Bøger af Gary Brent Madison

This collection of essays addresses the question raised long ago by Socrates: "How should we live?" How should we live so as to enjoy what philosophy calls the "good life," which is a life characterized by what the ancient stoics called "freedom and happiness." This book seeks to call attention to an age-old, but now largely overlooked, tradition in philosophy focused on the "art of living" and seeks, as well, to draw out some of its implications for our present-day, disturbed world which is deeply confused about the meaning of life and what it means to live as a human being should.

On Suffering is a non-technical, philosophical-literary essay on what it means to be human and is addressed to all those, be they professional philosophers or simply existing individuals concerned with the meaning of life, who have an abiding interest in the central questions of philosophy--with basic issues having to do with the human condition and the nature of consciousness, as well as with the relation between mind and body, self and world. It is concerned throughout to elucidate the meaning of human happiness and the "good life." The book makes abundant use of the best of ancient wisdom and seeks to draw out the numerous and far-reaching implications of a philosophical understanding of things--concerning, above all, human freedom and responsibility--for everyday living, as well as for the practice of medicine and psychological counseling and therapy.

This book provides a systematic analysis of the multi-faceted notion of civil society. It shows how the three main orders of civil society - the moral-cultural, political, and economic - constitute "spheres of autonomy".

Addresses the themes of community, culture, national identity, and universal human rights. This title argues that nations compelled to cope with increasing demands for group recognition may do so in a broadly liberal spirit and without succumbing to the dangers associated with an illiberal, adversarial multiculturalism.

Demonstrates, with reference to ongoing debates, how hermeneutical theory provides the ultimate philosophical justification for democratic practice and universal human rights. This book is useful to those concerned with the fate of the core values traditionally defended by philosophy.