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Roger Scruton The Uses of Pessimism (Paperback) (UK IMPORT)
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eBay item number:365656682232
Item specifics
- Condition
- Brand New: A new, unread, unused book in perfect condition with no missing or damaged pages. See all condition definitionsopens in a new window or tab
- Subtitle
- And the Danger of False Hope
- EAN
- 9780199968978
- ISBN
- 9780199968978
- Release Date
- 03/01/2013
- Country/Region of Manufacture
- GB
- Release Year
- 2013
- Publication Name
- The Uses of Pessimism
- Title
- The Uses of Pessimism
About this product
Product Identifiers
Publisher
Oxford University Press, Incorporated
ISBN-10
0199968977
ISBN-13
9780199968978
eBay Product ID (ePID)
117289132
Product Key Features
Book Title
Uses of Pessimism : and the Danger of False Hope
Number of Pages
240 Pages
Language
English
Publication Year
2013
Topic
Civilization, Movements / Idealism, Free Will & Determinism, General, Personality, Political
Genre
Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, History
Format
Trade Paperback
Dimensions
Item Height
0.7 in
Item Weight
7.1 Oz
Item Length
5 in
Item Width
7.9 in
Additional Product Features
Intended Audience
Trade
Reviews
"While some of Scruton's conclusions may be controversial... he does present an intriguing case for using pessimism as a way to examine issues that affect current society. His clear and accessible writing will appeal to those familiar with the author's past works and also those with an interest in philosophy."--Scott Duimstra, Library Journal "Scruton has approached his project with incisiveness, breadth of knowledge, and clarity of expression. The Uses of Pessimism is worth arguing over."-- Peter Lopatin, Commentary "Score one for pessimism."--Peter Monaghan, The Chronicle of Higher Education Praise for Roger Scruton "Both left and right should be grateful to have such a man to sharpen and define the issues. And philosophers should be grateful that he has placed their subject at the very centre of current affairs. Perhaps Scruton's greatest contribution is his living demonstration of the truth that without philosophy we are nothing."--Bryan Appleyard, The Sunday Times "Scruton . . . is a learned, witty, wide-ranging, prolific, and often dazzling writer."--The Weekly Standard "A practiced and elegant writer."--The Independent "Dr. Scruton writes with an unusual clarity and fluency, and is always a pleasure to read."--Times Education Supplement, "Scruton has approached his project with incisiveness, breadth of knowledge, and clarity of expression. The Uses of Pessimism is worth arguing over." --Peter Lopatin, Commentary, "While some of Scruton's conclusions may be controversial... he does present an intriguing case for using pessimism as a way to examine issues that affect current society. His clear and accessible writing will appeal to those familiar with the author's past works and also those with aninterest in philosophy." --Scott Duimstra, Library Journal, "While some of Scruton's conclusions may be controversial... he does present an intriguing case for using pessimism as a way to examine issues that affect current society. His clear and accessible writing will appeal to those familiar with the author's past works and also those with an interest in philosophy."--Scott Duimstra,Library Journal "Scruton has approached his project with incisiveness, breadth of knowledge, and clarity of expression. The Uses of Pessimism is worth arguing over."-- Peter Lopatin,Commentary "Score one for pessimism."--Peter Monaghan,The Chronicle of Higher Education, "While some of Scruton's conclusions may be controversial... he does present an intriguing case for using pessimism as a way to examine issues that affect current society. His clear and accessible writing will appeal to those familiar with the author's past works and also those with an interest in philosophy."--Scott Duimstra, Library Journal "Scruton has approached his project with incisiveness, breadth of knowledge, and clarity of expression. The Uses of Pessimism is worth arguing over."-- Peter Lopatin, Commentary"Score one for pessimism."--Peter Monaghan, The Chronicle of Higher Education Praise for Roger Scruton "Both left and right should be grateful to have such a man to sharpen and define the issues. And philosophers should be grateful that he has placed their subject at the very centre of current affairs. Perhaps Scruton's greatest contribution is his living demonstration of the truth that without philosophy we are nothing."--Bryan Appleyard, The Sunday Times"Scruton . . . is a learned, witty, wide-ranging, prolific, and often dazzling writer."--The Weekly Standard"A practiced and elegant writer."--The Independent"Dr. Scruton writes with an unusual clarity and fluency, and is always a pleasure to read."--Times Education Supplement
TitleLeading
The
Dewey Edition
22
Dewey Decimal
149/.6
Table Of Content
Preface1. The First-Person Future2. The Best Case Fallacy3. The Born Free Fallacy4. The Utopian Fallacy5. The Zero Sum Fallacy6. The Planning Fallacy7. The Moving Spirit Fallacy8. The Aggregation Fallacy9. Defences Against the Truth10. Our Tribal Past11. Our Civil Present12. Our Human Future
Synopsis
Optimism is fundamental to the human spirit and has sparked innovation across the centuries, but does it have a dark side? Renowned philosopher and author Roger Scruton argues that unchecked optimism can be dangerous--and that real happiness hinges on a healthy pessimism that recognizes the limitations of human beings. The Uses of Pessimism is a far-reaching yet concise assessment of how pessimism can compensate for the fallacies generic to the optimistic mind-set and enable us to live with our own imperfection. Spanning from ancient Greece to the current economic crisis, the book persuasively concludes that optimists and idealists have courted disaster by overlooking the hard truths of human nature and by adopting na ve expectations about what can be changed. Scruton demonstrates how many optimism-fueled advances, from the railway to the Internet, reflect a careless pursuit of mastery that is at odds with--and often undermines--the limited happiness that is the best we can obtain. He urges us to see pessimism not as dark and fatalistic, but as a hopeful point-of-view that favors a balanced appraisal of society and human nature as opposed to utopian wishful thinking. Ultimately, pessimism helps focus our energies on the one reform we can truly master: bettering ourselves. In the rigorous but lively style that is his trademark, Scruton throws down the gauntlet to readers, challenging everyone to reevaluate their assumptions about the meaning of pessimism. The Uses of Pessimism breaks down the fallacies surrounding the optimist's perpetually sunny worldview, offering a voice of wisdom with which to rein in hopes that might otherwise ruin us., This short book by Roger Scruton argues that optimism in its various forms has caused much of the human suffering and man-made catastrophes in human history, and that what our happiness truly requires is a sensible, measured pessimism -- pessimism in the sense of realism about the capacities and limits of human beings., Optimism is fundamental to the human spirit and has sparked innovation across the centuries, but does it have a dark side? Renowned philosopher and author Roger Scruton argues that unchecked optimism can be dangerous--and that real happiness hinges on a healthy pessimism that recognizes the limitations of human beings. The Uses of Pessimism is a far-reaching yet concise assessment of how pessimism can compensate for the fallacies generic to the optimistic mind-set and enable us to live with our own imperfection. Spanning from ancient Greece to the current economic crisis, the book persuasively concludes that optimists and idealists have courted disaster by overlooking the hard truths of human nature and by adopting naïve expectations about what can be changed. Scruton demonstrates how many optimism-fueled advances, from the railway to the Internet, reflect a careless pursuit of mastery that is at odds with--and often undermines--the limited happiness that is the best we can obtain. He urges us to see pessimism not as dark and fatalistic, but as a hopeful point-of-view that favors a balanced appraisal of society and human nature as opposed to utopian wishful thinking. Ultimately, pessimism helps focus our energies on the one reform we can truly master: bettering ourselves. In the rigorous but lively style that is his trademark, Scruton throws down the gauntlet to readers, challenging everyone to reevaluate their assumptions about the meaning of pessimism. The Uses of Pessimism breaks down the fallacies surrounding the optimist's perpetually sunny worldview, offering a voice of wisdom with which to rein in hopes that might otherwise ruin us., Ranging widely over human history and culture, from ancient Greece to the current global economic downturn, Scruton makes a counterintuitive yet persuasive case that optimists and idealists - with their ignorance about the truths of human nature and human society, and their naive hopes about what can be changed - have wrought havoc for centuries. Scruton's argument is nuanced, however, and his preference for pessimism is not a dark view of human nature; rather his is a "hopeful pessimism" which urges that instead of utopian efforts to reform human society or human nature, we focus on the only reform that we can truly master - the improvement of ourselves through the cultivation of our better instincts. Written in Scruton's trademark style - erudite, sweeping in scope across centuries and cultures, and unafraid to offend - this book is sure to intrigue and provoke readers concerned with the state of Western culture, the nature of human beings, and the question of whether social progress is truly possible.
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VAT number: GB 864154811
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Seller feedback (772,093)
- d***c (498)- Feedback left by buyer.Past monthVerified purchaseVery fast delivery and item was in excellent condition as seller said it would be. Would recommend and will do business with again.
- n***i (33)- Feedback left by buyer.Past monthVerified purchaseExcellent condition and handled with lots of care, would absolutely purchase from seller again!
- y***y (84)- Feedback left by buyer.Past monthVerified purchaseThe item was exactly as described. The seller shipped it to the States.