The Latest Answers to the Oldest Questions

The Latest Answers to the Oldest Questions

Author: Nicholas Fearn

Publisher: Grove/Atlantic, Inc.

Published: 2008-01-29

Total Pages: 254

ISBN-13: 1555846327

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

“A serious yet readable overview of philosophy in modern times” from the author of Zeno and the Tortoise: How to Think Like a Philosopher (The Spectator). The work of the classic philosophers is well known. But what do contemporary thinkers say about what it is to be a human being? In his serious, challenging, and remarkably accessible new book, Nicholas Fearn turns to contemporary philosophers to ask the age-old questions: Who am I? What do I know? What should I do? In his search for higher meaning, Fearn consults with thinkers from around the world (including John Searle, Martha Nussbaum, Peter Singer, Richard Rorty, Daniel Dennett, Noam Chomsky, Derek Parfit, Nick Bostrom, among many others) to create an impressive survey of recent thought. Variously, they believe that free will, identity, and consciousness are not what they seem; that the difference between virtue and wickedness can be a matter of sheer luck; and that, one day, we will all be vegetarians. Fearn discovers that the topics haven’t changed, though our world has. Or has it? Moving deftly from pop culture to the writings of Plato, The Latest Answers to the Oldest Questions is a brilliant and entertaining guide to the current state of philosophical thought. “[A] small marvel.”—The Economist “The writing is informative, witty and illustrated by vivid anecdotes.”—The Times Literary Supplement “A readable, challenging guide to the frontiers of thinking.”—The Independent “A commendable summation of current thought and a good mental workout.” —Leeds Guide (UK) “Illuminating, profound and witty. Read it and be challenged to think differently about who and what you are.”—Raymond Tallis, author of Aping Mankind


The Latest Answers to the Oldest Questions

The Latest Answers to the Oldest Questions

Author: Nicholas Fearn

Publisher: Grove Press

Published: 2007

Total Pages: 260

ISBN-13: 9780802143471

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

In his serious, challenging, and accessible new book, Fearn moves deftly from pop culture to the writings of Plato to take readers on a fascinating tour of where philosophy is today and what it can tell us about where we as humans are going.


Hidden Treasures in the Book of Job (Reasons to Believe)

Hidden Treasures in the Book of Job (Reasons to Believe)

Author: Hugh Ross

Publisher: Baker Books

Published: 2011-10-01

Total Pages: 277

ISBN-13: 1441234322

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Arguably the oldest book in the Bible, the book of Job has a surprising amount to say about some of the newest scientific discoveries and controversies. Far from a book that is just about suffering, Job is filled with rich insight into both ancient and modern questions about the formation of the world the difference between animals and humans cosmology dinosaurs and the fossil record how to care for creation and more With careful consideration and exegesis, internationally known astrophysicist and Christian apologist Hugh Ross adds yet another compelling argument to the case for the veracity of the biblical commentary on the history of the universe, Earth, life, and humanity. Hidden Treasures in the Book of Job shows that the Bible is an accurate predictor of scientific discoveries and a trustworthy source of scientific information, and that both the book of Scripture and the book of nature are consistent both internally and externally.


The New Answers Book 1

The New Answers Book 1

Author: Ken Ham

Publisher: New Leaf Publishing Group

Published: 2008

Total Pages: 386

ISBN-13: 0890515093

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Christians live in a culture with more questions than ever - questions that affect one's acceptance of the Bible as authoritative and trustworthy. Now, discover easy-to-understand answers that reach core truths of the Christian faith and apply the biblical worldview to a wide variety of subjects.


Sparrow Rising (Skyborn #1)

Sparrow Rising (Skyborn #1)

Author: Jessica Khoury

Publisher: Scholastic Inc.

Published: 2021-08-03

Total Pages: 260

ISBN-13: 1338652400

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Jessica Khoury brings her masterful world-building and emotional depth to a brand-new fantasy series. In a world where everyone is born with wings, stone monsters prowl the skies, hunting those who dare to fly too high. In the Clandoms, everyone is born with wings, with tight-knit communities formed around bird types: Jay, Falcon, Crow.Ellie Meadows dreams of growing up to join the Goldwings -- the famed knights who defend all the people of the Clandoms. It was a Goldwing, after all, who saved her life on that terrible day her parents were killed. There's just one problem: Ellie is a Sparrow, and the Goldwings are almost invariably picked from the higher clans like Eagles and Ospreys. This rigid hierarchy means that Ellie is destined to become a farmer.Determined to honor her parents' memories and prove herself worthy of the Goldwings, Ellie sets out on her own for the capital. But her journey will be dangerous. Foul creatures called gargols lurk behind every cloud, ready to slay anyone unlucky enough to be caught outside in a storm -- just as Ellie's family was.Soon her path intertwines with a colorful band of fellow outcasts, each with their own aspirations... and their own secrets. Ellie's new friends offer not just roadside companionship. They'll challenge her ideas of right, wrong, and what truly makes a hero.


Answers to Questions You've Never Asked

Answers to Questions You've Never Asked

Author: Joseph Pisenti

Publisher: Mango Media Inc.

Published: 2017-11-09

Total Pages: 194

ISBN-13: 163353670X

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The #1 bestselling trivia collection with bizarre facts to entertain you for hours, from the creator of YouTube’s RealLifeLore. Where can I move to so that I’m never tempted by McDonald’s again? How far into the Pacific does Trump’s wall stretch? If Plato came back to life, what would he think of modern democracy? Why do all empires fail? Who decides what countries are allowed to participate in the Olympics? What makes Finland so great? When you take the most absurd parts of history, science, economics, and geography, you end up with a pretty confusing picture of humanity. Why do we have borders, what’s the furthest you can get from the ocean, how do you qualify as a country, and why did Vikings wear those silly helmets? These are just a few of the strange questions that bounce around the head of YouTube sensation Joseph Pisenti, aka RealLifeLore. In his debut book, Pisenti explores the nonsensical humor of the universe with in-depth analysis of empires, economies, and ecosystems as he helps answer the ridiculous. Why, you ask? Because someone has to. Using line drawings, graphs, and charts, Pisenti not only details the absurd—he also provides explanations on why things are . . . and why they aren’t.


The Kingdom of Infinite Space

The Kingdom of Infinite Space

Author: Raymond Tallis

Publisher: Yale University Press

Published: 2014-05-14

Total Pages: 345

ISBN-13: 0300151829

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

In this pathbreaking book, one of Britain s most eloquent and original thinkers writes about the head, what happens in it, and how it is and is not connected to our sense of identity and consciousness. Blending science, philosophy, and humor, Raymond Tallis examines the extraordinarily complex relationship we have with our heads. His aim, as he says, is to turn readers into astonished tourists of the piece of the world that is closest to them, so they never again take for granted the head that looks at them from the mirror. Readers will delight that this is precisely what he accomplishes. The voyage begins with a meditation on the self-portrait of a mirror image, followed by a consideration of the head s various secretions. Tallis contemplates the air we exhale; the subtle meanings of nods, winks, and smiles; the mysteries of hearing, taste, and smell. He discusses the metaphysics of the gaze, the meaning of kissing, and the processes by which the head comes to understand the world. Along the way he offers intriguing digressions on such notions as having and using one s head, and enjoying and suffering it. Tallis concludes with his thoughts on the very thing the reader s head has been doing throughout the book: thinking.


In Defense of Lost Causes

In Defense of Lost Causes

Author: Slavoj Zizek

Publisher: Verso Books

Published: 2009-10-19

Total Pages: 540

ISBN-13: 1844674908

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The renowned philosophical sharpshooter looks for the kernel of truth in the fascist politics of the past—offering an adrenaline-fueled manifesto for universal values. Is global emancipation a lost cause? Are universal values outdated relics of an earlier age? In fear of the horrors of totalitarianism, should we submit ourselves to a miserable third way of economic liberalism and government-as-administration? In this combative major work, philosophical sharpshooter Slavoj Žižek takes on the reigning ideology with a plea that we should re-appropriate several “lost causes”—and look for the kernel of truth in the “totalitarian” politics of the past. Examining Heidegger’s seduction by fascism and Foucault’s flirtation with the Iranian Revolution, he suggests that these were the “right steps in the wrong direction.” He argues that while the revolutionary terror of Robespierre, Mao, and the Bolsheviks ended in historic failure and monstrosity, this is not the whole story. There is, in fact, a redemptive moment that gets lost in the outright liberal-democratic rejection of revolutionary authoritarianism and the valorization of soft, consensual, decentralized politics. Žižek claims that, particularly in light of the forthcoming ecological crisis, we should reinvent revolutionary terror and the dictatorship of the proletariat in the struggle for universal emancipation. We need to courageously accept the return to this Cause—even if we court the risk of a catastrophic disaster. In the words of Samuel Beckett: “Try again. Fail again. Fail better.”


Wisdom, Analytics and Wicked Problems

Wisdom, Analytics and Wicked Problems

Author: Ali Intezari

Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Published: 2018-11-02

Total Pages: 240

ISBN-13: 1134769679

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The challenges faced by 21st-century businesses, organizations and governments are characterized as being fundamentally different in nature, scope and levels of impact from those of the past. As problems become increasingly complex and wicked, conventional reductive approaches and data-based solutions are limited. The authors argue that practical wisdom is required. This book provides an integral and practical model for incorporating wisdom into management decision making. Based on a cross-disciplinary conceptualization of practical wisdom, the authors distinguish systematically between data, information, knowledge, and wisdom-based decision making. While they suggest that data, analytics, information and knowledge can assist decision-makers to better deal with complex and wicked problems, they argue that data-based systems cannot replace optimized human decision-making capabilities. These capabilities, the authors explain, include a range of qualities and characteristics inherent in philosophical, psychological and organizational conceptions of practical wisdom. Accordingly, in this book, the authors introduce a model that identifies the specific qualities and processes involved in making wise decisions, especially in management. The model is based on the empirical fi ndings of the authors’ studies in the areas of wisdom and management. This book is a practical resource for professionals, practitioners, and consultants in both the private and public sectors. The theoretical discussions, critical arguments, and practical guidelines provided in the book will be extremely valuable to students at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels, as well as upper-level postdoctoral researchers looking at business management strategies.


F for Effort

F for Effort

Author: Richard Benson

Publisher: Chronicle Books

Published: 2012-07-11

Total Pages: 131

ISBN-13: 145211322X

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Presents a collection of incorrect yet humorous test answers from real students, from an elementary student claiming that "two halves make a whale" to a high schooler who credits Galileo with inventing the solar system.