Philosophies for Living

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The interdisciplinary and intercultural anthology approaches fundamental philosophical questions with a focus on the self-its discovery, limitations, possibilities, and contexts. Numerous readings, ranging from the traditional to the innovative, reinforce and challenge each other as they address thoughts and beliefs about human nature, the natural world, society, class structures, race and gender, human sexuality, relationships with others, and religion. These "voices" encourage students to apply different perspectives to their own lives in order to gain a better understanding of themselves and their world.

Philosophies for Living, First Edition, features:

Emphasis on the self and self-identity. Nine distinct thematic sections, with introductions for each. Multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural approach which discusses the "self" across academic disciplines as well as between cultures. A wide variety of voices, including women and men; Africans; Asians; Europeans; Native Americans; Hispanic Americans; religious and secular traditions and philosophies from around the globe. Articulations of philosophical beliefs from beyond the western tradition. Integration of the traditional canon of academic philosophy with the wisdom of other disciplines and traditions. Discussion questions at the end of each chapter that encourage students to reflect on characteristics and activities that may be typical of a philosophical life. A wealth of in-class activities and short essay assignments that assist in strengthening or deepening students' philosophical resolve.

Résumé
For freshman/sophomore-level courses in Introduction to Philosophy and General Humanities, in departments of Philosophy, Humanities, English, and Cultural Studies. Interdisciplinary and intercultural anthology approaches fundamental philosophical questions with a focus on the self-its discovery, limitations, possibilities, and contexts. Numerous readings either reinforce or challenge each other and traditional thoughts and beliefs-about human nature, the natural world, race and gender, the good life, society, culture and morality, relationships with others, and religion.

Contenu

1. Taking Risks/Living Philosophically.

Albert Camus, The Myth of Sisyphus. Plato, The Allegory of the Cave. Richard Wright, The Library Card. Hermann Hesse, Govinda. John Stuart Mill, A Balanced Learning. Marge Piercy, To Be of Use. Gloria Steinem, Unlearning. Bertrand Russell, The Value of Philosophy.

2. Discovering the Nature of Our Human Self.

Biblical Conceptions of Human Nature. Kwame Gyekye, African Dualism. Rene Descartes, Meditations and Correspondence [Meditations II and VI, Letters]. Gilbert Ryle, Descartes' Ghost. Eve Browning Cole, An Embodied Self. Buddhist Scripture, The Doctrine of the Not-Self. Chang Tzu, The Identity of Contraries. Ludwig Wittgenstein, Identity and Personality.

3. Discovery the Self as a Social Reality.

Mary McCarthy, Names. George Herbert Mead, The Social Self. Arthur Bierman, The Relatent Notion of Personhood. W.H. Auden, The Unknown Citizen. Hannah Arendt, The Human Condition. Charles Taylor, Strains of Modern Identity. Jean Paul Sartre, Existentialism. John Mohawk, Spiritualism and the Law of Peace.

4. Race and Ethnic Identity.

Naomi Zack, Racial and Ethnic Identity. Hannah Arendt, Race and Bureaucracy. W.E.B. Dubois, The Soul of Black Folk. Michel-Guillaume Jean de Crèvecouer, What is an American. James Baldwin, Stranger in the Village. Samuel Betances, Race and Identity. Paula Gunn Allen, Where I Come From is Like This. U.S. Department of State, National Socialism: Volk and Racial Supremacy.

5. Class Identity.

The Mahabharata, On the Origin and Value of the Four Castes. Aristotle, Master and Slave. Karl Marx, Alienated Labor. Richard Sennett and Jonathan Cobb, The Divided Self. Donna Langston, Tired of Playing Monopoly? Catherine Macleod, Bob and Cathie's Daughter: Why I Call Myself Working Class. Peter Marin, Helping and Hating the Homeless. Diana Pearce, The Feminization of Poverty.

6. Sexuality and Gender Identity.

Plato, Aristophanes' Story of Divided Selves. Richard Mohr, Prejudice and Homosexuality. John Stoltenberg, How Men Have (a) Sex. Jean Paul Sartre, Intimacy. Thomas Aquinas, On the Production of Woman. Simone de Beauvoir, Women are not Our brothers. Marilyn Frye, Oppression. Rayna Green, Culture and Gender in Indian America.

7. The Self in Context: Marriage and Parenthood.

Margaret Atwood, Happy Endings. Rig-Veda and the Manusmirti, 'Marriage' and 'The Role of Women.' Immanuel Kant, On Marriage. John McMurty, Monogamy: A Critique. Carolynne Timko, Motherhood: A Sociopolitical Concept. Bonnie Steinbock, Surrogate Motherhood. Thomas W. Laqueur, The Facts of Fatherhood. Joan Whitman Hoff, The Other Woman.

8. The Self and Religious Experience.

Bhagavad Gita, Cosmic Law and Spiritual Life. Leo Tolstoy, Faith and the Meaning of Life. Cynthia Ozick, The Riddle of the Ordinary. William James, The Unseen Order. Elie Wiesel, The Sacrifice of Isaac. Chief Red Jacket and the Missionary, A Dialogue. Carol P. Christ, Why Women Need the Goddess. Kwasi Wiredu, Religion From an African Perspective. Lin Yutang, Chinese Paganism.

9. Taking Risks/Acting Philosophically.

Plato, Socrates' Apology. Epicurus, Letter to Menoeceus. Confucius, Analects. St. Matthew, Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. Søren Kierkegaard, Living a Human Life. Martin Luther King, Jr., Letter From the Birmingham Jail. Sara Ruddick, A Women's Politics of Resistance. Eagle Man, We Are All Related. Paulo Freire, Education for a Critical Consciousness.