The book explores Mahatma K. Gandhi's vision for liberation, emphasizing not just the struggle against violence but also the positive outcomes he sought. It delves into Gandhi's aspirations for society, highlighting his ideals of peace, justice, and community. By examining the goals behind his philosophy, the work offers a fresh perspective on Gandhi's legacy and the transformative potential of his teachings in fostering a harmonious world.
The late Lewis White Beck, Professor of Philosophy at the University of Rochester for many years, was one of the world's leading Kant scholars. Beck considered the most significant element of Kant's rich, complex, and controversial legacy to be the ultimate philosoophical question: 'What is Man?' Kant's answer - that humans are creators - is ambiguous. On the one hand, it dignifies humans by elevating them above blind mechanical forces of nature. But it also imposes difficult burdens, including the tast of providing a unitary wolrdview and an immanently grounded system of values and norms. The contributors to this volume, under Beck's influence, concur that this theme is of central importance for the proper understanding and evaluation of Kant's legacy. The papers address issues concerning creativy in all aspects of human experience - from knowledge of the external world to self-knowledge, from moral to religious dilemmas, from judgments of taste to the art of living - with a constant awareness of the limitations as well as the possibilities of such creativity. Predrag Cicovacki is Associate Professor of Philosophy, College of the Holy Cross.
Structured to introduce the reader into all aspects of the philosophy of Nicolai Hartmann (1882-1950), this book aims to stimulate further interest into his thought. Once considered the most studious and systematic of all the German philosophers of the twentieth-century, this prolific author has been nearly forgotten. For many years a student and an admirer of Hartmann's work, Cicovacki argues that a closer look into Hartmann's ontologically and axiologically oriented philosophy contains a promise of a vital philosophical orientation, especially with regard to our understanding of the nature, place, and role of humanity in the larger world. "The Analysis of Wonder" - Hartmann's own definition of philosophy - is an invitation to the readers to challenge their preconceived and self-interested notions of reality in order to relearn to appreciate the always changing and conflicting world, in all of its complexity, richness, and sublimity.
Predrag Cicovacki invites us to reflect on what makes life meaningful. His book teaches us that theory and practice, ideas about life and ways of life should be inseparable. As talking about morality should not be detached from practicing virtue, discussing the meaning of life should not be separated from attempting to live as meaningfully as possible. Examining the lives of those we most admire reveals that living a meaningful life cannot ultimately be a mere quest for individual achievement or happiness. The self is neither the ultimate reality, nor should it be our ultimate concern. Our quest for meaning must instead be oriented toward something that is greater than our individual lives, and what we need to discern is what are, and are not, proper objects of such devotion. We cannot do this alone.
The analysis delves into Dostoevsky's philosophical explorations as reflected in his five major works. It examines themes of morality, existentialism, and the human condition, offering insights into characters and their struggles. Each novel serves as a lens through which the complexities of life, faith, and redemption are scrutinized, revealing the depth of Dostoevsky's thought and its relevance to contemporary issues. This critical study provides a comprehensive understanding of his literary contributions and philosophical inquiries.
Exploring Tolstoy's quest for understanding the divine and human existence, this book delves into his philosophical and artistic endeavors. Predrag Cicovacki analyzes Tolstoy's social critiques, complex ties to nature, and his views on art and religion. By integrating philosophical, religious, and literary perspectives, the study reveals valuable lessons from Tolstoy's insights and errors, highlighting his significant contributions to discussions about life's meaning and humanity's future.
"Kant and Hartmann share a belief that is less common than it once was: that the aim of morality is to guide us toward becoming the best version of ourselves. Morality is not the same as prudence, nor is it a utilitarian calculus about what actions lead to our advantage. Yes, we do need to see what is in front of us, and handle what demands our immediate attention, in accordance with the rules endorsed by our societies. We also need to secure our existence as well as the material flourishing of ourselves and those who depend on us. But focusing exclusively on such issues deflects our consciousness from the high road of morality. [...] These essays explore ideas relating to the suffocating and hope-crushing atmosphere of negativity and disorientation in the contemporary world. The message of this collection is that, if we dare to open our eyes and our hearts, we can find that there is much in ourselves and the world that deserves our reverence and our loving gaze. It is not too late to recall that besides the natural and the social worlds, there is yet another order of being: the spiritual. And without a connection with this spiritual order, we cannot experience our humanity at its best."
This volume combines essays by well-established scholars of Dostoevsky with those by newer voices; it brings together authors from several different countries (France, Germany, USA, Russia, England) representing varying traditions of approaching Dostoevsky's novels; most importantly, however, it is the first collection that crosses the often too rigid lines between philosophy and literature. While there have been a number of attempts to re-establish a significant dialogue between literature and philosophy in recent years, virtually no cross-disciplinary studies of Dostoevsky have been attempted. This absence of interdisciplinary literature is remarkable given that Dostoevsky is often acknowledged to be a leading 'novelist of ideas.' There is no better place to begin such a collaborative effort than Dostoevsky's last novel, 'The Brothers Karamazov', which Freud called „the greatest novel ever written.“