Philosophers Behaving Badly

Author(s): Nigel Rodgers & Mel Thompson

Fiction

This book explores the perils of philosophy. It shows that philosopher's own behavious, sometimes bad, sometimes sad, occasionally downright mad, is seldom entirely unconnected to their thinking. Those seeking in philosophy a guide for the perplexed should be warned. While philosophy can enlighten, it can also mislead and delude. As Descartes observed, The greatest souls are capable of the greatest vices as well as the greatest virtues. This book explores the perils of philosophy. It shows that philosophers own behaviour, sometimes bad, sometimes sad, occasionally downright mad, is seldom entirely unconnected with their thinking. Philosophers Behaving Badly examines the lives of eight great philosophers: Rousseau, whose views on education and the social order seem curiously at odds with his own outrageous life; Schopenhauer and Nietzsche, two giants of the nineteenth century whose words seem ever more relevant today; and five immensely influential philosophers of the twentieth century: Russell, Wittgenstein, Heidegger, Sartre and Foucault. All of which will show that the life of reason does not necessarily lead to a reasonable life. Philosophers throughout history have not always been impeccable sages. Combining poppy and selective summaries of their [the authors] subjects thinking, genius is cut down to size in a work that is, overall, impressive. Guardian Fascinating and revealing . . . Rodgers and Thompson are to be congratulated for taking an unholy slant on a holy subject . . . should certainly be on any university reading list. Birmingham Post NIGEL RODGERS is a historian and author of several publications, most recently The Rise and Fall of Ancient Rome (Lorenz, 2004) as well as biographies of Hitler and Churchill for Hodder and Stoughton. MEL THOMPSON is the author of more than twenty books on philosophy and religion (including many published in the popular Teach Yourself series), as well as a lecturer in philosophy.

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Product Information

General Fields

  • : 9780720612196
  • : Peter Owen Ltd
  • : Peter Owen Ltd
  • : books

Special Fields

  • : Paperback
  • : Nigel Rodgers & Mel Thompson