The Meaning of Life and the Great Philosophers
Stephen Leach editor James Tartaglia editor
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Taylor & Francis Ltd
Published:1st May '18
Should be back in stock very soon
This paperback is available in another edition too:
- Hardback£135.00(9781138220935)
This edited collection features over thirty chapters exploring how historical philosophers would respond to modern discussions on life's meaning, offering insights from figures ranging from Confucius to Rorty.
The Meaning of Life and the Great Philosophers delves into how influential philosophers throughout history might interpret modern discussions surrounding the concept of life's meaning. This edited collection features thirty-five chapters, each dedicated to a prominent philosophical figure, ranging from Confucius to Richard Rorty. The contributors creatively engage with the topic, offering insights from the unique perspectives of these historical thinkers.
The volume not only addresses philosophical viewpoints but also includes a Postscript that examines the historical origins and significance of the phrase the meaning of life. This exploration enhances the reader's understanding of how this concept has evolved over time and its implications for contemporary thought.
Authored by esteemed scholars such as A.C. Grayling, Thaddeus Metz, and John Cottingham, this book serves as a vital resource for students and researchers interested in various philosophical disciplines, including the history of philosophy, philosophy of religion, ethics, metaphysics, and comparative philosophy. By bridging the gap between historical ideas and current debates, it highlights the ongoing relevance of philosophical inquiry in understanding life's fundamental questions.
"The overall aim of this volume is to produce an accessible volume on the MoL that is targeted at the general reader. It certainly achieves that. Each chapter is, as expected, authoritative, well-written and they largely tackle the challenge of dealing with such a complex topic rather well throughout; each contributor manages to write in a way that reflects their individual style with lucidity and succinctness. … [D]efinitely one for the bookshelf and certainly an enjoyable read." - Eri Mountbatten-O’Malley, Metapsychology Online Reviews
"... [A] methodologically diverse source book of philosophers' views on the meaning of life. ... This collection is perhaps most valuable as an exploration of the difficulties faced in recasting historical ideas to think about a modern (and postmodern) problem. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower- and upper-division undergraduates; graduate students." - D. A. Forbes, CHOICE
"Here is a unique collection of essays providing an overview of how major philosophers of the past approached the meaning of life. The volume is a valuable resource for both scholars and general readers." - Steven M. Cahn, City University of New York Graduate Center, USA
"Ranging over not merely European, but also Indian, Chinese and Muslim thought, this collection of high-quality chapters is the most comprehensive discussion of the meaning-of-life question to date." - Julian Young, Wake Forest University, USA
"This comprehensive volume offers a rich panoply of ways of approaching the question of meaning of life from Ancient times to the present and also from a wide range of perspectives. This book is a valuable handbook for anybody who has a genuine interest in the meaning of life as well as for students and scholars in philosophy and psychology. I believe it will be a very useful tool for classroom discussions in history of philosophy, ethics, metaphysics, comparative philosophy or philosophical counseling." - Kamuran Elbeyoğlu, Toros University, Turkey
ISBN: 9781138220959
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: 460g
302 pages