Europe in the 1920s, intellectuals began abandoning their attachment to traditional philosophical and scholarly ideals, and instead glorified particularisms and moral relativism. The "treason" of which Benda writes is the betrayal by the intellectuals of their unique vocation. He criticizes European intellectuals for allowing political commitment to insinuate itself into their understanding of the intellectual vocation, ushering the world into "the age of the intellectual organization of political hatreds." From the savage flowering of ethnic and religious hatreds in the Middle East and throughout Europe today to the mendacious demand for political correctness and multiculturalism on college campuses everywhere in the West, the treason of the intellectuals continues to play out its unedifying drama.

A general introduction to the main currents and movements in modern philosophy.

""Readings In Philosophy: College Outline Series"" by John Herman Randall Jr. is a comprehensive anthology of philosophical texts that provides readers with a broad overview of the major ideas and themes in Western philosophy. The book is organized thematically, covering topics such as epistemology, metaphysics, ethics, political philosophy, and the philosophy of religion. Each section includes a series of readings, ranging from classic works by philosophers such as Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, and Kant to more contemporary pieces by thinkers like John Rawls and Martha Nussbaum. The book also includes helpful introductions to each section, as well as study questions and suggested further readings. Overall, ""Readings In Philosophy"" is an excellent resource for students and anyone interested in exploring the rich and complex world of philosophical thought.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

The titles in this mini-set were originally published between 1924 and 1931 and include works by J D Bernal, E E Fournier d'Albe, Andre Maurois and S Radhakrishnan. Drawing on philosophy, anthropology, and psychology they examine man's place in the world of the future.

""The Idea of War and Peace in Contemporary Philosophy"" by Irving Louis Horowitz is a thought-provoking book that delves into the philosophical concepts of war and peace. The author explores the various ways in which war and peace have been conceptualized by philosophers throughout history, and how these ideas have evolved over time. The book is divided into two parts. The first part focuses on the idea of war, examining the philosophical underpinnings of war and the different ways in which it has been justified or condemned. Horowitz also looks at the role of war in modern society, and how it has been used as a tool for political and economic gain. The second part of the book deals with the idea of peace. Horowitz explores the various philosophical approaches to peace, including pacifism, just war theory, and the idea of a world without war. He also examines the practical challenges of achieving peace in a world that is often characterized by conflict and violence. Throughout the book, Horowitz draws on a wide range of philosophical sources, from ancient Greek thinkers such as Plato and Aristotle to modern-day philosophers like Jean-Paul Sartre and Hannah Arendt. He also includes examples from history and current events to illustrate his points and make the material more accessible to readers. Overall, ""The Idea of War and Peace in Contemporary Philosophy"" is a thought-provoking and insightful book that will appeal to anyone interested in the philosophical concepts of war and peace. It is a must-read for students of philosophy, political science, and international relations, as well as anyone interested in the pressing issues of war and peace in the modern world.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

The human mind abhors the absence of explanation, but full understanding is never possible. Human understanding is likely to be incomplete at best and, more often, utterly fallacious. To make matters worse, it is likely to be supported as truth and wisdom by religious and scientific authority, intellectual fashion and social convention. In Words to the Wise, Thomas Szasz offers a compendium of thoughts, observations, and aphorisms that address our understanding of a broad range of subjects, from birth to death. In this book, Szasz tackles a problem intrinsic to the human condition. What problem? In the words of the American humorist Josh Billings: "The trouble with people is not what they don't know but that they know so much that ain't so." Many of Thomas Szasz's books have been devoted to exposing what "ain't so" about mental illness and psychiatry. Here, Szasz applies the same skeptical spirit to the larger problem of people knowing much that "ain't so." About addiction, Szasz observes: "If a person ingests a drug prohibited by legislators and claims that it makes him feel better, that proves he is an addict; if he ingests a drug prescribed by a psychiatrist and claims that it makes him feel better, that proves that mental illness is a biomedical disease." About beauty: "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder; ugliness is in the personality of the beholden." About libertarians: "Libertarians regard liberty as contingent on the right to property; scientists regard disease as contingent on pathological alteration of the body. All libertarians reject the notion of 'socialist liberty, ' yet many accept the notion of 'mental disease.'" Or about power: "Many of my critics say I am hostile to medicine and physicians. They are wrong. I am hostile only to the power of the medical profession and of physicians." Szasz notes that despite enormous social pressure for a shared perspective on how the world works and how we ought to live, every person'saunderstanding, not only of himself, but of the world about him, is different from every other person's. This volume shows how the quest for truth is a never-ending challenge, and must presuppose an honest acceptance of questions, problems, and uncertainty.

Regression addresses what has come before; it is a matter of looking backward of retrospections? The motionless things of nature are generally forward-looking their problem is that of the question: Where do we go from here? It is primarily with intelligent beings that we ask: How did we get to where we now find ourselves? Regression and infinite regression in particular is thus a concept that has gained a greater prominence in the human sciences than in the sciences of nature. Argumentation to infinite regress has long been a favored instrument of philosophical dialectic. Philosophers have used it to disprove the positions they model to criticize. Infinite regresses, so they reason, are unrealizable: they cannot be completed so as to achieve some definitive result. And thereby anything that would engender an infinite regress is automatically made ineffective. Infinite Regress examines the theory of regression and includes information on the topics of vicious regress, innocuous regress, circularity regress, and propositional regress. Also discussed is the history of regression stemming from ancient times, to medieval times, to early modern history. Some of the other chapters in this book focus on world class philosophers including Immanuel Kant, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, and Bertrand Russell. The book will play a significant role in theoretical philosophy as well as in social philosophy and the philosophy of mind.

Whereas science, technology, and medicine have all called forth dedicated philosophical investigations, a fourth major contributor to the technoscientific world in which we all live - that is, engineering - has been accorded almost none of the philosophical attention it deserves. This volume thus offers a first characterisation of this important new field, by some of the primary philosophers and ethicists interested in engineering and leading engineers interested in philosophical reflections. The volume deals with such questions as: What is engineering? In what respect does engineering differ from science? What ethical problems does engineering raise? By what ethical principles are engineers guided? How do engineers themselves conceive of their profession? What do they see as the main philosophical challenges confronting them in the 21st century? The authors respond to these and other questions from philosophical and engineering view points and so illustrate how together they can meet the challenges and realize the opportunities present in the necessary encounters between philosophy and engineering - encounters that are ever more important in an increasingly engineered world and its problematic futures.

Three disciplines -- politics, philosophy, and science -- are united in reader-friendly language. Citing the works of eminent physicists from Einstein to Hawking, he reveals the convergence of science and Torah. He shows how philosophers, scientists and world empires and major religions have unwittingly helped Israel move towards Redemption.