Watts wishes to engage in a "metatheology" whereby Christianity is looked at from the standpoint of Hindu myth. Viewed in this way, the Christian emphasis on the value of individuality and the absolute separation of creature and Creator is seen as the supreme example of God's maya, the act whereby the Absolute believes itself to be finite and individual. Watts believes that this approach can lead to a mutual enrichment of the two religious traditions. Through most of the book he (...) claims merely to be comparing the Hindu and Christian world-myths; in the end, however, he suggests that the comparison may also have philosophic significance. Though he explicitly denies having written a scholarly book, Watts is often both provocative and perceptive.—P. F. L. (shrink)

The first part of this book contains essays on Dostoevski's Christian insights, Marxism compared to Christianity as a religion, and the Christian significance of Sartre's "ontological" interpretation of sexuality. A second group of essays develops the author's concern with Christian social ethics and modern interpretations of the concept of natural law, in the writings of Brunner, Cahn, Maritain, Tillich, H. R. Niebuhr, and Reinhold Niebuhr. Ramsey's treatment of these writers is generally sympathetic and sensitive.--P. F. L.

This book is basically a translation of the volume Philosophie of the Fischer Lexicon series, with some articles and supplementary material by English-speaking scholars. It consists of brief articles on various aspects of philosophy. Much of the material tends to be too condensed and technical for the general reader, and too cursory for the advanced student. As a general reference volume for English-speaking readers, the book is sometimes hampered by its heavy emphasis on Continental and particularly German writers and philosophic (...) traditions.—P. F. L. (shrink)

Five essays on various aspects of Peirce's philosophy, first delivered as a series of lectures at Yale University, plus a brief biography of Peirce by Paul Weiss. The essays are: "Charles S. Peirce as an American," by Rulon Wells, "Notes Toward a Logic of Discovery," by N. R. Hanson, "Action, Conduct, and Self-Control," by R. J. Bernstein, "Community and Reality," by J. E. Smith, and "Charles S. Peirce, Philosopher," by Paul Weiss. Several of these essays contain concise, perceptive summaries and (...) evaluations of Peirce's thought in various areas; the book is an excellent introduction to Peirce's philosophy.—P. F. L. (shrink)

Selections representing a wide range of 20th century thought, in a book intended primarily for introductory courses in contemporary philosophy. Individual selections are generally well chosen. The short editorial commentaries on the various thinkers and positions are both fair and perceptive.--P. F. L.

Sheldon adds his voice to the growing chorus of protest against theological "fideism." Religion is not an irrational commitment to what cannot be known. Rather "pure straight reason, impartially pursued, leads by logical necessity to worship of... supernatural deity...." This rather surprising thesis is defended by identifying "true" philosophy, the wise pursuit of goods, with religion and morality, whose core is compassionate love, impartial and universal in scope.--P. F. J.

The author contends that contemporary analytic and existential philosophies have more in common than is generally realized. Both are committed to the analysis of human experience in its full complexity, and opposed to the simplistic reductionism which Kohl feels characterized the philosophies of the early twentieth century. Short and sometimes quite insightful summaries of the positions of major contemporary philosophers and schools are interspersed with very interestingly chosen selections by a variety of writers, making this in some ways a good (...) introduction to the contemporary scene for the non-philosopher. However, despite some interesting ideas, Kohl's arguments in support of his major thesis are generally superficial, and he shows little sense of the fact that any attempt to reconcile analytic and existential philosophy must first of all take account of the very real differences between them.—P. F. L. (shrink)

The topic of the essays in this rather miscellaneous collection range from the nature of post-Christian man to the possibility of banning cars from Manhattan. Most of these essays are not "philosophical" in a technical sense, but there emerges from them a definite philosophical viewpoint, one which shows the influence of pragmatic, existential, and psychoanalytic ideas. Goodman's particular concern is with the relation of the individual to society, and particularly with the problems of meaningful individual action within the context of (...) the community. This concern results in a distinctive fusion of an individualistic and humanistic philosophy with highly concrete social proposals. Despite its rather fragmentary nature, this book is a good illustration of the freshness and immediacy which make Goodman one of the most original and exciting of current social thinkers.—P. F. L. (shrink)

The heart of this book is an extended account of Whitehead's philosophical development, in which Lowe argues persuasively that many of the ideas which appear in Whitehead's metaphysical writings are prefigured in the work of Whitehead the mathematician and philosopher of science. The discussion of the way in which a peculiarly mathematical insight into the structure of the universe can be traced even in the late metaphysical works is especially illuminating. Also included is a brief summary of Whitehead's developed philosophy (...) and a critical discussion of "empirical method" in Whitehead.--P. F. L. (shrink)

This book, one of the "Great American Thinkers" series, seems primarily intended for the reader with no previous knowledge of James or of philosophy in general. The author discusses James's psychology, pragmatism, philosophy of religion, and metaphysics, and makes some attempt to trace common themes and present James's thought as a unified whole. The exposition is generally clear and straightforward, and Moore avoids many of the clichés and misunderstandings common in discussions of James and pragmatism. Within this rather small book (...) the author attempts not only to present James's treatment of some of the classic problems of philosophy, but also to give an elementary introduction to those problems. Unfortunately, the simplified and schematic presentation which results often fails to capture effectively the flavor, subtlety, and excitement of James's thought.—P. F. L. (shrink)