After progress : finding the old way forward / Anthony O'Hear

O'Hear, Anthony

ISBN 10: 0747543860 / ISBN 13: 9780747543862

Editore: London : Bloomsbury, 1999

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Near fine cloth copy in a good if somewhat edge-torn (with some loss) and dust-dulled dust-wrapper, now mylar-sleeved. Remains particularly well-preserved; tight, bright, clean and strong. Physical description; xi, 270 pages ; 22 cm. Notes; Includes bibliographical references and index. Contents; Introduction: Progress and Its Discontents -- 1. Images of Enlightenment. Francis Bacon: The Shattering of the Idols. Newton's World Machine. Enlightenment Optimism: Science, Reason and Society -- 2. The Counter-Enlightenment. Rousseau. Herder and the Particularity of Culture. Burke and de Maistre: Prejudice Defended -- 3. Two Hundred Years of the Progress of Reason. Reason, Equality and Human Rights: Immanuel Kant. Utilitarianism. Reason Destructive of Reason. Darwinism. Marxism. Freud. The Achilles' Heel. Constructive Rationalism. Faith in Science -- 4. The Uncertainty of Progress. Whig History. Putting the Clock Back. Rhetorical History. History and Evolution -- 5. Thinkers of Loss. Plato. Aristotle. Augustine: Original Sin and the Two Cities. Renaissances. De Tocqueville and the Mediocrities of Democracy. Nietzsche. The Pessimism of the Nineteenth Century. Spengler: The Decline of the West -- 6. The Twentieth Century. Profit and Loss. Religion. Philosophy. Art. Education and Psychology. Politics, Media and Sport. Subjects; Progress Philosophy. Progress Moral and ethical aspects. Civilization, Modern. Social change Philosophy. Conduct of life. Civilization, Modern 20th century. 1 Kg.

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Dati bibliografici

• Titolo: After progress : finding the old way forward / Anthony O'Hear
• Editore: London : Bloomsbury
• Data di pubblicazione: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0747543860
• ISBN 13: 9780747543862
• Rilegatura: Rilegato
• Edizione: 1st edition.
• Peso: 1 chilogrammo

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Riassunto

As we stand on the brink of the third millennium, a large part of the human race may feel justified in a certain complacency. We are very much in thrall to the idea that history is moving forward in a desirable - or progressive - direction. In much of the world - and certainly in its most prosperous parts - we are all basically liberal, fundamentally pacific and reasonably affluent. Anthony O'Hear argues in this text that we need to temper our optimism and self-assurance, that progress is not inevitable in any field. His theme centres around the loss which is inextricably linked with progress, especially the sort of progress made in the West over the last few centuries. Could it be that the type of material and political advancements on which we pride ourselves is directly responsible for our spiritual and aesthetic decline? O'Hear believes that our era is one of technological progress and of individual rights and needs, and that our institutions and economies are largely geared to promoting the two. This text examines the implications of this state of affairs: that for most of us there is nothing worth striving for beyond individual happiness; and that there is little in our common culture to sustain ideas of excellence in serious pursuits. It addresses the question of real happiness and satisfaction and probes the dimensions that cannot be accounted for in scientific terms: love and beauty, the sense of moral obligation and reason itself.