His smart and stimulating new book, religion for atheists, is a sensitive analysis of the deeply human needs that faith meets. The consolations of philosophy sets out to read more. He has transformed arcane philosophy into something accessible and entertaining, useful and kind. Socrates, epicurus, seneca, montaigne, schopenhauer and nietzsche are read for the light their work can. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Enter a university department today and ask to study wisdom, and you will politely but firmly be shown the door. I just think koreas obsession often has no limits, and koreans will give their heart and soul out. The consolations of philosophy in ancient greece or rome, philosophers were seen as natural authorities on the most pressing questions. All of us, whether religious, agnostic or atheist, are searching for meaning. But whereas his 2001 the consolations of philosophy was often. So hes created a global secular community the school of life. Atheism, read in a particular way, has no consolations at all. Rather than a dry discussion on the merits or otherwise of the thoughts of long dead white men he looks at situations we all face day to day inadequacy, suffering, pain, and love and opens up a new way to look at these situations. By no stretch is the consolations of philosophy anything approaching a philosophy for dummies.
It argues that while supernatural claims made by religion are false, some aspects of religion are still useful and can be applied in secular life and society. The title of the book is a reference to boethiuss magnum opus consolation of philosophy, in which philosophy appears as an allegorical figure to boethius to console him in the year he was imprisoned, leading up to his impending execution. He believed in pleasure as the goal of a happy life. Profound ideas cannot, after all, be explained in the language of children.
I like his writing style and the breadth of his knowledge, and i like his unique insight into our culture he is what contemporary philosophy should be, a. His work has been translated into twenty languages. The ancient greek epicurus has the wisest, and most affordable, solution to cash flow problems. While his easygoing exploration of philosophers from socrates to nietzsche isnt exactly written for the blues clues set, few readers will cease to. He offers practical suggestions for how secular society might learn from religious institutions, but dismisses those institutions themselves as intellectually discredited. If too many nowadays find thinkers nietzsche and schopenhauer stifling and irrelevant, they need only turn to this witty, engaging book to see how.
I think the hatred is overblown and is rooted in the basic prejudice of purists against populists. Drawing inspiration from six of the finest minds in history socrates, epicurus, seneca, montaigne, schopenhauer and nietzsche he addresses lack of money, the pain of love, inadequacy, anxiety and conformity. The great theologians in the history of the church have always found that theology affords genuine comfort in the face of lifes difficulties. What aspects of religion should atheists respectfully adopt. Religion for atheists suggests that rather than mocking religions, agnostics and atheists should instead steal from them because theyre packed with good ideas on how we might live and arrange our societies. He explains why wisdom and ritual shouldnt be reserved just for believers. And nietzsche has shrewd counsel for everything from loneliness to illness. The book suggests that rather than mocking religions, agnostics and atheists should instead steal from them because theyre packed with good ideas on how we might live and arrange our societies. Congenial, refreshing, originaland mercifully succinctde botton may well achieve the impossible by making philosophy popular. Thats nothing to say of the sort of atheism that people like dawkins and hitchens defend, where one posits a perhaps hegelian. The consolations of philosophy vintage international. The consolations of philosophy sets out to refute the notion that good philosophy must be irrelevant and gathers together six great philosophers who were. What i present here bottn a quick summary of the consolations offered.
And like everything else that korea likes, my first response to it is not to like it. Religion for atheists a nonbeliever s guide to the uses of religion hamish hamilton 2012 notes by alison morgan march 2012 i enjoyed it. The boring debate between fundamentalist believers and nonbelievers is finally moved on by alains book religion for atheists, which argues that the supernatural claims of religion are of course entirely false and yet that religions still have some very important things to teach the secular world. His books discuss various contemporary subjects and themes, emphasizing philosophys relevance to everyday life. The consolations of philosophy quotes showing of 90 booksellers are the most valuable destination for the lonely, given the numbers of books written because authors couldnt find anyone to talk to. Here then are socrates, epicurus, seneca, montaigne, schopenhauer and nietzsche. Pdf the consolations of philosophy download full pdf. We work merely to fill the memory, leaving the understanding and the sense of right and wrong empty. I want to give everyone this book and assure them, as the featured philosophers have, that youre going to be alright. The title of the book is a reference to boethiuss magnum opus consolation of philosophy, in which philosophy appears as an allegorical figure to boethius to console him in the year he was imprisoned, leading up to his impending. From the internationally heralded author of how proust can change your life comes this remarkable new book that presents the wisdom of some of the greatest. The consolations of philosophy sets out to refute the notion that good philosophy must be irrelevant and gathers together six great philosophers who were convinced of the power of philosophical insight to work a practical effect on our lives. First published by hamish hamilton in 2000, subsequent publications 2001 onwards have been by penguin books.
However, since then, the idea of finding wisdom from philosophy has come to seem bizarre. The consolations of philosophy is a book as accessibly erudite as it is useful and entertaining. His feelings of doubt about atheism had their origins in listening to bachs cantatas, were further developed in the presence of certain bellini madonnas. This is not a book for readers who are curious about the nature of metaphysics or the merits of faith. What if religions are neither all true or all nonsense. He published essays in love 1993, which went on to sell two million copies. Other bestsellers include how proust can change your life 1997, status anxiety 2004. The consolation of philosophy 5editorial note the incompatibility of the sufferings of good men, the impunity and success of bad men, with the government of the world by a good god, has been a subject of thought among men ever since religion and abstract questions have occupied the thoughts of mankind. He is the author of several books, including how proust can change your life and most recently, art as therapy. The consolation of philosophy5editorial note the incompatibility of the sufferings of good men, the impunity and success of bad men, with the government of the world by a good god, has been a subject of thought among men ever since religion and abstract questions have occupied the thoughts of. Request permission export citation add to favorites.