Goodbye Mr. Socialism offers a gripping encounter with one of today’s leading leftists, presenting his most up-to-date analysis of global events and insight into the prospects for the Left in an age of neoliberalism. In his most accessible work yet, philosopher Antonio Negri discusses the state of the global Left since the end of the Cold War and suggests a new politics in a series of rousing conversations with Raf Valvola Scelsi. Scelsi prompts Negri to critique the episodes in the post–Cold War period that have afforded the Left opportunities to rethink its strategies and objectives. Addressing the twilight of social democracy, Negri offers a compelling defense of the prospects for social transformation.
René Descartes is best remembered today for writing 'I think, therefore I am', but his main contribution to the history of ideas was his effort to construct a philosophy that would be sympathetic to the new sciences that emerged in the seventeenth century. To a great extent he was the midwife to the Scientific Revolution and a significant contributor to its key concepts. In four major publications, he fashioned a philosophical system that accommodated the needs of these new sciences and thereby earned the unrelenting hostility of both Catholic and Calvinist theologians, who relied on the scholastic philosophy that Descartes hoped to replace. His contemporaries claimed that his proofs of God's existence in the Meditations were so unsuccessful that he must have been a cryptic atheist and that his discussion of skepticism served merely to fan the flames of libertinism. This is the first biography in English that addresses the full range of Descartes' interest in theology, philosophy and the sciences and that traces his intellectual development through his entire career.
This is a story so intricately woven in its discussion of the human condition, aspects of which pull at different heartstrings, the abject loneliness of the protagonist having possibly crept up, unbidden, at any point in the lives of others. His story is a catharsis that may inspire, even an unsure writer, to pen a thought or two down but also inspire a feeling of community, that in this world of ours, moving fast towards isolation, we are really not alone. Descartes' Mistress is a piece of experimental, philosophical fiction concerning philosophical implications of a premise we all know - what would happen if everybody disappeared? - in a new radical light.
Descartes is possibly the most famous of all writers on the mind, but his theory of mind has been almost universally misunderstood, because his philosophy has not been seen in the context of his scientific work. Desmond Clarke offers a radical and convincing rereading, undoing the received perception of Descartes as the chief defender of mind/body dualism. For Clarke, the key is to interpret his philosophical efforts as an attempt to reconcile his scientific pursuits with the theologically orthodox views of his time.
A furious woman with a dead baby haunts thinkers through the ages, from the Buddha and Jesus to Descartes, Hume and Jung. Her questions to them all are similar: Why am I suffering? Do I deserve this? Why is it allowed? Why do women particularly have to suffer like this? Can the baby be brought back to life? The answers, however, vary greatly. A practising philosopher who is also an amateur musician, Robert M. Ellis here turns to fiction to explore death, suffering and gender relations. The 'theme' from a Buddhist story is developed in a variety of styles and formats, as in a musical theme and variations.
DIVA thought-provoking examination of the complex teacher-student relationship, from one of the great minds of the modern literary world Based on George Steiner’s extensive experience as a teacher, Lessons of the Masters is a passionate examination of the “profession of the professor.” He writes about what empowers one person to teach another, and explores the complexities and nuances of this bond. From the charismatic master to the loving disciple, Steiner explores the religious, philosophical, economic, and scientific aspects of imparting knowledge, drawing upon history’s most famous teachers: Socrates, Jesus, Faust, Virgil, Dante, Heloise, and Abelard./div
"The science-fiction novel "The Revival" is an explosion of imagination and surprising revolutionary concepts. It encompasses themes lush enough for multiple books, not just one. Author Alain Costea skillfully weaves these themes into the story without disrupting the narrative flow. The adventures and suspenseful moments are further enhanced by the specific techno-philosophical-sociological revelations characteristic of a richly layered hard SF. The remarkable talent of the author in constructing complex worlds and delving into the psychology of numerous characters allows him to create a true science fiction epic akin to the (space) operas of Alastair Reynolds or Peter F. Hamilton." "The characters in the book—whether main or secondary, human or extraterrestrial—are realistic, vibrant, and possess genuine purposes, dilemmas, and evolutions. Their portrayal is anchored in subtle presentations and psychological introspections. They evolve continuously, undergo transformations, restarts, and epiphanies throughout the story. Amidst the adventures and challenges they face, the protagonists develop their abilities and gain a deeper understanding of the world they inhabit. These penetrating details allow readers to connect with their motivations and experience all their trials and tribulations...." "A notable feature of the author`s style is his ability to explore essential philosophical themes and existential dilemmas. Without veering into moralizing or dogmatism, Alain Costea directs our thoughts toward humanity`s future, ethical quandaries, and the impact of advanced technology upon it. Each new concept applied in their near-future world serves as an invitation for reflection, prompting us to ask: "What would humanity do in such a situation?" The answer becomes far more intriguing when these notions or ideas, typically encountered in the works of great writers, receive a native context and national specificity. The Revival" is an ideal blend of anticipatory-speculative science fiction challenge and entertainment. It strikes a delicate balance, offering tense action within a universe laden with perplexing enigmas that demand deciphering. Its construction as a foundation for a future space opera series is subtly suggested by certain enticing technological developments. Rather than being a clear attribute of the present narrative, it serves as a delightful promise. The story possesses its own earthly flavor and culminates satisfactorily after nearly 700 pages that keep you on the edge of your seat. I recommend this novel not only to readers who appreciate the works of Alastair Reynolds, Peter F. Hamilton, or Philip K. Dick but also to fans of films like "The Matrix," "Contact," or even "Men in Black." Review of "The Revival" Source:analogiiantologii.com/2023/08/13/renasterea-recenzie Author: Marius – AnalogiesAnthologies Publication date: 13.08.2023
René Descartes (1596–1650) is one of the towering and central figures in Western philosophy and mathematics. His apothegm “Cogito, ergo sum” marked the birth of the mind-body problem, while his creation of so-called Cartesian coordinates have made our physical and intellectual conquest of physical space possible. But Descartes had a mysterious and mystical side, as well. Almost certainly a member of the occult brotherhood of the Rosicrucians, he kept a secret notebook, now lost, most of which was written in code. After Descartes’s death, Gottfried Leibniz, inventor of calculus and one of the greatest mathematicians in history, moved to Paris in search of this notebook—and eventually found it in the possession of Claude Clerselier, a friend of Descartes. Leibniz called on Clerselier and was allowed to copy only a couple of pages—which, though written in code, he amazingly deciphered there on the spot. Leibniz’s hastily scribbled notes are all we have today of Descartes’s notebook, which has disappeared. Why did Descartes keep a secret notebook, and what were its contents? The answers to these questions lead Amir Aczel and the reader on an exciting, swashbuckling journey, and offer a fascinating look at one of the great figures of Western culture.
The only large-scale critical introduction to Western Marxism for biblical criticism. Roland Boer introduces the core concepts of major figures in the tradition, specifically Althusser, Gramsci, Deleuze and Guattari, Eagleton, Lefebvre, Lukács, Adorno, Bloch, Negri, Jameson, and Jameson. Throughout, Boer shows how Marxist criticism is relevant to biblical criticism, in terms of approaches to the Bible and in the use of those approaches in the interpretation of specific texts. In this second edition, Boer has added chapters on Deleuze and Guattari, and Negri. Each chapter has been carefully revised to make the book more useful on courses, while maintaining challenges and insights for postgraduate students and scholars. Theoretical material has been updated and sharpened in light of subsequent research and a revised conclusion considers the economies of the ancient world in relation to biblical societies.
Antonio Negri is the most important Marxist theorist working today. His writings include novel readings of classical philosophers such as Machiavelli, Descartes, and Spinoza, revolutionary reinterpretations of the central texts of Marx, and works of contemporary political analysis. Negri is known in the English-speaking world primarily through Empire, a work he co-authored with Michael Hardt in 2000 that became a surprise academic best-seller. His other writings, which have great depth and breadth, are equally deserving of attention. While most critical accounts of Negri focus only on Empire, this collection of essays presents readers with a fuller picture of Negri’s thought, one that does justice to his ability to use the great texts of the philosophical tradition to illuminate the present. The collection contains essays from scholars representing a broad spectrum of disciplines and interests, and it offers both criticism of and positive commentary on Negri’s work.
