In Defense of Sin - Hardcover

3.14

28 ratings by Goodreads

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0312239866 ISBN 13: 9780312239862

Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan, 2002

Are the old sins still sinful? And just what is immoral these days anyway? For hardened sinners and first time offenders alike, this collection should allow readers to decide if they should follow the "Ten Commandments" or if sin is now simply a thing of the past. Readers will hear from Jonathan Swift on murder, Oscar Wilde on deceit, Freud on breaking the golden rule, Seneca on suicide, and Joyce Carol Oates on despair. This collection takes sin on its own terms and dares to question how and why sins like promiscuity, lying, lust, and even murder might be defended. Previous books on sin have explored the seven deadly sins which are: avarice, envy, gluttony, lust, pride, sloth and wrath. This title explores more than just the seven deadly sins, including essays on idolatry, blasphemy, murder, promiscuity, adultery, prostitution, deceit, gossip, internet sex, despair and suicide.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

Review:

'Our moral improvement, Portmann suggests, is better served by a penetrating analysis and understanding of sin than by dismissing it...' - Virginia Quarterly Review

'...an interesting collection of essays, some classic and others by more contemporary scholars.' - Ethical Perspectives

About the Author:

JOHN PORTMANN studied philosophy at Yale and Cambridge University and has written numerous articles on ethics and morality. The author of When Bad Things Happen To Other People, Portmann lives in Charlottesville, VA. His forthcoming book with Palgrave is Sex and Heaven (May 2002). Portmann lectures at the University of Virginia at Charlottesville.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.