An ambitious but rambling discussion of moral philosophy.
A writer offers a sweeping tour of the history of moral philosophy in this treatise.
Joy repeatedly reminds readers that questions of moral philosophy are notoriously difficult, or, as he puts it, “one hell of a matter to discuss.” In order to gain firmer ground, the author delves into the history of philosophical thought on moral topics, a wide-ranging consideration that refreshingly doesn’t limit itself to Western sources. Joy includes a discussion of Indian and Chinese thought; he also furnishes an intriguing analysis of unjustly neglected figures like the Swiss psychologist Jean Piaget. Along the way, the author delivers some rich details about the history of moral philosophy. He looks at the unfolding of this history as an evolution—he refers to it as “Morality’s Ladder”—that proceeds from societal deference to authoritative morality to rigorous empirical inquiry. But while Joy makes it clear that he advocates the substitution of philosophy (as traditionally conceived) for modern science as a means to understanding the character of moral life, he provides no searching reasons for this. He seems to believe the technological progress of science settles the issue. Moreover, the author’s contentions are rife with contradictions—he asserts, without evidence, that philosophy is based on “cooperation, mutual aid, and self-interest,” seemingly unaware of the tension among these. Joy concedes he is neither an expert nor even a student of philosophy, and this often shows—his very brief sketches of the great moral thinkers lack both depth and basic accuracy. (Hobbes does not reduce morality to “man’s taste.”) The author digresses to describe the basic elements of the brain, presumably to argue that moral philosophy requires neuroscience, but he never makes that case: “The moral of the story is, what the hell is really occurring when one makes a decision or makes a judgment?” In addition, Joy’s prose is often as circuitous as his analysis is uneven.
An ambitious but rambling discussion of moral philosophy.Pub Date: Sept. 16, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-73565-080-7
Page Count: 310
Publisher: Self
Review Posted Online: Nov. 13, 2020
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.
A compendium of charts, time lines, lists and illustrations to accompany study of the Bible.
This visually appealing resource provides a wide array of illustrative and textually concise references, beginning with three sets of charts covering the Bible as a whole, the Old Testament and the New Testament. These charts cover such topics as biblical weights and measures, feasts and holidays and the 12 disciples. Most of the charts use a variety of illustrative techniques to convey lessons and provide visual interest. A worthwhile example is “How We Got the Bible,” which provides a time line of translation history, comparisons of canons among faiths and portraits of important figures in biblical translation, such as Jerome and John Wycliffe. The book then presents a section of maps, followed by diagrams to conceptualize such structures as Noah’s Ark and Solomon’s Temple. Finally, a section on Christianity, cults and other religions describes key aspects of history and doctrine for certain Christian sects and other faith traditions. Overall, the authors take a traditionalist, conservative approach. For instance, they list Moses as the author of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) without making mention of claims to the contrary. When comparing various Christian sects and world religions, the emphasis is on doctrine and orthodox theology. Some chapters, however, may not completely align with the needs of Catholic and Orthodox churches. But the authors’ leanings are muted enough and do not detract from the work’s usefulness. As a resource, it’s well organized, inviting and visually stimulating. Even the most seasoned reader will learn something while browsing.
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2005
ISBN: 978-1-5963-6022-8
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
This a book of earlier, philosophical essays concerned with the essential "absurdity" of life and the concept that- to overcome the strong tendency to suicide in every thoughtful man-one must accept life on its own terms with its values of revolt, liberty and passion. A dreary thesis- derived from and distorting the beliefs of the founders of existentialism, Jaspers, Heldegger and Kierkegaard, etc., the point of view seems peculiarly outmoded. It is based on the experience of war and the resistance, liberally laced with Andre Gide's excessive intellectualism. The younger existentialists such as Sartre and Camus, with their gift for the terse novel or intense drama, seem to have omitted from their philosophy all the deep religiosity which permeates the work of the great existentialist thinkers. This contributes to a basic lack of vitality in themselves, in these essays, and ten years after the war Camus seems unaware that the life force has healed old wounds... Largely for avant garde aesthetes and his special coterie.
Pub Date: Sept. 26, 1955
ISBN: 0679733736
Page Count: 228
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: Sept. 19, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1955
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