Best Epistemology
As Tom Nichols shows in The Death of Expertise , this rejection of experts has occurred for many reasons, including the openness of the internet, the emergence of a customer satisfaction model in higher education, and the transformation of the news industry into a 24-hour entertainment machine. ”Nichols expands his 2014 article published by The Federalist with a highly researched and impassioned book that's well timed for this post-election period... strongly researched textbook for laymen will have many political and news junkies nodding their heads in agreement." ”This may sound like a rant you have heard before, but Nichols has a sense of humour and chooses his examples well. ”Excellent...makes important points and offers valuable insight, particularly when it comes to the role of the internet and social media in our political environment...essential reading for anyone interested in this pressing subject." Citizens - now so proudly ill-informed that they cannot even make use of expert opinion in fulfilling their civic role - must rediscover a sense of responsibility. ".
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"While many of the studies in the book have now been called into question (an excellent illustration of one of Tom Nichols' sections about when experts are wrong), I still found it fascinating how I, a person with a graduate-level degree and extensive self-education through extensive reading, knew so very little about so much. How much do we see today, though, of people without any education or training or experience, claiming that their opinion is as valid as any expert, or dismissing experts as nothing more than "elites," as if that allows them to be ignored? In a time when our entire world is built around technology and knowledge and the experts who understand them, Americans are forgetting how that all happened. The populace must understand enough to make the decisions to choose both smart experts (Knowers) and policymakers (Deciders) and understand the limits of each. But without experts and policy makers who listen, and an educated, informed populace that helps choose and respect them.....I worry for the world of my children."
"A painful, insightful yet honest bio on today's chronic illnesses when it comes to disrespecting knowledge and intelligence!"
"But shockingly absent from his analysis is the possibility that experts might be corrupt, or have their own agenda - that a scientist might deny climate change while working for the Trump Administration, or take home a fat paycheck from Coca Cola for insisting that sugar-water doesn’t make people fat. Apparently Political Science degrees now include PhD-level courses on Botany, Ecology, and Medicine – who knew?"
"There are also books that are important because they speak to urgent needs of a particular time."
In Consilience (a word that originally meant "jumping together"), Edward O. Wilson renews the Enlightenment's search for a unified theory of knowledge in disciplines that range from physics to biology, the social sciences and the humanities. No such gaps should exist, Wilson maintains, for the sciences, humanities, and arts have a common goal: to give understanding a purpose, to lend to us all "a conviction, far deeper than a mere working proposition, that the world is orderly and can be explained by a small number of natural laws."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Using methods that have worked so well in decoding the natural world, scientists and their allies will link the social sciences, arts, philosophy, ethics, and even religion into one coherent knowledge base built on observable, repeatable experimental models. We've barely begun to map genes to specific behaviors; we're only starting to understand how the brain and body generate a mind; and hard historical data about how we evolved into this particular configuration is spotty at best. The book seems to have become a litmus test for how willing people are to let the natural sciences encroach on other fields of intellectual endeavor, and several reviews posted here offer pugnacious critiques of the limits to Wilson's approach. While the scientific method has led to huge advances in understanding the natural world, it's questionable whether philosophy, art, religion or day-to- day living will yield up their secrets through this process. In fact, whenever rationalist thought gains political ascendancy, large masses of humanity feel compelled to daub themselves with blue mud and dance around the campfire. Maybe group behaviors will prove too complex to tie to specific genes, or we won't want to make PET scans of our brain while we read a poem or listen to a symphony. -deciphering the social and psychological foundations of the religious impulse so we can construct empirical ethical systems and finally pull free from the intellectual muck of primitive monotheism. Wilson deserves credit for being bold and provocative in his thinking, for brilliantly condensing so much science, history and philosophy into such a brief space, and for presenting his arguments in lucid sentences that rise on occasion to the level of poetry."
"Wilson is a man of both depth and breadth of intellect and is courageous enough to use those talents to attempt to discover the possibilities of connecting our theories of various disciplines."
"I kept asking myself: "if one actually thinks we are nothing more than chemical relationships that can and should likely be perturbed... then why live why study, how can one still believe in the magic of scientific discovery if the deeper belief is that it is all a false front for for an evolutionary machine inevitable and except for survival with no meaning?"
"Very informative a interesting book a little over my head but lots of new information to me to think about."
"The lateral and unifying thoughts of a great thinking scientist."
"I was a little disappointed."
This entirely new translation of Critique of Pure Reason is the most accurate and informative English translation ever produced of this epochal philosophical text.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"What makes the Critique such a dense read is the simple fact that it assumes prior knowledge (no pun intended) of particular epistemological issues that had been hotly debated in the West up to that point (a period of roughly 2000 years). And while, as Bertrand Russell pointed out, the advent of non-Euclidean geometry and non-Aristotelian logic have rendered Kant's application of his theory to human knowledge and experience obsolete, Kant's general agenda is still very much the agenda of modern philosophy. We are still concerned with what constitutes consciousness, the structure of our faculties of knowledge and understanding (both practical and theoretical), and the nature of objective experience."
"There are very few modern philosophers who would agree with the transcendental ideality of space and time, or who would agree that Kant succeeded in deducing the categories and their absolute validity in the transcendental deductions (the heart of the Critique of Pure Reason). But I think Kant's Critique of Pure Reason introduced a qualitative change into philosophy. For those non-philosophers who want to read the Critique of Pure Reason and want some guidebooks to help them make sense of the book I do have some books to recommend but my short answer would be: unfortunately there is probably going to be a limit to how much you can do with the Critique of Pure Reason if you do not have formal training in philosophy. You can find popular books on Kant that give you some sense of what he was up to, but if you really want to understand Kant's philosophy you have to commit years to really working at it, and few people are probably capable of achieving it on their own. The first two books on Kant I would recommend to the beginner are not books I have actually read but were recommended to me by my Kant professor as books that are good for absolute beginners with Kant and the Critique of Pure Reason. The first is A Short Commentary on Kant's Critique of Pure Reason by A.C. Ewing and the second is Kant's Critique of Pure Reason a Commentary for Students by T.E. There is also a routledge philosophy guidebook to the Critique of Pure Reason Routledge Philosophy GuideBook to Kant and the Critique of Pure Reason (Routledge Philosophy GuideBooks) by Sebastian Gardner (it will not let me link directly to the paperback edition but there is a cheaper paperback available). Finally, there are three books that are extremely important in Kant scholarship for those who want to have a deeper understanding of the Critique of Pure Reason. The last book that I think is really excellent is Kant and the Capacity to Judge: Sensibility and Discursivity in the Transcendental Analytic of the "Critique of Pure Reason" by Beatrice Longuenesse (I am currently working on a project using this book so I will probably be writing a review in a few months when I have finished). Unfortunately Kant is so important as a philosopher that it is necessary for all philosophers, whether they specialize in Kant or German philosophy or not, to have some understanding of Kant, so translations become necessary. If you are not a serious Kant student that might not make much of a difference since you are probably not going to be delving into the subtleties of Kant's philosophy and Smith's translation should give you an accurate general picture of Kant's philosophy. In other words, it will not do you much good if you read a secondary which discusses the role of the understanding in cognition if the translation of Kant you read translated "understanding" with a different word (this might be an unrealistic example but things like that can happen with translations)."
"Grateful for the opportunity to have absorbed some of Einstein's favorite philosopher, Immanuel Kant."
Best Epistemology Philosophy
The authors credit six key principles: simplicity, unexpectedness, concreteness, credibility, emotions and stories. They illustrate these principles with a host of stories, some familiar (Kennedy's stirring call to "land a man on the moon and return him safely to the earth" within a decade) and others very funny (Nora Ephron's anecdote of how her high school journalism teacher used a simple, embarrassing trick to teach her how not to "bury the lead").
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"For example urban myths... stories about people having their kidneys stolen, the "fact" that humans only use 10% of their brains, or stories of people poisoning Halloween candy. All of these are myths- there is not a band of organ harvesters that steals kidneys, humans actually use 100% of their brains in a given day, and there have only been 2 true cases of poisoned Halloween candy and both cases were done by the children's own family. The answer: sticky stories need to have 6 attributes. News casters do this with their 10 second commercials telling you what the news stories will be at the "9 o'clock news"- they will say something like "A gorilla escaped from the zoo and ended up at a children's birthday party, find out more at 9." My favorite way of presenting this was the Mother Teresa principle: If I look at the one, I will act. 2. (A video of a young girl sitting in the dirt) With your donation you could help Cindy... your donation would help feed Cindy, put a roof over Cindy's head, and help send Cindy to school. Stories: Get people to act. It's difficult to find these stories, but when you find them you have a gold mine. There are so many great stories and insights within the pages. I would be more than happy to help anyone that wants it."
"Complete it, and you'd have more chances to create or spot this next sticky story."
"Chip and Dan cite people and companies who succeed by making good "stories" stick."
"Overall, I really enjoyed the concepts and the stories in this book, but I felt like some of the information could have been pared down a little bit because it seemed very repetitive."
"I know a book has had an impact on me when I find myself quoting it several months later ."
"A Must read for: Teachers/Trainers, Sales/Marketing, Managers, Leaders, Business Owners, Politicians, Parents, or anyone who needs to make a point or deliver a message."
"I read this book for an online class, but I plan to put the principles into action in my elementary classroom starting Monday."
""You can't have five North Stars.""
Best Philosophy
Note: The chapters in the book are not in order and it is intentional. 1.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I want to tell future readers of this book in this way. I read it first when I was 14 or 15."
"Friend: "Do you read the bible?""
"This is a masterful book and will provide sound advice for any battle in your life you might face no matter how big or small."
"A great short read, the laws can be applied to not only warfare, but everyday life and any problems that may arise."
"I received and read this book all in one day."
"Most popular book for those with careers in the military."
"Great job providing "The Art of War" affordably."
"There's one chapter out of order, which is certainly a mistake and weird, but not super bad."
Best Educational Philosophy
As Tom Nichols shows in The Death of Expertise , this rejection of experts has occurred for many reasons, including the openness of the internet, the emergence of a customer satisfaction model in higher education, and the transformation of the news industry into a 24-hour entertainment machine. ”Nichols expands his 2014 article published by The Federalist with a highly researched and impassioned book that's well timed for this post-election period... strongly researched textbook for laymen will have many political and news junkies nodding their heads in agreement." ”This may sound like a rant you have heard before, but Nichols has a sense of humour and chooses his examples well. ”Excellent...makes important points and offers valuable insight, particularly when it comes to the role of the internet and social media in our political environment...essential reading for anyone interested in this pressing subject." Citizens - now so proudly ill-informed that they cannot even make use of expert opinion in fulfilling their civic role - must rediscover a sense of responsibility. ".
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"While many of the studies in the book have now been called into question (an excellent illustration of one of Tom Nichols' sections about when experts are wrong), I still found it fascinating how I, a person with a graduate-level degree and extensive self-education through extensive reading, knew so very little about so much. How much do we see today, though, of people without any education or training or experience, claiming that their opinion is as valid as any expert, or dismissing experts as nothing more than "elites," as if that allows them to be ignored? In a time when our entire world is built around technology and knowledge and the experts who understand them, Americans are forgetting how that all happened. The populace must understand enough to make the decisions to choose both smart experts (Knowers) and policymakers (Deciders) and understand the limits of each. But without experts and policy makers who listen, and an educated, informed populace that helps choose and respect them.....I worry for the world of my children."
"A painful, insightful yet honest bio on today's chronic illnesses when it comes to disrespecting knowledge and intelligence!"
"But shockingly absent from his analysis is the possibility that experts might be corrupt, or have their own agenda - that a scientist might deny climate change while working for the Trump Administration, or take home a fat paycheck from Coca Cola for insisting that sugar-water doesn’t make people fat. Apparently Political Science degrees now include PhD-level courses on Botany, Ecology, and Medicine – who knew?"
"There are also books that are important because they speak to urgent needs of a particular time."
Best Ethics
With an Introduction that outlines Marcus’s life and career, the essentials of Stoic doctrine, the style and construction of the Meditations, and the work’s ongoing influence, this edition makes it possible to fully rediscover the thoughts of one of the most enlightened and intelligent leaders of any era. “The emperor Marcus Aurelius, the proverbial philosopher-king, produced in Greek a Roman manual of piety, the Meditations, whose impact has been felt for ages since.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"In this case, the Hays translation is the hardcover, while the authors who translated the paperback and Kindle versions aren't specified."
"Compare the translations of the first paragraph for example: This version: Of my grandfather Verus I have learned to be gentle and meek, and to refrain from all anger and passion. Of my mother I have learned to be religious, and bountiful; and to forbear, not only to do, but to intend any evil; to content myself with a spare diet, and to fly all such excess as is incidental to great wealth."
"Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. “The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts: therefore, guard, accordingly, and take care that you entertain no notions unsuitable to virtue and reasonable nature.”. Before I get into details, I must say that reading Meditations was one of the hardest, but most rewarding experiences in my own personal growth. There is no reason to feel unhappy, unfulfilled, or unappreciated , and Meditations by Marcus Aurelius offers advice to anyone who is looking for self help, self love, and a rational way of directing life. Sharing his seat of power is the one move that summarizes Marcus Aurelius’s entire life; the fear of power and the duty embedded in him through his interest in Stoicism, a philosophy that grounds itself on self-restraint, reason, and fate."
"Wonderful collection of ancient wisdom that never goes out of date and is as helpful today (and desperately needed) as it was when it was first written hundreds of years ago."
"Clear, readable modern translation that feels like a conversation over a couple a beers."
"I had read this a long time ago, and was quite happy to find it was free on Amazon."
"Pretty low quality material but what do you expect for the price."
"This translation is simple and easy to read."
Best Aesthetics
Kenya Hara compares this form of communication with an “empty container“. Author of Designing Design.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Great meditative read."
"i read it at least once a month."
"A personal meditation on the color and feeling of white, Hara's work is a series of overlapping observations that build to a whole."
"Unconventional and thoughtful."
"lots of thoughts on Japanese aesthetic and culture."
"Very simple small book by Kenya Hara."
"This is just one of the best design books ever... it talks about a design philosophy that kenya hara has and use for his work, you really must get it!"
Best History of Philosophy
With an Introduction that outlines Marcus’s life and career, the essentials of Stoic doctrine, the style and construction of the Meditations, and the work’s ongoing influence, this edition makes it possible to fully rediscover the thoughts of one of the most enlightened and intelligent leaders of any era. “The emperor Marcus Aurelius, the proverbial philosopher-king, produced in Greek a Roman manual of piety, the Meditations, whose impact has been felt for ages since.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"In this case, the Hays translation is the hardcover, while the authors who translated the paperback and Kindle versions aren't specified."
"Compare the translations of the first paragraph for example: This version: Of my grandfather Verus I have learned to be gentle and meek, and to refrain from all anger and passion. Of my mother I have learned to be religious, and bountiful; and to forbear, not only to do, but to intend any evil; to content myself with a spare diet, and to fly all such excess as is incidental to great wealth."
"Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. “The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts: therefore, guard, accordingly, and take care that you entertain no notions unsuitable to virtue and reasonable nature.”. Before I get into details, I must say that reading Meditations was one of the hardest, but most rewarding experiences in my own personal growth. There is no reason to feel unhappy, unfulfilled, or unappreciated , and Meditations by Marcus Aurelius offers advice to anyone who is looking for self help, self love, and a rational way of directing life. Sharing his seat of power is the one move that summarizes Marcus Aurelius’s entire life; the fear of power and the duty embedded in him through his interest in Stoicism, a philosophy that grounds itself on self-restraint, reason, and fate."
"Clear, readable modern translation that feels like a conversation over a couple a beers."
"I had read this a long time ago, and was quite happy to find it was free on Amazon."
"Pretty low quality material but what do you expect for the price."
"This translation is simple and easy to read."
"I think it would be easier to read if I didn't have to squint to read it."
Best Logic
The edition's new Previews connect a section's content to real-life scenarios, using everyday examples to "translate" new notions and terms into concepts that readers unfamiliar with the subject matter can relate to. He is married to Dr. Linda Peterson, who retired from teaching philosophy at the University of San Diego in 2015.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I compared this text to one my father used for his logic course from 20 years ago."
"Great book!"
"All in all - nice book introducing Logic and its concepts to people who are unexposed to the subject, or never studied it formally."
"Very useful for my college class!"
"Philosophy what can i say--The more i read it the more i like it:)."
"some wear and tear but all pages are there."
"The book, being a international version, is a copy."
Best Metaphysics
The complete My Big TOE trilogy has now been combined into one paperback volume at a substantial savings over buying the three volumes separately. It discusses the cultural beliefs that trap our thinking into a narrow and limited conceptualization of reality, defines the basics of Big Picture epistemology and ontology, logically infers the nature of time, space, and consciousness as well as describes the basic properties, purpose, and mechanics of our reality.BOOK 2: DISCOVERY Section 3 explains the characteristics, origins, dynamics, and function of human consciousness.It derives our larger purpose and the psi uncertainty principle as it interrelates psi phenomena, free will, love, consciousness evolution, reality, entropy and physics.Section 4 lays out an operational and functional model of consciousness. Presently, and for the past twenty years, he has been at the heart of developing US missile defense systems.My Big TOE represents a model of existence and reality that is based directly on Campbell's scientific research and first hand experience.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Im now on page 200 for my second read. This is the most important book ive ever read."
"Terrific insightful book that includes the rare concept of actively using "common sense" to maintain objectivity when accessing current and potential scientific discoveries with meta-'physics' and our own insights, to gain a better understanding of the Theory Of Everything (TOE)."
"I'll never think of consciousness the same again."
"Thomas Campbell wraps it all up,unbounded,his colorful asides too.This is a book that I will recommoned to anyone that seeks a different perspective on ALL there is."
"A masterful, in-depth analogy of the "Big Picture" of creation and our place as human beings in the grand scale of things."
"If you are a classical scientist, this master work by Thomas Campbell steps all over your big toe and brings to the table what has long been sought by many doctors but most hadn't a clue on how to catalyze it as a single substance."
"I really wanted to wait till I finished the book to give an accurate review, but finishing it may take some time... Thomas Campbell has gone to great lengths, super-human lengths in my estimation, to show how logical and rational his conclusions are. It was a great education in the Scientific Method - I am a fan of true, open minded science - but 200 pages worth was just too much. His insights into the rational mind and its relationship to our sense of self and how we view our world were eye opening. In short, this book would be great for the pure scientist, doctor, or mostly rational/intellectual who is willing to entertain the possibility that maybe, just maybe, there is more to life than what we experience with our 5 senses. This book opens a door on metaphysics & spirituality in the rational sense that is just not often available in the New Age, feel-good, sometimes non-sensical, mushy, religous dogmatic world. I love to read & have read many books on metaphysics & spiritualiy over the years, but too much pure rationality makes me think of mummies and dirt and dust."