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Living Philosophy: Reflections on Life, Meaning and Morality
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Product Description
The mystery of birth and death, of fate and destiny, of the nature of wisdom, and of the meaning of life itself have preoccupied philosophers since time immemorial. Some of the perplexities of our moral life form the basis of Christopher Hamilton's book. In a series of original and perceptive philosophical essays - including those on 'Birth and Death', 'Virtue and Human Flourishing', 'The Need to Sleep', 'Sex', 'Truth and Reality', 'Vanity and Destiny' and 'The Fear of Death'- the author reflects on the nature of morality and its relation to experience; on the individual mind and its place in philosophy; and on the strangeness of life itself. Drawing widely on literature and philosophy, and grouping many of its reflections on thoughts found there - from Nietzsche and Schopenhauer, from Shakespeare, Dostoyevsky, George Eliot, Kafka, Jean-Paul Sartre, D H Lawrence and others - Living Philosophy has some affinities with the philosophy practised by such figures as Martha Nussbaum, Stanley Cavell and Peter Winch.Written in a gentle, meditative and exploratory style, the book develops a way of approaching philosophy that opens up room not so much to answer the pressing questions of life as to deepen our sense of what those questions are. Features *Can be used for both introductory and advanced courses on ethics *Engages with contemporary philosophical and cultural issues *Provides numerous literary and philosophical examples *The clear, direct and non-technical style of writing makes the book accessible to those outside academic life who are interested in philosophy and to established philosophers *Constitutes a bold critique of current academic writings in the area
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #624537 in Books
- Published on: 2001-09-06
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 1
- Binding: Paperback
- 192 pages
Editorial Reviews
Review
Living Philosophy is a remarkable work that fully rises to its title. Philosophy lives in it. Christopher Hamilton brings to his discussion of the great problems of philosophy a penetrating, humane and quite original intelligence. With wisdom, tact and humour he discusses (amongst other things) the fear of death, vanity and destiny, sex, truth and, unusually, our need of sleep. Always the discussion is enriched by reflections on wonderful quotations from philosophers, novelists and poets. In Living Philosophy the reader will find philosophy enlivened by a fine literary sensibility that is in turn disciplined by philosophy. Truly a book to make one think. -- Raimond Gaita, Professor of Moral Philosophy, King's College London and Professor of Philosophy, Australian Catholic University In this hugely stimulating and extremely well-written book, Christopher Hamilton advances a conception of philosophical enquiry which contrasts boldly with the outlook of academic philosophy. In essays on concepts which are of fundamental human importance - birth, destiny, spirit, sexuality, wisdom, death - Hamilton evokes the immense difficulty of grasping human life through philosophical reflection, while raising by several degrees our awareness of the philosophical significance of literature. -- Sebastian Gardner, Department of Philosophy, University College London Living Philosophy is a remarkable work that fully rises to its title. Philosophy lives in it. Christopher Hamilton brings to his discussion of the great problems of philosophy a penetrating, humane and quite original intelligence. With wisdom, tact and humour he discusses (amongst other things) the fear of death, vanity and destiny, sex, truth and, unusually, our need of sleep. Always the discussion is enriched by reflections on wonderful quotations from philosophers, novelists and poets. In Living Philosophy the reader will find philosophy enlivened by a fine literary sensibility that is in turn disciplined by philosophy. Truly a book to make one think. In this hugely stimulating and extremely well-written book, Christopher Hamilton advances a conception of philosophical enquiry which contrasts boldly with the outlook of academic philosophy. In essays on concepts which are of fundamental human importance - birth, destiny, spirit, sexuality, wisdom, death - Hamilton evokes the immense difficulty of grasping human life through philosophical reflection, while raising by several degrees our awareness of the philosophical significance of literature.
About the Author
Christopher Hamilton is Head of German and Philosophy at Bedales School, Hampshire
Customer Reviews
Brilliant! You're a different person after each page.
Possibly one of the most insightful and fascinating books written in the subject of philosophy since Nietsche. Christopher Hamilton explores our true feelings about life, death, birth and sex with a clarity and modesty which grips and inspires the reader. This book is a magnificent response to the boredom which a lot of contempory philosophy can heap on you, the bickerings of all too educated academics. Hamilton's essays cut deep into the passions and traumas of morality as each of us experiences it. If you can't meet the man, read the book. I guaruntee it will be the second most important thing you do this christmas, the first or course is living.
Living Philosophy:
This book is both an excellent introduction to the study of philosophy and at the same time, an insightful review of the practise. 'Living Philosophy' is both informative and well argued, whilst emotive and dignified. The range of topics considered by the author demonstrate both the depth of his knowledge in their reference to literary as well as philosophical sources as: Dostoyevsky, Proust, Zweig, Kafka, Sartre and Nietzsche(to name but a few) And the intelligence of his perception in discussion of unusual subject matter such as Sex and the nature of sleep. To say that this is a work that explores new frontiers is true, but it is to miss the point of the author's intention to ask what precisely it is that one is doing in the exploration.
I have been greatly moved by this book which is obviously a deeply personal account, and I would strongly urge any intelligent person to read it in pursuit of a clear, authoritative,and beautiful view of what it is to be alive.
