When Species Meet (Posthumanities)
by Donna J. Haraway
from Univ Of Minnesota Press
In 2006, about 69 million U.S. households had pets, giving homes to around 73.9 million dogs, 90.5 million cats, and 16.6 million birds, and spending over $38 billion dollars on companion animals. As never before in history, our pets are truly members of the family. But the notion of “companion species”—knotted from human beings, animals and other organisms, landscapes, and technologies—includes much more than “companion animals.”
In When Species Meet, Donna J. Haraway digs into this larger phenomenon to contemplate the interactions of humans with many kinds of critters, especially with those called domestic. At the heart of the book are her experiences in agility training with her dogs Cayenne and Roland, but Haraway’s vision here also encompasses wolves, chickens, cats, baboons, sheep, microorganisms, and whales wearing video cameras. From designer pets to lab animals to trained therapy dogs, she deftly explores philosophical, cultural, and biological aspects of animal-human encounters.
In this deeply personal yet intellectually groundbreaking work, Haraway develops the idea of companion species, those who meet and break bread together but not without some indigestion. “A great deal is at stake in such meetings,” she writes, “and outcomes are not guaranteed. There is no assured happy or unhappy ending—socially, ecologically, or scientifically. There is only the chance for getting on together with some grace.”
Ultimately, she finds that respect, curiosity, and knowledge spring from animal-human associations and work powerfully against ideas about human exceptionalism.
One of the founders of the posthumanities, Donna J. Haraway is professor in the History of Consciousness Department at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Author of many books and widely read essays, including The Companion Species Manifesto: Dogs, People, and Significant Otherness and the now-classic essay “The Cyborg Manifesto,” she received the J. D. Bernal Prize in 2000, a lifetime achievement award from the Society for Social Studies in Science.
Pensees (Penguin Classics)
by Blaise Pascal
from Penguin Classics
The Complete Essays of Montaigne
by Michel Eyquem Montaigne
from Stanford University Press
The Portable Machiavelli
by Niccolo Machiavelli
from Penguin (Non-Classics)
Humanism, What's That?: A Book for Curious Kids
by Helen Bennett
from Prometheus Books
A conversation between Mrs. Green, a science teacher, and her students forms the basis of this thoughtful work. Starting with the historic concept of separation of church and state, the curious youngsters' insistent questions lead to a conversation of philosophic issues: When a fellow student is injured on her way to class, they wonder why they aren't allowed to pray for her in class. Why do some people believe in God while others don't? What gives life meaning? In the course of what becomes a parent-approved after-school discussion, Mrs. Green presents a humanist point of view, emphasizing science's explanation of life and freedom of thought. Complete with discussion questions, suggestions for activities, and a bibliography, this is a refreshing, innovative approach to presenting humanism to young adults.
Michel de Montaigne - The Complete Essays (Penguin Classics)
by Michel de Montaigne
from Penguin Classics
Utopia: Thomas More
by Thomas More
from Yale University Press
First published in 1516, Saint Thomas More's Utopia is one of the most important works of European humanism. Through the voice of the mysterious traveler Raphael Hythloday, More describes a pagan, communist city-state governed by reason. Addressing such issues as religious pluralism, women's rights, state-sponsored education, colonialism, and justified warfare, Utopia seems remarkably contemporary nearly five centuries after it was written, and it remains a foundational text in philosophy and political theory.
Preeminent More scholar Clarence H. Miller does justice to the full range of More's rhetoric in this new translation. Professor Miller includes a helpful introduction that outlines some of the important problems and issues that Utopia raises, and also provides informative commentary to assist the reader throughout this challenging and rewarding exploration of the meaning of political community.
First published in 1516, during a period of astonishing political and technological change, Sir Thomas More's utopia depicts an imaginary society free of private property, sexual discrimination and religious intolerance.
The Praise of Folly and Other Writings (Norton Critical Editions)
by Desiderius Erasmus
from W. W. Norton
History of Philosophy, Volume 3
by Frederick Copleston
from Image
Conceived originally as a serious presentation of the development of philosophy for Catholic seminary students, Frederick Copleston's nine-volume A History Of Philosophy has journeyed far beyond the modest purpose of its author to universal acclaim as the best history of philosophy in English.
The Essays (Penguin Classics)
by Francis Bacon
from Penguin Classics
Bacon, founder of modern inductivism and prophet of the industrial revolution, reveals a debt to antiquity in these polished Essays. The text of this volume is that of Bacon's second revised and enlarged edition of 1625. On subjects ranging among state policy, personal conduct and the appreciation of nature, Bacon transcends the brute force of scholastic logic and the abstractions of modern philosophy.
Francis Bacon offers his opinion on many different topics in these essays, ranging from life and death to love and anger. Full of wit and wisdom, the essays are the perfect example of common sense. Though short pieces, they are thought provoking and a great pleasure to read. Please Note: This book is easy to read in true text, not scanned images that can sometimes be difficult to decipher. This eBook has bookmarks at chapter headings and is printable.
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