A World without Why

Wishful thinking is a deeply ingrained human trait that has had a long-term distorting effect on ethical thinking. Many influential ethical views depend on the optimistic assumption that, despite appearances to the contrary, the human and natural world in which we live could, eventually, be made to make sense to us. In __A World without Why__, Raymond Geuss challenges this assumption. The essays in this collection--several of which are published here for the first time--explore the genesis and historical development of this optimistic configuration in ethical thought and the ways in which it has shown itself to be unfounded and misguided. Discussions of Greco-Roman antiquity and of the philosophies of Socrates, Plato, Hegel, Marx, Nietzsche, and Adorno play a central role in many of these essays. Geuss also ranges over such topics as the concepts of intelligibility, authority, democracy, and criticism; the role of lying in politics; architecture; the place of theology in ethics; tragedy and comedy; and the struggle between realism and our search for meaning. Characterized by Geuss's wide-ranging interests in literature, philosophy, and history, and by his political commitment and trenchant style, __A World without Why__ raises fundamental questions about the viability not just of specific ethical concepts and theses, but of our most basic assumptions about what ethics could and must be. Why the human and natural world is not as intelligible to us as we think it is Wishful thinking is a deeply ingrained human trait that has had a long-term distorting effect on ethical thinking. Many influential ethical views depend on the optimistic assumption that, despite appearances to the contrary, the human and natural world in which we live could, eventually, be made to make sense to us. In A World without Why , Raymond Geuss challenges this assumption. The essays in this collectionseveral of which are published here for the first timeexplore the genesis and historical development of this optimistic configuration in ethical thought and the ways in which it has shown itself to be unfounded and misguided. Discussions of Greco-Roman antiquity and of the philosophies of Socrates, Plato, Hegel, Marx, Nietzsche, and Adorno play a central role in many of these essays. Geuss also ranges over such topics as the concepts of intelligibility, authority, democracy, and criticism; the role of lying in politics; architecture; the place of theology in ethics; tragedy and comedy; and the struggle between realism and our search for meaning. Characterized by Geuss's wide-ranging interests in literature, philosophy, and history, and by his political commitment and trenchant style, A World without Why raises fundamental questions about the viability not just of specific ethical concepts and theses, but of our most basic assumptions about what ethics could and must be. Many Influential Ethical Views Depend On The Optimistic Assumption That The Human And Natural World Could Be Made To Make Sense To Humanity. Geuss's Essays Challenge This Assumption, Exploring The Genesis And Historical Development Of This Optimistic Configuration In Ethical Thought And Describing The Ways In Which It Has Shown Itself To Be Unfounded And Misguided. Discussions Of Greco-roman Antiquity And Of The Philosophies Of Socrates, Plato, Hegel, Marx, Nietzsche, And Adorno Play A Central Role In Many Of These Essays. Geuss Also Ranges Over Such Topics As: The Concepts Of Intelligibility, Authority, Democracy, And Criticism; The Role Of Lying In Politics; Architecture; The Place Of Theology In Ethics; Tragedy And Comedy; And The Struggle Between Realism And Our Search For Meaning. A World Without Why Raises Fundamental Questions About The Viability Not Just Of Specific Ethical Concepts And Theses, But Of Our Most Basic Assumptions About What Ethics Could And Must Be. -- Goals, Origins, Disciplines -- Vix Intellegitur -- Marxism And The Ethos Of The Twentieth Century -- Must Criticism Be Constructive? -- The Loss Of Meaning On The Left -- Authority: Some Fables -- A Note On Lying -- Politics And Architecture -- The Future Of Theological Ethics -- Did Williams Do Ethics? -- The Wisdom Of Oedipus And The Idea Of A Moral Cosmos -- Who Was The First Philosopher? -- A World Without Why. Raymond Geuss. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Many influential ethical views depend on the optimistic assumption that the human and natural world could be made to make sense to humanity. Geuss's essays challenge this assumption, exploring the genesis and historical development of this optimistic configuration in ethical thought and describing the ways in which it has shown itself to be unfounded and misguided. Discussions of Greco-Roman antiquity and of the philosophies of Socrates, Plato, Hegel, Marx, Nietzsche, and Adorno play a central role in many of these essays. Geuss also ranges over such topics as: the concepts of intelligibility, authority, democracy, and criticism; the role of lying in politics; architecture; the place of theology in ethics; tragedy and comedy; and the struggle between realism and our search for meaning. A World without Why raises fundamental questions about the viability not just of specific ethical concepts and theses, but of our most basic assumptions about what ethics could and must be. -- Adapted from dust jacket flaps Cover 1 Title 4 Copyright 5 Contents 8 Preface 10 Goals, Origins, Disciplines 20 Vix intellegitur 41 Marxism and the Ethos of the Twentieth Century 64 Must Criticism Be Constructive 87 The Loss of Meaning on the Left 110 Authority: Some Fables 131 A Note on Lying 154 Politics and Architecture 163 The Future of Theological Ethics 182 Did Williams Do Ethics? 194 The Wisdom of Oedipus and the Idea of aMoral Cosmos 214 Who Was the First Philosopher 242 A World without Why 250 Notes 256 Index 276