The Heart of Things: Applying Philosophy to the 21st Century
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provocative... a stimulating handbook to the contemporary uses of philosophy (DAILY TELEGRAPH )
DAILY TELEGRAPH
"provocative... a stimulating handbook to the contemporary uses of philosophy"
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I haven't finished this yet - am dipping in and out as it's a selection of essays - but the ones I have read so far are motivating, though provoking and illuminating.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
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3 reviews
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Not the Best Work by Grayling
22 Jun 2009
Format:Paperback
A. C. Grayling is a "professional philosopher," and those of us that enjoy all that professional philosophy bring us are easily happy with this and his other books.
BUT, this book, like a series of publications storming the citadel, are not of the "professional" arcane nuanced kind. These short essays go directly to most of our practical concerns, without the arcane language of epistemology, axiology, praexeology, ontology, and more sophisticated subjects.
BUT don't think this material "light weight." It's merely accessible, in ways that professionals get tongue-tied using the Greek fundamentals. Following the success of Robert Solomon's corpus, Grayling is more succinct, just as valuable, and even more accessible.
Maybe, now, we can engage metaphysics of psychology, religion, superstition, voodoo, and chiropractic -- with the hard facts, the known classical values, and even upend the "traditional biblical moral values" and all the hypocrisy with humanistic values. If any two philosophers can, Solomon and Grayling are it.
So, are the other (supra.) reviewers out of it, or simply opposed to humanistic values of knowledge. Read Grayling and discover the answer for yourselves.
BUT, this book, like a series of publications storming the citadel, are not of the "professional" arcane nuanced kind. These short essays go directly to most of our practical concerns, without the arcane language of epistemology, axiology, praexeology, ontology, and more sophisticated subjects.
BUT don't think this material "light weight." It's merely accessible, in ways that professionals get tongue-tied using the Greek fundamentals. Following the success of Robert Solomon's corpus, Grayling is more succinct, just as valuable, and even more accessible.
Maybe, now, we can engage metaphysics of psychology, religion, superstition, voodoo, and chiropractic -- with the hard facts, the known classical values, and even upend the "traditional biblical moral values" and all the hypocrisy with humanistic values. If any two philosophers can, Solomon and Grayling are it.
So, are the other (supra.) reviewers out of it, or simply opposed to humanistic values of knowledge. Read Grayling and discover the answer for yourselves.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Starting points for thought
22 July 2006
Format:Paperback
Grayling discusses various universal and contemporary issues. In the process, he applies the insights of various philosophers (as well as his own).
His short discussions (more than 60)are excellent initiators for discussion or journal writing. About half also offer interesting and unique insights to build on.
IN some entries, he takes more definite positions which will cause agreement or disagreement. Each entry is an excellent impetus for discussion, but none give a very thorough analyses of any one issue.
Also, beautifully written in parts..
His short discussions (more than 60)are excellent initiators for discussion or journal writing. About half also offer interesting and unique insights to build on.
IN some entries, he takes more definite positions which will cause agreement or disagreement. Each entry is an excellent impetus for discussion, but none give a very thorough analyses of any one issue.
Also, beautifully written in parts..
8 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Intriguing title and table of contents and author, but...
11 Jun 2006
Format:Paperback
Quick opinion...
I am about to throw this book away due to water damage and lack of redeeming value, but I just thought I would come in here and see what other people have written. To my surprise, nothing yet. So it is my duty to give you a quick opinion.
I took this book on a camping trip hoping that a series of short essays with an intriguing title by a distinguished author would provide me with some subtle insights that I could have allowed to percolate in my brain as I wandered about amongst the trees.
However, after cracking the book open, I was disappointed to find, not subtle philosophy, and not poetic insights, but very average and individual mental meanderings. I will crack the book open again and find you one....
...Well, nevermind. They are too long, and if I just type a paragraph in here, you will think I am simply taking something out of context.
My basic point, is that the essays do not seem to be grounded in anything universal - be it facts, logic, or emotion. The essays play as the dignified ramblings of an old academic sitting in a well furnished room and a scotch in his hand. The statements are beautifully appointed with the words and phrasing of a very literate man, but are either inconclusive or obvious. My world is not enriched by the compelling logic of an interpretation I have never heard before... or by historical facts I didn't know before... or by a poetic insight. Lot's of meaningless sentences like:
"From the ubiquity of resurrection myths in the world's religions, it is obvious that the life-and-death question of the vegetation cycle provided one of mankind's earliest impulses to superstition." (121) ... Proof? Evidence? ... Explanation of what exactly you mean??
"The truly just war would be the war of ideas which ended by rooting out the greed, stupidity, superstition and ignorance which lie at the ultimate roots of all human conflicts. Only in that utopian dispensation will it be possible to beat swords into ploughshares and shell casings into scales of justice. Until then people will fight; sometimes, with justice, for freedom and life." (142) OK! I think I agree! I think I learned nothing! I think I probably understand what you mean, but I am not 100% sure.
Do not think that I had to look hard for these sentences. This book is filled with them. These kinds of statements are what the essays are made of.
I am writing my first book now. Maybe someday, my reputation will be such that a book of every dignified rambling my brain had over the period of a year or so could actually get published.
I am about to throw this book away due to water damage and lack of redeeming value, but I just thought I would come in here and see what other people have written. To my surprise, nothing yet. So it is my duty to give you a quick opinion.
I took this book on a camping trip hoping that a series of short essays with an intriguing title by a distinguished author would provide me with some subtle insights that I could have allowed to percolate in my brain as I wandered about amongst the trees.
However, after cracking the book open, I was disappointed to find, not subtle philosophy, and not poetic insights, but very average and individual mental meanderings. I will crack the book open again and find you one....
...Well, nevermind. They are too long, and if I just type a paragraph in here, you will think I am simply taking something out of context.
My basic point, is that the essays do not seem to be grounded in anything universal - be it facts, logic, or emotion. The essays play as the dignified ramblings of an old academic sitting in a well furnished room and a scotch in his hand. The statements are beautifully appointed with the words and phrasing of a very literate man, but are either inconclusive or obvious. My world is not enriched by the compelling logic of an interpretation I have never heard before... or by historical facts I didn't know before... or by a poetic insight. Lot's of meaningless sentences like:
"From the ubiquity of resurrection myths in the world's religions, it is obvious that the life-and-death question of the vegetation cycle provided one of mankind's earliest impulses to superstition." (121) ... Proof? Evidence? ... Explanation of what exactly you mean??
"The truly just war would be the war of ideas which ended by rooting out the greed, stupidity, superstition and ignorance which lie at the ultimate roots of all human conflicts. Only in that utopian dispensation will it be possible to beat swords into ploughshares and shell casings into scales of justice. Until then people will fight; sometimes, with justice, for freedom and life." (142) OK! I think I agree! I think I learned nothing! I think I probably understand what you mean, but I am not 100% sure.
Do not think that I had to look hard for these sentences. This book is filled with them. These kinds of statements are what the essays are made of.
I am writing my first book now. Maybe someday, my reputation will be such that a book of every dignified rambling my brain had over the period of a year or so could actually get published.
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