Making Sense : Philosophy Behind The Headlines

Local Description

2003. Revised edition. A fine, unmarked copy.

Description

Making Sense examines the philosophical issues and disputes that lie behind the news headlines of the day. The book covers themes such as morality, the environment and religious faith through such news stories as the Clinton-Lewinsky affair, the war against terrorism and the siege at Waco. It interweaves philosophy and current affairs to create a compelling narrative that challenges how we make sense both of the world around us and of our own beliefs.

Reviews

"The best popular primer I've seen on the foundations of humanist thought...Entertaining and useful...The reader is able to learn about freedom and its limits, different concepts of equality, pacifism and just war theory, ways to determine harm to the environment, the problem of assigning value, the issues of faith versus reason as well as 'cults' versus established religions, and arguments for establishing the validity of science."

Table of contents

Introduction: Philosophy behind the headlines; 1. Knowing the truth; 2. Doing the right thing; 3. The thinking voter; 4. The call to arms; 5. In the wake of science; 6. The environment; 7. When faith meets reason; 8. Calculating value; 9. The life and death of the self; Conclusion: Philosophy beyond the headlines; New Afterword: The 2003 Iraq war