An excellent academic work that will enlighten readers looking for personal meaning in masterpieces of the existential...
An examination of romantic love and relationships through the lens of existential philosophy.
For those who have and have not studied the philosophers examined here—Stirner, Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Sartre, and De Beauvoir—Cleary’s analysis plays two roles equally well. It both introduces the central ideas and investigates them for something more specific, namely, what these existentialists thought about romantic love. What romantic advice, for instance, would Nietzsche offer to a contemporary relationship? Cleary smartly breaks down the fundamentals of existentialism into categories that then seem applicable to romantic relationships: creating unions between individuals, looking for meaning, choices, freedom, and authenticity, etc. As she progresses from one philosopher to the next, Cleary covers everything from passion to marriage as an institution to relationships as masochism, finding specific references and drawing from other topics such as the philosophers’ personal romances and their musings on other relationships found in literature. Combining these more relatable elements with traditional analysis and her clear prose results in a serious, well-researched piece of scholarship that also provides enjoyable inroads to a new understanding of these dense philosophies. Although some of her conclusions might feel like a stretch, it’s still exhilarating to see her arrive at certain proclamations: e.g., “the most fulfilling and satisfying existence can be achieved only through leaping into romantic loving because it is enriching and enables individuals to engage more intensely in the world.” Throughout, Cleary writes with the same joyful appreciation for existentialism as the late Dr. Robert Solomon—an expert whom Cleary often cites. For both Solomon and Cleary, the existentialists were far from the gloomy, nihilist figures often presented in pop culture. Instead, they were serious, tremendous thinkers constructing new and progressive ways for others to better grapple with the human condition. As such, Cleary’s illuminating work offers a wealth of new considerations readers can strive to apply to their own lives.
An excellent academic work that will enlighten readers looking for personal meaning in masterpieces of the existential movement.Pub Date: March 28, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-137-45579-6
Page Count: 220
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
Review Posted Online: Oct. 3, 2015
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
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
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