A Brief Guide to Ideas: Turning Points in Religion and Philosophy - Softcover

Raeper, William; Smith, Linda

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0745939090 ISBN 13: 9780745939094

Publisher: Lion Books, 1997

Synopsis

This work is for those who want to be better informed about the major turning points in the history of human thought. Arranged thematically, the book looks at key questions, such as: how and what can we know; does God exist; why do we exist; anything goes; and what are the boundaries of reality? A companion volume to "A Brief History of Christian Spirituality" and "A Brief History of Christian Music", the book is a guide to over 40 of the world's major thinkers, including: Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, Descartes, Kant, Locke, Marx, Nietzsche and Freud. Ideas and movements covered include: feminism, humanism, rationalism, New Age and the paranormal. There are new chapters on Wittgenstein, postmodernism and fundamentalism. Arranged thematically, the book looks at key questions, such as how and what can we know? Does God exist? Why do we exist? What are the boundaries of reality?

About this title

From the Back Cover

Philosophy -- dry and remote? Think again. It's as relevant as tonight's news, as immediate as the choices you make in a career. If you want to interact wisely with the world you live in, you need to understand the ideas that shape its commerce, launch its humanitarian efforts, trigger its wars, and profoundly impact the way you yourself approach God, life, and relationships. Postmodernism, Platonism, Humanism, Existentialism, Feminism, Rationalism, Fundamentalism, New Age . . . They're more than just terms. They're structures of thought you encounter constantly. This book gives you a fundamental grasp of what they are and how they influence your dealings with the world . . . and its dealings with you. You'll gain essential insights into over 40 of the world's major thinkers. Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, Descartes, Kant, Locke, Marx, Nietsche, Freud, Wittgenstein . . . A Brief Guide to Ideas introduces to you these and many more of the great philosophers. You'll develop a working knowledge of numerous key ideas and movements. And you'll learn how philosophers and religions through the ages have grappled with critical questions that influence your life today.

About the Author

The late William Raeper was a writer and teacher based in Oxford. Linda Edwards and William Raeper together wrote the highly successful textbook "Luke: A Gospel for Today."

Edition details

• Publisher: Lion Books
• Publication date: 1997
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0745939090
• ISBN 13: 9780745939094
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 394