Modern Philosophy

Fazlur Rahman was one of the most influential Muslim thinkers of the 20th Century. His encyclopedic understanding of both the Islamic and Western traditions rendered him as most suited for the task of tajdid ul-din (intellectual and academic revivification, reformism and modernism). As a pragmatist he believed that ‘social change’ could not be translated into reality without an active, positive and vital engagement with the present world which stood as the élan of Islamic morality and ethics. The present work attempts to critically analyze and deconstruct Fazlur Rahman’s thought in ...

Timothy Williamson tackles some of the key questions surrounding philosophy in new and provocative ways, showing how philosophy begins in common sense curiosity, and develops through our capacity to dispute rationally with each other. Discussing philosophy's ability to clarify our thoughts, he explains why such clarification depends on the development of philosophical theories, and how those theories can be tested by imaginative thought experiments, and compared against each other by standards similar to those used in the natural and social sciences.

It is an apocryphal of modern times that reports a hypothetical conversation where Seth, the third son of Adam, instructs Enós, his son, about the mysteries he had allegedly learned from his father, Adam.

Søren Kierkegaard is one of the most passionate and challenging of all modern philosophers, and is often regarded as the founder of existentialism. Over about a decade in the 1840s and 1850s, writings poured from his pen pursuing the question of existence - how to be a human being in the world? - while exploring the possibilities of Christianity and confronting the failures of its institutional manifestation around him.

Discover the timeless power of Plato’s philosophy and how it can transform your modern life. In this accessible and engaging guide, The Wisdom of Plato explores the key ideas of one of history’s greatest thinkers and shows you how to apply them to everyday challenges—from personal growth and relationships to politics and ethical leadership. Through clear explanations and practical examples, this book unpacks Plato’s core teachings: the World of Forms, the Allegory of the Cave, the nature of justice, the balance of the soul, Platonic love, and the role of the philosopher in society. ...

Described by the New York Times as "arguably the most important intellectual alive," Noam Chomsky is known throughout the world for his highly influential writings on language and politics. Featuring two of Chomsky's most popular and enduring books in one omnibus volume, On Language contains some of the noted linguist and political critic's most informal and accessible work to date, making it an ideal introduction to his thought.

T. W. Adorno (1903-1969) was a German philosopher and social and cultural theorist. His work has come to be seen as increasingly relevant to understanding the pathologies of contemporary society evident in today's climate emergency, the financial crash, the reappearance of fascism in many countries, and the growing instability of the world order. This Very Short Introduction covers Adorno's work and life, explaining his key philosophical concepts and the philosophical background and historical context of Adorno's thinking.

David Hume reduced philosophy to ruins: he denied the existence of everything, except our actual perceptions themselves. I alone exist, he argued, and the world is nothing more than part of my consciousness. Yet we know that the world remains, and we go on as before. What Hume expressed was the status of our knowledge about the world, a world in which neither religion nor science is certain.

As Elizabeth Anscombe, Philippa Foot, Mary Midgley, and Iris Murdoch labored to make a place for themselves in a male-dominated world, as they made friendships and families, and as they drifted toward and away from each other, they never stopped insisting that some lives are better than others. Drawing on a cluster of recently opened archives and extensive correspondence and interviews with those who knew them best, Benjamin Lipscomb traces the lives and ideas of four friends who gave us a better way to think about ethics, and ourselves.

In this collection of aphorisms and short essays, E.M. Cioran sets about the task of peeling off the layers of false realities with which society masks the truth. For him, real hope lies in this task, and thus, while he perceives the world darkly, he refuses to give in to despair. He hits upon this ultimate truth by developing his notion of human history and events as "a procession of delusions," striking out at the so-called "Fallacies of Hope."

Soren Kierkegaard was a Danish philosopher, theologian, and religious author interested in human psychology. He is regarded as a leading pioneer of existentialism and one of the greatest philosophers of the 19th Century.

How to Get Started Learning About Stoicism: A Beginner’s Guide to Ancient Wisdom for Modern Life is your practical, accessible introduction to the life-changing philosophy of Stoicism. Whether you're looking to reduce anxiety, navigate modern stress, or build inner resilience, this guide shows you how to apply ancient Stoic principles to everyday challenges. This comprehensive, easy-to-follow Stoicism guide covers the foundations of Stoic philosophy, its powerful tools for emotional mastery, and how you can develop a Stoic mindset in today’s fast-paced world. Learn from the great Stoic ...

Dive into the depths of your existence with "In Search of Reality," a thought-provoking book that takes you on a profound philosophical journey. Written by a renowned philosopher, this captivating masterpiece challenges conventional wisdom and encourages listeners to question their perception of the world.

Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) has influenced philosophers such as Martin Heidegger, Jean-Paul Sartre, Oswald Spengler, George Grant, Emil Cioran, Albert Camus, Ayn Rand, Jacques Derrida, Leo Strauss, Max Scheler, Michel Foucault and Bernard Williams. His writings on aesthetics, language, truth, morality, cultural theory, history, nihilism, power, and the meaning of existence have exerted a vast influence on Western philosophy and intellectual history.

There is a cause, or a reason, behind everything that happens. This is the fundamental view behind the classical proposition the Principle of Sufficient Reason, which, in 1813, Schopenhauer chose as his subject for further examination in his doctoral dissertation On the Fourfold Root of the Principle of Sufficient Reason....

René Descartes (1596-1650) has been commonly known as the "father of modern philosophy" who was also a mathematician and a scientist as the Scientific Revolution was breaking out in Europe. Descartes--a lifelong Roman Catholic educated by the Jesuit order, which in 1548 began its prestigious educational mission in Europe (well before the founding of the Protestant seminary known as Harvard)--nevertheless sought to overturn the traditional Aristotelian science taught by the Jesuits and other Catholic educators. With an obsessive focus on pursuing knowledge marked by certainty, Descartes, a ...

This famous treatise began as a letter to a young French friend who asked Edmund Burke’s opinion on whether France’s new ruling class would succeed in creating a better order. Doubtless the friend expected a favorable reply, but Burke was suspicious of certain tendencies of the Revolution from the start and perceived that the revolutionaries were actually subverting the true "social order". Blending history with principle and graceful imagery with profound practical maxims, this book is one of the most influential political treatises in the history of the world.

Unlock the secrets to a fulfilling and joyful life with "The Alchemy of Happiness for Beginners: A Journey to Inner Peace and Fulfillment." This remarkable guide takes you on a transformative journey, drawing from the timeless wisdom of Al-Ghazālī, a revered scholar whose teachings have inspired generations. Discover how ancient insights can seamlessly integrate into your modern life, bringing profound peace and happiness. Engage with timeless wisdom. Immerse yourself in the teachings of Al-Ghazālī and learn how his profound insights can revolutionize your approach to life. Understand ...

In this unabridged audiobook of Walking in Wonder, John O’Donohue’s friend and frequent collaborator John Quinn collects a series of talks and essays from the poet-philosopher on humanity’s relationship with the land, the ache of absence, our place in an often mysterious universe, and the great adventure of death itself.

Discourse on the Origin and Basis of Inequality Among Men by the philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau was originally written for an essay competition run by the Dijon Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1754. The question was, "What is the origin of inequality among men, and is it authorized by the natural law?" Rousseau's text is divided into four main parts: a dedication, preface, an extended inquiry into the nature of the individual, and another inquiry into the evolution of the human species within society.