A collection of interpretive examinations of some of the major intellectual movements of the modern era. Mr. Kaplan's nine lectures cover a wide range of topics, from pragmatism and analytic philosophy, which are regarded technical theories, to existentialism, communism, and psychoanalysis, and are written with a wit and pungency rarely seen in philosophic discourse. Lectures on Buddhism, Indian philosophy, Chinese philosophy, and Zen explore the philosophy and religion of the East.

In these essays he highlights common themes including rationality, activism, humanism, and values in general. Starting from a point of view that was characterized millennia ago by Aristotle as Man's "desire to know", Kaplan attempts to show how new philosophies have absorbed or reacted to the ideas promulgated by philosopher's over the centuries. In doing so he raises the question of how we should view this "brave new world" of philosophy and answers it in ways that hopefully emphasize a positive approach to these new ideas. ( )

12/10/21