ISBN: 9780826499844

"LaBossiere brilliantly tackles many of the toughest ethical dilemmas of our times, from gender selection, cloning and sexual inequality to violence in the media and the conduct of w… More...

"LaBossiere brilliantly tackles many of the toughest ethical dilemmas of our times, from gender selection, cloning and sexual inequality to violence in the media and the conduct of warfare. In an age of snap judgments and stereotypes, he approaches his topics in a refreshingly open-minded fashion. His quick wit and firm knowledge of contemporary culture bring philosophy full-force into the 21st century." Paul Halpern, Professor Of Physics, University Of The Sciences in Philadelphia and author of "What's Science Ever Done for Us?" From the author's introduction: "Philosophy, as I see it, is not about believing certain tenets or accepting certain dogmas. Philosophy is about asking questions, seeking answers and entertaining doubt. Critical to that endeavor is a willingness to be rationally provoked by different ideas and to see where they might lead assuming they turn out to be worth following. If you find that you disagree with me, so much the better. The search for truth and wisdom benefits most from dissent. It is uncritical agreement that derails this search and leaves people stuck in the dark. Of course, if you do agree with me on some points, that is cool, too."" "In this stimulating book, Michael C. LaBossiere takes a provocative look at issues in contemporary politics, culture and society through the lens of philosophy. Collected from LaBossiere's regular column in "The Philosopher's Magazine," this fascinating set of philosophical provocations assumes no background in philosophy and focuses on matters that are of popular interest to the general public, yet are also philosophically significant. Topics range across a whole host of controversial issues that are of genuine interest to the reader, including same sex marriage, video games, gene therapy, true love, chance, torture, gender, god, the media, and freedom. What Don't You Know?: Philosophical Provocations LaBossiere, Michael C., Continuum<

ISBN: 9780826499844

Collected from LaBossiere's regular column in The Philosopher's Magazine , this fascinating set of philosophical provocations focuses on matters that are of popular interest to the gener… More...

Collected from LaBossiere's regular column in The Philosopher's Magazine , this fascinating set of philosophical provocations focuses on matters that are of popular interest to the general public, yet are also philosophically significant.In this accessible and stimulating book, Michael C. LaBossiere takes a provocative look at issues in contemporary politics, culture and society through the lens of philosophy. Collected from LaBossiere's regular column in The Philosopher's Magazine , this fascinating set of philosophical provocations assumes no background in philosophy and focuses on matters that are of popular interest to the general public, yet are also philosophically significant.Topics range across a whole host of controversial issues that are of genuine interest to the reader, including same sex marriage, video games, gene therapy, true love, chance, torture, gender, God, the media, and freedom. LaBossiere approaches each issue in a fascinatingly philosophical manner, providing an appealing alternative to the vast volume of strident and irrational approaches that are all too common in today's media. Articulate, timely and, above all, provocative, this exciting book is a must-read for anyone with an interest in philosophy and current affairs.; Philosophy, Continuum International Publishing Group Ltd.<