This book delves into the complexities of visual representation and its impact on culture, consciousness, and politics. With a focus on movies like Spike Lee's "Do the Right Thing" and Oliver Stone's "JFK," the author examines how images can provoke public debate or fuel political violence, making it an essential read for those interested in media and cultural studies. The book proposes a "picture theory" that offers a new perspective on the interplay between the visual and the readable, providing valuable insights into the unique power of images.

This book is an essential read for Muslims who want to reconcile Islamic ethics with modernity. Tariq Ramadan offers a radical new concept of ijtihad that draws on context and human sciences. He then applies this methodology to controversial issues in medical ethics, education, economics, marriage and divorce, culture and creativity. Ramadan's proposals and conclusions are sure to provoke discussion and controversy, but they offer important insights for Muslims and non-Muslims alike seeking to understand how Islam can adapt to the modern world.

A recommended read for political science majors, or anyone with an advanced understanding of modern political philosophy. Rawls provides a comprehensive overview of key figures and strands of liberalism and democratic constitutionalism, offering critical analyses of their doctrines and most influential proponents. His lectures on Bishop Joseph Butler are also included in an appendix. This volume serves as a fitting final addition to Rawls's oeuvre and to the history of political philosophy.

This book would be a good read for philosophy students or anyone interested in delving into the complexities of Kantian philosophy. The extensive editorial apparatus provides helpful guidance for readers, and the translation accurately captures the nuances of the original text. The book's most unique feature is how it presents Kant's ideas in a clear and direct manner, making it accessible to both new readers and scholars.

Recommendation: "Law, Legislation & Liberty, V 3" by F. A. Hayek is an essential read for those interested in understanding the fundamental political principles that support free societies. Hayek's incisive and straightforward writing style provides a clear and uncompromising exposition of political philosophy. This book is perfect for scholars of economics, law, and political science who are interested in exploring new ideas and ways to sustain a free society.

This book is a must-read for philosophy enthusiasts who want to explore Kant's original texts. Apart from the well-known Prolegomena, the book includes other important writings by Kant, giving readers a fully-rounded view of his intellectual development. The editor's introductions and notes also provide valuable insights into Kant's reception and efforts to refute his opponents. Overall, this book is recommended for those who want to delve deeper into Kant's works and gain a better understanding of the foundations of theoretical philosophy.

"Why Trust Science?" is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand why science is trustworthy despite its imperfections. With insights from the history and philosophy of science, Naomi Oreskes shows that scientific claims are rigorously vetted through a social process which includes consensus. The book also examines cases where scientists got it wrong and discusses the vital lessons we can learn from them. If you are interested in understanding the role of science in society and how to differentiate truth from falsehood, this book is a great place to start.

Recommendation: "The Hedgehog and the Fox" would be a great read for anyone interested in philosophy, history, or Tolstoy's work. Isaiah Berlin's essay offers a fascinating exploration into the contradictions that exist in Tolstoy's worldview, and how these contradictions influenced his understanding of history and human nature. Berlin's writing is clear and concise, allowing readers to fully appreciate the complexity of these ideas without feeling overwhelmed. Additionally, this new edition includes helpful context and translations, making it even more accessible to a wider audience. Overall, "The Hedgehog and the Fox" is a must-read for those seeking a deeper understanding of the intersections between philosophy and history.

How Propaganda Works could be a good read for individuals interested in the politics of propaganda and its effects on democracy. The book provides historical examples and a range of sources to explore how the language of democracy can be used to manipulate and perpetuate inequalities in society. It can help readers understand the mechanisms of propaganda and the importance of identifying and countering it to protect liberal democracies.

This book will appeal to those interested in the intersection of history, sociology, and the philosophy of science. Shapin's analysis of seventeenth-century England shows how scientific knowledge is influenced by societal beliefs and values. He argues that knowledge is not simply discovered but rather constructed in specific social contexts. A must-read for those who want to understand the complex relationship between science and society throughout history.

"Maps of Time" is a must-read for anyone interested in an overview of the interconnectivity of the universe - from the origins of the Big Bang to present-day environmental concerns. David Christian's narrative style presents a comprehensive introduction to the emerging field of Big History while maintaining attention to detail. This book combines cosmology, geology, archeology, and population and environmental studies to present world history in a relatable and fascinating way.

"Stand Out of Our Light" is a must-read for those interested in understanding the impact of the attention economy on our lives. James Williams uses his background as a former Google strategist and a philosopher to provide a thought-provoking analysis of the issue. He seamlessly blends insights from ancient philosophers and contemporary tech leaders to make a case for the need for us to reclaim our attention and pursue our true goals. This book is a timely reminder that we should be in control of technology and not the other way around.

This book is insightful for those interested in exploring the complexities of forgiveness in personal and political relationships. Nussbaum argues that forgiveness can sometimes be unhelpful and narcissistic, and suggests that cultivating generosity is a better approach. Her examination of the middle realm of relationships, where resentment often festers, is particularly thought-provoking. Overall, this book offers a nuanced and incisive perspective on a topic that is often oversimplified.

This book is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding how cultural myths and outdated thinking can contribute to the ecological crisis. Bowers makes a compelling case for the need for an ecologically sustainable ideology and offers insights from environmental writers like Aldo Leopold and Wendell Berry. This book will challenge your assumptions and inspire you to take action to save the environment.

This book is a must-read for those interested in understanding how Western colonial power has influenced social sciences and area studies. Mignolo's argument sheds light on the need to decolonize knowledge and to recognize the diverse and subaltern voices that have been historically silenced.

"The Darker Side of Western Modernity" argues that the world is undergoing a shift towards dewesternization and decoloniality, which require a break from the colonial matrix of Western power to imagine and create new global futures. This book will be relevant and enlightening for anyone interested in understanding the power structures that underlie Western modernity and the potential for a more equitable future.

Recommended for readers seeking accessible theological insights. The selection of essays provides a good introduction to Niebuhr's thoughts on the life of faith and theological ethics. Users may appreciate Niebuhr's clear communication style and practical understanding of theology.

The Fundamentals of Ethics is an ideal book for those who want a complete understanding of the good life, normative ethics, and metaethics. This book offers comprehensive coverage, reconstructs and analyzes arguments in a way that is understandable for those with no philosophical background. It also covers ethical particularism, moral error theory, and desire-satisfaction theory of well-being, which are often omitted from other texts. With its engaging writing style, it is an excellent choice for courses in introductory ethics and contemporary moral problems.

This book explores how many workplaces function as authoritarian private governments, with employers possessing sweeping power over workers' lives. Anderson argues that this reality is often obscured by misconceptions about free markets and emphasizes the need to reconceptualize the workplace to ensure workers' freedom. A thought-provoking read for anyone interested in labor relations, political philosophy, or the nature of power in society.

Democratic Hope is a great read for individuals interested in pragmatism and its impact on American political thought. The author examines the works of classical pragmatists such as John Dewey, William James, and Charles Peirce, and reviews the recent revival of pragmatism by Rorty, Cheryl Misak, Richard Posner, Cornel West, and other contemporary American political thinkers. The book argues for a hopeful vision of deliberative democracy, underwritten by a pragmatist epistemology and ethics.

Recommendation: This book is a must-read for anyone interested in historical writing as it challenges the conventional understanding of the discipline. The author argues that historical representation is essentially aesthetic and proposes a rationalist aesthetics of historical writing in order to find a balance between the literary approach and empiricism. By drawing on the ideas of influential contemporary historical theorists like Erich Auerbach and Hayden White, the book offers a fresh and insightful perspective on the discipline of history.

"The Culture of Education" is a thought-provoking exploration of the importance of culture in education. Jerome Bruner challenges the idea that education is just about the accumulation of information and argues that true education is about understanding one's culture and constructing meaning. He emphasizes the role of narrative in this process and suggests that learners must engage with the culture in order to attain their full potential. This book would be a great read for educators and anyone interested in the philosophy of education.

A Passion for Democracy: American Essays is a great read for individuals interested in understanding American democracy. The author lays out the importance of civic education and culture in relationship to democracy, and how technology could affect the very principles democracy rests upon. It's unique in its analysis of censorship and how it affects democracy. If you're looking for a thought-provoking and insightful read about democracy, this book is for you.

The book is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of political thought and social change. Paine's writings provide an essential insight into the importance of individual rights, natural justice, and the need for political control by the people. The author's ideas have shaped the Western liberal democratic tradition and also inspired social liberation movements all over the world. The book itself is fully annotated, providing helpful notes and up-to-date bibliographies to further explore the topic.

Responsibility for Justice could be a good read for those interested in political philosophy and global justice. The book presents a unique perspective on addressing structural injustices that individuals may be implicated in, but not to blame. Young's "social connection" model provides a new framework for understanding political responsibility and our responsibilities to others, making it a thoughtful and insightful read for those interested in ethics and social justice.

The book offers a unique insight into the science of death and dying, as well as the belief in life after death and rebirth. It serves as a guide not only for the dead but also for the living, helping readers understand and prepare themselves for the transition of death. The book has a rich history of being discovered and rediscovered by readers of various backgrounds, from pre-war theosophists to contemporary hospice workers. The new foreword and afterword, as well as the suggested further reading list, provide readers with an even deeper understanding of this sacred text's significance and influence.

"This fine translation is a god-send. . . . Surely you want to read what Galileo wrote. If so buy this book. Van Helden's introduction is scholarly; no one knows more about Galileo's telescope; the translation is superb; Van Helden's review of the reception of the Sidereal Messenger is profound; the bibliography is extensive. What more can I say?"—David W. Hughes, The Observatory"[ Sidereus nunclus ] has never before been made available in its entirety in a continuous form, with full notes and comment. The introduction, translation and notes by Van Helden are a splendid example of the best scholarship and fullest accessibility. . . . we can now truly get to grips with the phenomenon of Galileo and what his life and work should mean to us today."—Robert Temple, Nature

In the first two volumes of this work, Paul Ricoeur examined the relations between time and narrative in historical writing, fiction, and theories of literature. This final volume, a comprehensive reexamination and synthesis of the ideas developed in volumes 1 and 2, stands as Ricoeur's most complete and satisfying presentation of his own philosophy.Ricoeur's aim here is to explicate as fully as possible the hypothesis that has governed his inquiry, namely, that the effort of thinking at work in every narrative configuration is completed in a refiguration of temporal experience. To this end, he sets himself the central task of determing how far a poetics of narrative can be said to resolve the "aporias"—the doubtful or problematic elements—of time. Chief among these aporias are the conflicts between the phenomenological sense of time (that experienced or lived by the individual) and the cosmological sense (that described by history and physics) on the one hand and the oneness or unitary nature of time on the other. In conclusion, Ricoeur reflects upon the inscrutability of time itself and attempts to discern the limits of his own examination of narrative discourse."As in his previous works, Ricoeur labors as an imcomparable mediator of often estranged philosophical approaches, always in a manner that compromises neither rigor nor creativity."—Mark Kline Taylor, Christian Century"In the midst of two opposing contemporary options—either to flee into ever more precious readings . . . or to retreat into ever more safe readings . . . —Ricoeur's work offers an alternative option that is critical, wide-ranging, and conducive to new applications."—Mary Gerhart, Journal of Religion

Time and Narrative builds on Paul Ricoeur's earlier analysis, in The Rule of Metaphor, of semantic innovation at the level of the sentence. Ricoeur here examines the creation of meaning at the textual level, with narrative rather than metaphor as the ruling concern.Ricoeur finds a "healthy circle" between time and narrative: time is humanized to the extent that it portrays temporal experience. Ricoeur proposes a theoretical model of this circle using Augustine's theory of time and Aristotle's theory of plot and, further, develops an original thesis of the mimetic function of narrative. He concludes with a comprehensive survey and critique of modern discussions of historical knowledge, understanding, and writing from Aron and Mandelbaum in the late 1930s to the work of the Annales school and that of Anglophone philosophers of history of the 1960s and 1970s."This work, in my view, puts the whole problem of narrative, not to mention philosophy of history, on a new and higher plane of discussion."—Hayden White, History and Theory "Superb. . . . A fine point of entrance into the work of one of the eminent thinkers of the present intellectual age."—Joseph R. Gusfield, Contemporary Sociology

In volume 1 of this three-volume work, Paul Ricoeur examined the relations between time and narrative in historical writing. Now, in volume 2, he examines these relations in fiction and theories of literature.Ricoeur treats the question of just how far the Aristotelian concept of "plot" in narrative fiction can be expanded and whether there is a point at which narrative fiction as a literary form not only blurs at the edges but ceases to exist at all. Though some semiotic theorists have proposed all fiction can be reduced to an atemporal structure, Ricoeur argues that fiction depends on the reader's understanding of narrative traditions, which do evolve but necessarily include a temporal dimension. He looks at how time is actually expressed in narrative fiction, particularly through use of tenses, point of view, and voice. He applies this approach to three books that are, in a sense, tales about Virgina Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway; Thomas Mann's Magic Mountain; and Marcel Proust's Remembrance of Things Past ."Ricoeur writes the best kind of philosophy—critical, economical, and clear."—Eugen Weber, New York Times Book Review"A major work of literary theory and criticism under the aegis of philosophical hermenutics. I believe that . . . it will come to have an impact greater than that of Gadamer's Truth and Method—a work it both supplements and transcends in its contribution to our understanding of the meaning of texts and their relationship to the world."—Robert Detweiler, Religion and Literature"One cannot fail to be impressed by Ricoeur's encyclopedic knowledge of the subject under consideration. . . . To students of rhetoric, the importance of Time and Narrative . . . is all too evident to require extensive elaboration."—Dilip Parameshwar Gaonkar, Quarterly Journal of Speech

C. Wright Mills is best remembered for his highly acclaimed work The Sociological Imagination , in which he set forth his views on how social science should be pursued. Hailed upon publication as a cogent and hard-hitting critique, The Sociological Imagination took issue with the ascendant schools of sociology in the United States, calling for a humanist sociology connecting the social, personal, and historical dimensions of our lives. The sociological imagination Mills calls for is a sociological vision, a way of looking at the world that can see links between the apparently private problems of the individual and important social issues.

The notion that our society, its education system and its intellectual life, is characterised by a split between two cultures—the arts or humanities on one hand, and the sciences on the other—has a long history. But it was C. P. Snow's Rede lecture of 1959 that brought it to prominence and began a public debate that is still raging in the media today. This 50th anniversary printing of The Two Cultures and its successor piece, A Second Look (in which Snow responded to the controversy four years later) features an introduction by Stefan Collini, charting the history and context of the debate, its implications and its afterlife. The importance of science and technology in policy run largely by non-scientists, the future for education and research, and the problem of fragmentation threatening hopes for a common culture are just some of the subjects discussed.

This book would be a good read for those who are curious about the artistic traditions and aesthetics of various Asian cultures. Through expert analysis and insights from specialists in different fields, it offers a comprehensive understanding of the commonalities and distinctive features of Asian aesthetics. Whether you are passionate about art, interested in philosophy, or simply fascinated by different cultures, this book will take you on a journey to explore the rich and diverse world of Asian aesthetics.

Written by an expert team of political scientists, sociologists, philosophers, and political economists, this is the most authoritative and up-to-date dictionary of politics available. Containing over 1,500 entries ranging from John Adams and Young Hegelians to Additional Member System andzero-sum game, this comprehensive and entertaining work offers international coverage of major political institutions, thinkers, and concepts. All significant political thinkers and designers of political institutions are in the West are included, and special attention is give to Muslim and Chinesepolitical thought. There are many entries in new and thriving branches of the subject, such as international political economy, voting theory, and feminism. The Dictionary also gives clear and precise definitions of technical terms such as Condorcet winner , Droop quota , and ultra vires , and includesan appendix of political leaders for a wide range of countries and international institutions. Designed especially for general readers and students new to the subject, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Politics will be an invaluable reference aid for anybody who wishes to learn about politics fromaround the world.

Giddens's analysis of the writings of Marx, Durkheim and Weber has become the classic text for any student seeking to understand the three thinkers who established the basic framework of contemporary sociology. The first three sections of the book, based on close textual examination of the original sources, contain separate treatments of each writer. The author demonstrates the internal coherence of their respective contributions to social theory. The concluding section discusses the principal ways in which Marx can be compared with the other two authors, and discusses misconceptions of some conventional views on the subject.

This is the classic work upon which modern-day game theory is based. What began more than sixty years ago as a modest proposal that a mathematician and an economist write a short paper together blossomed, in 1944, when Princeton University Press published Theory of Games and Economic Behavior . In it, John von Neumann and Oskar Morgenstern conceived a groundbreaking mathematical theory of economic and social organization, based on a theory of games of strategy. Not only would this revolutionize economics, but the entirely new field of scientific inquiry it yielded--game theory--has since been widely used to analyze a host of real-world phenomena from arms races to optimal policy choices of presidential candidates, from vaccination policy to major league baseball salary negotiations. And it is today established throughout both the social sciences and a wide range of other sciences.This sixtieth anniversary edition includes not only the original text but also an introduction by Harold Kuhn, an afterword by Ariel Rubinstein, and reviews and articles on the book that appeared at the time of its original publication in the New York Times , tthe American Economic Review , and a variety of other publications. Together, these writings provide readers a matchless opportunity to more fully appreciate a work whose influence will yet resound for generations to come.

Boethius composed De Consolation Philosophiae in the sixth century A.D. while awaiting death by torture, condemned on a charge of plotting against Gothic rule, which he protested as manifestly unjust. Though a Christian, Boethius details the true end of life as the soul's knowledge of God, and consoles himself with the tenets of Greek philosophy, not with Christian precepts. Written in a form called Meippean Satire that alternates between prose and verse, Boethius' work often consists of a story told by Ovid or Horace to illustrate the philosophy being expounded. The Consolation of Philosophy dominated the intellectual world of the Middle Ages; it inspired writers as diverse Thomas Aquinas, Jean de Meun, and Dante. In England it was rendered into Old English by Alfred the Great, into Middle English by Geoffrey Chaucer, and later Queen Elizabeth I made her own translation. The circumstances of composition, the heroic demeanor of the author, and the Meippean texture of part prose, part verse have been a fascination for students of philosophy, literature, and religion ever since.

All of us are faced countless times with the challenge of persuading others, whether we're trying to win a trivial argument with a friend or convince our coworkers about an important decision. Instead of relying on untrained instinct--and often floundering or failing as a result--we'd win more arguments if we learned the timeless art of verbal persuasion, rhetoric. How to Win an Argument gathers the rhetorical wisdom of Cicero, ancient Rome's greatest orator, from across his works and combines it with passages from his legal and political speeches to show his powerful techniques in action. The result is an enlightening and entertaining practical introduction to the secrets of persuasive speaking and writing--including strategies that are just as effective in today's offices, schools, courts, and political debates as they were in the Roman forum.How to Win an Argument addresses proof based on rational argumentation, character, and emotion; the parts of a speech; the plain, middle, and grand styles; how to persuade no matter what audience or circumstances you face; and more. Cicero's words are presented in lively translations, with illuminating introductions; the book also features a brief biography of Cicero, a glossary, suggestions for further reading, and an appendix of the original Latin texts.Astonishingly relevant, this unique anthology of Cicero's rhetorical and oratorical wisdom will be enjoyed by anyone who ever needs to win arguments and influence people--in other words, all of us.

If you're drawn to the intersection of philosophy, religion, and introspection, "Confessions" by Augustine may resonate deeply with you. Augustine's candid account of his tumultuous journey to Christian faith reveals the vulnerabilities and philosophical curiosities that define human experience. Henry Chadwick's clear, modern translation makes this classic spiritual autobiography accessible, inviting you to explore Augustine's transformative personal narrative alongside helpful explanatory notes that enrich understanding.

Collected here in a single volume for the first time are John Stuart Mill's On Liberty, Utilitarianism, Considerations on Representative Governmen t, and The Subjection of Women . These essays show Mill applying his liberal utilitarian philosophy to a range of issues that remain vitaltoday--the nature of ethics, the scope and limits of individual liberty, the merits of and costs of democratic government, and the place of women in society. In his Introduction John Gray describes these essays as applications of Mill's doctrine of the Art of Life , as set out in A System ofLogic . Using the resources of recent scholarship, he shows Mill's work to be far richer and subtler than traditional interpretations allow.About the Series: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the broadest spectrum of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expertintroductions by leading authorities, voluminous notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

How old are you?  The more thought you bring to bear on the question, the harder it is to answer.  For we age simultaneously in different ways: biologically, psychologically, socially. And we age within the larger framework of a culture, in the midst of a history that predates us and will outlast us. Looked at through that lens, many aspects of late modernity would suggest that we are older than ever, but Robert Pogue Harrison argues that we are also getting startlingly younger―in looks, mentality, and behavior. We live, he says, in an age of juvenescence. Like all of Robert Pogue Harrison's books, Juvenescence ranges brilliantly across cultures and history, tracing the ways that the spirits of youth and age have inflected each other from antiquity to the present. Drawing on the scientific concept of neotony, or the retention of juvenile characteristics through adulthood, and extending it into the cultural realm, Harrison argues that youth is essential for culture’s innovative drive and flashes of genius. At the same time, however, youth―which Harrison sees as more protracted than ever―is a luxury that requires the stability and wisdom of our elders and the institutions. “While genius liberates the novelties of the future,” Harrison writes, “wisdom inherits the legacies of the past, renewing them in the process of handing them down.” A heady, deeply learned excursion, rich with ideas and insights, Juvenescence could only have been written by Robert Pogue Harrison. No reader who has wondered at our culture's obsession with youth should miss it.

This book is ideal for anyone interested in understanding the intricacies of strategic thinking and conflict resolution. Schelling proposes a new way of looking at negotiations, war, and criminal deterrence, showing enlightening similarities between these seemingly disparate situations. This book offers insights into human psychology and helps readers understand why we behave the way we do in certain situations, making it a must-read for anyone looking to improve their negotiation skills or enhance their knowledge of game theory.

One of Wall Street's most creative and influential minds offers provocative new ways of thinking about the stock market, investing, and how we make decisions.

First published in 1532, several years after Machiavelli's death, The Prince immediately fired a debate which has raged until the present day. It has variously been described as the first work to analyse the role of the political élite; as the book which established the independence of politics from theology; as an early formulation of the political 'myth' required to galvanize apolitical masses into revolutionary action; as a practical rule-book containing timeless precepts for the diplomat; and, most frequently, as the handbook of evil. Certainly it is a work of the greatest originality, based upon Machiavelli's first-hand experience as an emissary of the Florentine Republic to the courts of Europe. He provides an analysis of the means -- often violent -- by which political power is seized and retained, and the circumstances in which it is lost. His treatment of major philosophical and political issues, especially the relationship between public deeds and private morality, added a dimension of incisive realism to traditional discourse on the nature of the State. Above all, The Prince provides a remarkably uncompromising picture of the true nature of power, no matter in what era or by whom it is exercised.

A "commonplace book," must, by its very nature, be unique, a mixture of personal, critical, playful, and profound musings. In Interplay , the noted critic and poet D. J. Enright has arranged and expanded his jottings, thoughts, observations, and impressions from over the years, resulting in amoving, lucid, and inviting mixture of autobiography and commentary.Much of what Enright shares concerns literary the eccentricities of reviewing; the reductiveness of current fiction; reflections on modern biography; the necessity and impossibility of censorship; irony and sentimentality; treason among intellectuals; linguistic hanky-panky; literarytheory and literary practice (Proust versus Paul de Man); and some of his new poetry. Interspersed are such fascinating asides as a layman's look at Schopenhauer, Nietzsche, Freud, and Barthes; curious points of theology; an account of racial stereotypes, their use and limitations; ars eroticaancient and modern; sidelights on Chinese and Japanese thought; the obsolete notion of integrity in politics and business; and dreams in life and literature.To all of these questions and subjects Enright brings his inimitable style and manner, as well as varying moods--sad, humorous, ironic--bound together by his overwhelming humanism that makes life and literature inseparable. This is a brilliant book, full of wit, insight, and intriguing miscellany,one that serves as an eclectic self-portrait of a leading literary mind and a very telling account of modern attitudes and life as we know it.

What is the philosophy of religion? How can we distinguish it from theology on the one hand and the psychology/sociology of religious belief on the other? What does it mean to describe God as "eternal"? And should religious people want there to be good arguments for the existence of God, or is religious belief only authentic in the absence of these good arguments?In this Very Short Introduction Tim Bayne introduces the field of philosophy of religion, and engages with some of the most burning questions that philosophers discuss. Considering how "religion" should be defined, and whether we even need to be able to define it in order to engage in the philosophy of religion, he goes on to discuss whether the existence of God matters. Exploring the problem of evil, Bayne also debates the connection between faith and reason, and the related question of what role reason should play in religious contexts. Shedding light on the relationship between science and religion, Bayne finishes by considering the topics of reincarnation and the afterlife.ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Here at last is a coherent, unintimidating introduction to the challenging and fascinating landscape of Western philosophy. Written expressly for "anyone who believes there are big questions out there, but does not know how to approach them," Think provides a sound framework for exploring the most basic themes of philosophy, and for understanding how major philosophers have tackled the questions that have pressed themselves most forcefully on human consciousness.

Compulsory ujamaa villages in Tanzania, collectivization in Russia, Le Corbusier’s urban planning theory realized in Brasilia, the Great Leap Forward in China, agricultural "modernization" in the Tropics—the twentieth century has been racked by grand utopian schemes that have inadvertently brought death and disruption to millions. Why do well-intentioned plans for improving the human condition go tragically awry?In this wide-ranging and original book, James C. Scott analyzes failed cases of large-scale authoritarian plans in a variety of fields. Centrally managed social plans misfire, Scott argues, when they impose schematic visions that do violence to complex interdependencies that are not—and cannot—be fully understood. Further, the success of designs for social organization depends upon the recognition that local, practical knowledge is as important as formal, epistemic knowledge. The author builds a persuasive case against "development theory" and imperialistic state planning that disregards the values, desires, and objections of its subjects. He identifies and discusses four conditions common to all planning disasters: administrative ordering of nature and society by the state; a "high-modernist ideology" that places confidence in the ability of science to improve every aspect of human life; a willingness to use authoritarian state power to effect large- scale interventions; and a prostrate civil society that cannot effectively resist such plans.