Genocide is evil or nothing could be. It raises a host of questions about humanity, rights, justice, and reality, which are key areas of concern for philosophy. Strangely, however, philosophers have tended to ignore genocide. Even more problematic, philosophy and philosophers bear more responsibility for genocide than they have usually admitted. In Genocide and Human Rights: A Philosophical Guide, an international group of twenty-five contemporary philosophers work to correct those deficiencies by showing how philosophy can and should repsond to genocide, (...) particularly in ways that defend human rights. (shrink)

Philosophers of religion have written a great deal about the problem of evil. Their reflections, however, have not concentrated, at least not extensively or sufficiently, on the particularities of evil that manifest themselves in genocide. Concentrating on some of those particularities, this essay reflects on genocide, which has sometimes been called the crime of crimes, to raise questions such as: how should genocide affect the philosophy of religion and what might philosophers of religion contribute to help check that crime against (...) humanity? (shrink)

Basic issues in the recent ‘death-of-God’ movement can be illuminated by comparison and contrast with the relevant ideas of two American philosophers, John Dewey and William James. Dewey is an earlier spokesman for ideas that are central to the ‘radical theology’ of Thomas J. J. Altizer, William Hamilton, and Paul Van Buren. His reasons for rejecting theism closely resemble propositions maintained by these ‘death-of-God’ theologians. James, on the other hand, points toward a theological alternative. He takes cognizance of ideas similar (...) to those in the ‘radical theology’, but he does not opt for either a metaphorical or real elimination of God. Thus, the contentions of this paper are that there has been a version of the ‘death-of-God’ perspective in American thought before, and that there are resources in the American tradition that suggest a viable option to this perspective. (shrink)

An anthology presenting dozens of provocative literary and historical writings drawn from 250 years of American history to increase cultural literacy.

The third edition covers topics of recent interest in the twenty-first century, such as Heroic Medicine, Gender Identity, Wealth Inequality, LGBTQ Issues, and more. This encyclopedic work includes more than 1,000 essays organized by broad categories related to ethical issues.

The essays in this collection address some of the many social dilemmas that concern philosophers, such as AIDS, abortion, addictive drugs and crime. Written in a clear, accessible style, the book seeks to provide encouragement for the defence of human rights, justice and community.

Provides information on some 27 categories within general field of ethics. All entries are accessible through a complete table of contents, a thematic index, an index of persons, and a general subject index recommended for public libraries.

The Failures of Ethics concentrates on the multiple shortfalls and shortcomings of thought, decision, and action that tempt and incite us human beings to inflict incalculable harm. Absent the overriding of moral sensibilities, if not the collapse or collaboration of ethical traditions, the Holocaust, genocide, and other mass atrocities could not have happened. Our senses of moral and religious authority have been fragmented and weakened by the accumulated ruins of history and the depersonalized advances of civilization that have taken us (...) from a bloody twentieth century into an immensely problematic twenty-first. Salvaging the fragmented condition of ethics, this book shows how respect and honor for those who save lives and resist atrocity, deepened attention to the dead and to death itself, and appeals for human rights and renewed spiritual sensitivity confirm that ethics contains and remains an irreplaceable safeguard against its own failures. (shrink)

Examines the lives, works, and influence of ancient and contemporary world philosophers from Pythagoras and Jalal al-Din Rumi to Elie Wiesel and Alison M. Jaggar, and analyzes the authorship and historical context of ancient works.

Marx did turn Hegel right side up. He substituted material forces as the basic determinant of history in place of Hegel’s claim that spiritual forces dialectically shape matter. Yet on reflection, it is amazing to see how conservative Marx really was where Hegel is concerned. He did not really “revolutionize” Hegel. In fact, Marx accepted many of Hegel’s premises and radically amended only some—although admittedly important —aspects. The time may have come to revolutionize both thinkers. We should look carefully at (...) their basic assumptions and conclusions and ask whether these should be dogmatically proclaimed. Perhaps other and less rigid principles are open to us and better suited to our present experience. (shrink)

"There's nothing available that I know of that comes as close to representing the range of Royce's works.... " -- John H Lavely.