Essays on Philosophy, Praxis and Culture
An Eclectic, Provocative and Prescient Collection
By (author) Lou Marinoff Introduction by Rick Repetti
Publication date:
06 September 2022Publisher
Anthem PressDimensions:
229x153mm6x9"
ISBN-13: 9781839980572
This collection provides a panoramic view of practical philosophical insight, ranging across a spectrum of humanistic themes. These essays cast light on our perennially imperfect human condition. The collection ranges from Alfred Korzybski's general semantics; Thomas Mann's prognosis for Western civilization; Hume's moral skepticism applied to globalization; Jungian synchronicity and encounters with Irvin Yalom; J.S. Mill's harm principle applied to cyberspace; Ayn Rand's prophetic apocalypse; philosophical practice as Dadaist activism; humanities-based therapies as remedies for culturally induced illnesses; biological roots of human conflict; deconstruction and critique of "sustainable development"; dangers and detriments of over-digitalized and hyper-virtualized lifestyles and learning methods; and calls for the re-emergence of philosophy from inactive academic entombment to pro-active modes of personal guidance, social influence, consumer advocacy, and political engagement.
A unifying claim of this anthology is the cautionary tale that humanity's recurrent and conflict-ridden predicaments are only exacerbated by myopic analyses, toxic ideologies, and expedient prescriptions. While philosophy is scarcely a panacea for human afflictions, its proper exercise illuminates our understanding of them, thereby suggesting better as opposed to worse ways forward.
“Lou Marinoff is indeed one of a very few true Renaissance men and prophets of our age. His wit, societal
criticism, and sense of humor are on a par with the likes of Lenny Bruce, George Carlin, and Dave Chappelle,
while simultaneously channeling the spirits of the Buddha, Socrates, and Nietzsche.” —Professor Rick Repetti,
Kingsborough College CUNY, USA.