Political philosophy cross-examined : perennial challenges to the philosophic life ; essays in honor of Heinrich Meier

Political societies frequently regard philosophers as potential threats to morality and religion, and those who speak for politics often demand a defense of philosophy. This book will address philosophy as a mode of existence put into question. Abstract: Political societies frequently regard philosophers as potential threats to morality and religion, and those who speak for politics often demand a defense of philosophy. This book will address philosophy as a mode of existence put into question. Read more... "Political societies frequently regard philosophers as potential threats to morality and religion and even subject these thinkers to the gravest inquisitions and indictments. Socrates was executed for disbelieving in the gods of Athens, Jean-Jacques Rousseau was charged with capital crimes for his anti-Christian teachings, Galileo Galilei was found "vehemently suspect" of heresy, compelled to recant, and sentenced to incarceration for life. The contributors toPolitical Philosophy Cross-Examined aspire to reopen the case for the philosophic way of life while fully appreciating the harsh attacks advanced by its most fervent detractors. In an age where extremist movements, existentialism, and postmodernist thought challenge the authority of reason, the book is a seminal contribution to current literature on philosophy, politics, history, classics, and religion alike. Political Philosophy Cross-Examined is a festchrift in honor of Professor Heinrich Meier of the Siemens Foundation, the University of Chicago, and the University of Munich."--Publisher's website. Political societies frequently regard philosophers as potential threats to morality and religion and even subject these thinkers to the gravest inquisitions and indictments. Socrates was executed for disbelieving in the gods of Athens, Jean-Jacques Rousseau was charged with capital crimes for his anti-Christian teachings, Galileo Galilei was found "vehemently suspect" of heresy, compelled to recant, and sentenced to incarceration for life. The contributors to Political Philosophy Cross-Examined aspire to reopen the case for the philosophic way of life while fully appreciating the harsh attacks advanced by its most fervent detractors. In an age where extremist movements, existentialism, and postmodernist thought challenge the authority of reason, the book is a seminal contribution to current literature on philosophy, politics, history, classics, and religion alike. Political Philosophy Cross-Examined is a festchrift in honor of Professor Heinrich Meier of the Siemens Foundation, the University of Chicago, and the University of Munich (site de l'éditeur) Content: 1. Sophistry as a Way of Life -- Robert C. Bartlett 2. Aristotle on Theory and Practice -- Christopher Bruell 3. Aristotle's Politics Book 7 on the Best Way of Life -- Thomas L. Pangle 4. Inexhaustible Riches: Mining the Bible -- J. Harvey Lomax 5. On the Philosophic Character of Tacitus' Imperial Political History and Science -- James Nichols 6. Maimonides on Knowledge of Good and Evil: The Guide of the Perplexed I.2 -- Ronna Burger 7. Machiavelli in the Prince: His Way of Life in Question -- Nathan Tarcov 8. Of Human Ends in Bacon's Essayes -- Ralph Lerner 9. Hobbes's Natural Theology -- Devin Stauffer 10. Rousseau's Happiness in Freedom -- Hasso Hofmann 11. Heidegger on Nietzsche on Nihilism -- Robert B. Pippin 12. How Benardete Read the Last Stage of Socrates' Philosophic Education -- Laurence Lampert.