Scheler's Ethical Personalism: Its Logic, Development, and Promise (Perspectives in Continental Philosophy, 25)

Peter Spader has written a magisterial study on Max Scheler, one of phenomenology's earliest and greatest figures, whose theory of ethical personalism has become a major voice in the formulation of phenomenological ethics today. Spader follows Scheler's use of the classic phenomenological approach, by means of which he presented a fresh view of values, feelings, and the person, and thereby staked out a new approach in ethics. Spader recreates the logic of Scheler's quest, revealing the basis of his thought and the reasons for his dramatic changes of direction. This remarkable study provides a framework that allows us to understand Scheler's insights in the context of their dynamic evolution of his thought. It corrects imbalances in the presentation of his ideas and defends Scheler against key misunderstandings and criticisms. In short, Spader's work continues the process of developing Scheler's pioneering theory of ethical personalism. Booknews Spader (Marywood U.) develops the systematic nature of German philosopher Max Scheler's (1874-1928) quest for an ethical personalism that would challenge the rational ethics of Kant. By retracing its steps, he hopes to correct some of the misunderstanding that have grown around it over the years, and show how it can be completed. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com) Max Scheler, One Of Phenomenology's Earliest And Greatest Figures, Has Become A Major Voice In The Formulation Of Phenomenological Ethics Through His Theory Of Ethical Personalism. Spader Follows Scheler's Use Of The Classic Phenomenological Approach By Means Of Which He Presented A Fresh View Of Values, Feelings, And The Person, And Thereby Staked Out, A New Approach In Ethics. Spader Recreates The Logic Of Scheler's Quest, Revealing The Basis Of His Thought And The Reasons For His Dramatic Changes Of Direction. This Study Provides A Framework That Allows Us To Understand Scheler's Insights In The Context Of The Dynamic Evolution Of His Thought. It Corrects Imbalances In The Presentation Of His Ideas And Defends Him Against Key Misunderstandings And Criticisms. In Short, Spader's Work Continues The Process Of Developing Scheler's Pioneering Theory Of Ethical Personalism.--jacket. The Promise Of Scheler -- The Problems Of Scheler -- The Challenge Of Kant -- Kant's Rational Formalism -- Kant's Copernican Turn -- Kant's Approach To Rational, Formal Ethics -- Kant's Kingdom Of Ends -- Scheler's Initial Objection To Kant's Formal Ethics -- Kant's Challenge To All Nonformal Ethics -- The Requirement Of Noncontingent Values -- The Requirement Of Noncontingent Feeling -- The Requirement Of The Noncontingent Person -- Values And Phenomenology -- Values And Phenomenology -- Scheler's Phenomenological Approach -- The A Priori -- The A Priori And The Phenomenological Given -- The Immediately Given Versus The Nongiven -- The Order Of Givenness -- The Immediately Given Versus The Mediately Given -- The Immediately Given's Independence From The Senses -- The Obscurity Of The Phenomenological Given -- Autonomous Values -- Phenomenology As A Procedure Of Seeing -- The Phenomenological Given And Kant's Rationalism -- Summary, And Transition To A New Problem -- Feelings -- Scheler's Manifesto -- The Complexity Of Feelings -- Feeling Of Something (fuhlen Von Etwas) Versus Feeling States (gefuhlszustanden) -- Preferring (vorziehen) And Placing After (nachsetzen) -- Love And Hate -- The Refutation Of Relativity -- Value Blindness -- The Role Of Love -- The Limited Vision Of Values -- The Role Of Hate -- Value Distortion -- Ressentiment -- Persons -- Scheler's Critique Of Kant's Person -- Scheler's Person -- Person As Act -- A Phenomenological Description Of Acts And Persons -- The Nondurational Act. Peter H. Spader. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [299]-318) And Index. Frontmatter Acknowledgments (page xiii) List of Abbreviations (page xv) PART 1: INTRODUCTION 1: Introduction (page 3) PART 2: THE CHALLENGE OF KANT 2: Kant's Rational Formalism (page 23) 3: Values and Phenomenology (page 48) 4: Feelings (page 80) 5: Persons (page 101) PART 3: THE CHALLENGE OF SCHELER'S NEW ETHICS 6: Scheler's New Ethics (page 121) 7: God and Ethics (page 149) 8: From Theism to Panentheism (page 176) 9: The Troubled Relationship between Geist and Drang (page 201) PART 4: DEFENDING A SCHELERIAN ETHICAL PERSONALISM 10: Defending the Central Role of the Person in Scheler's Ethics (page 225) 11: Defending Scheler's Central Role of the Heart in Value-Ception (page 255) 12: Defending Scheler's Knowledge of Values (page 273) Bibliography (page 299) Appendix: Secondary Sources on Scheler Published between 1990 and 1999 (page 307) Permissions (page 319) Index (page 323)