Author: Ruth Weintraub File Type: pdf Do we really know the things we think we know? Are any of our beliefs reasonable? Scepticism gives a pessimistic reply to these important epistemological questions - we dont know anything none of our beliefs are reasonable. But can such a seemingly paradoxical claim be more than an intellectual curiousity? And if it is, can it be refuted? Ruth Weintraub answers yes to both these questions.The sceptical challenge is a formidable one, and should be confronted, not dismissed. The theoretical and practical difficulties it presents - in that the sceptical life cannot be lived, and the doctrine seems self-defeating - are in fact superficial, according to Ruth Weintraub. Her study looks at the sceptical arguments of Descartes, Hume and the ancient Greek sceptic, Sextus Empiricus. The author argues that by drawing on philosophy, rather than science, the sceptical challenge can be answered.The Sceptical Challenge is a bold and original response to scepticism it represents a new way of looking at the field for philosophers of epistemology.ReviewWeintraub argues convincingly against more extravagant anti-sceptical claims. The modest epistemology she espouses has manuy virtues. And she shows that there is no substitute for a careful examination of the structure of our concept of epistemic justification, as it applies to beliefs and to methods of reasoning, if we are to understand how our beliefs can be rational. -Dorothy Edgington, Birbeck College. About the AuthorRuth Weintraub is Lecturer in Philosophy at Tel Aviv University. Do we really know the things we think we know? Are any of our beliefs reasonable? Scepticism gives a pessimistic reply to these important epistemological questions - we dont know anything none of our beliefs are reasonable. But can such a seemingly paradoxical claim be more than an intellectual curiousity? And if it is, can it be refuted? Ruth Weintraub answers yes to both these questions. The sceptical challenge is a formidable one, and should be confronted, not dismissed. The theoretical and practical difficulties it presents - in that the sceptical life cannot be lived, and the doctrine seems self-defeating - are in fact superficial, according to Ruth Weintraub. Her study looks at the sceptical arguments of Descartes, Hume and the ancient Greek sceptic, Sextus Empiricus. The author argues that by drawing on philosophy, rather than science, the sceptical challenge can be answered. The Sceptical Challenge is a bold and original response to scepticism it represents a new way of looking at the field for philosophers of epistemology.

Author: Christian Kerslake File Type: pdf Figures of the Unconscious 7In Origins and Ends of the Mind, a collection of theoretical essays by philosophers and psychoanalysts, encounters are arranged between Freudian and Lacanian psychoanalysis on the one hand and attachment theory, evolutionary psychology, and philosophy of mind on the other. Psychoanalysts claim that states of mind are inexorably structured by childrens relationships with their parents. But the theory of attachment, evolutionary psychology, and contemporary philosophy of mind have all recently reintroduced the claim that mental development and pathology are to a large degree determined by innate factors. Today, Lacanian psychoanalysis most vigorously defends psychoanalytic theory and practice from the encroachment of the biomedical and cognitive sciences. However, classical psychoanalytic theories-the Oedipus complex, primary and secondary repression, sexual difference, and the role of symbols-are being dismantled and reintegrated into a new synthesis of biological and psychological theories.About the AuthorChristian Kerslake and Ray Brassier are Research Fellows at the Centre for Modern European Philosophy at Middlesex University, London.

Author: Eric H. Cline File Type: pdf From the bestselling author of 1177 B.C., a comprehensive history of archaeologyfrom its amateur beginnings to the cutting-edge science it is today. In 1922, Howard Carter peered into Tutankhamuns tomb for the first time, the only light coming from the candle in his outstretched hand. Urged to tell what he was seeing through the small opening he had cut in the door to the tomb, the Egyptologist famously replied, I see wonderful things. Carters fabulous discovery is just one of the many spellbinding stories told in Three Stones Make a Wall. Written by Eric Cline, an archaeologist with more than thirty seasons of excavation experience, Three Stones Make a Wall traces the history of archaeology from an amateur pursuit to the cutting-edge science it is today by taking the reader on a tour of major archaeological sites and discoveries, from Pompeii to Petra, Troy to the Terracotta Warriors, and Mycenae to Megiddo and Masada. Cline brings to life the personalities behind these digs, including Heinrich Schliemann, the former businessman who excavated Troy, and Mary Leakey, whose discoveries advanced our understanding of human origins. The discovery of the peoples and civilizations of the past is presented in vivid detail, from the Hittites and Minoans to the Inca, Aztec, and Moche. Along the way, the book addresses the questions archaeologists are asked most often How do you know where to dig? How are excavations actually done? How do you know how old something is? Who gets to keep what is found? Taking readers from the pioneering digs of the eighteenth century to the exciting new discoveries being made today, Three Stones Make a Wall is a lively and essential introduction to the story of archaeology. **Review Intensely readable. . . . Cline is a winning spokesman for his field, with a warm and generous voice evocative of the best university lectures. . . . More than a few readers may feel a sudden urge to rush out to a nearby mound or midden, with spade and trowel in hand.--James Romm, *Wall Street Journal* Eric Cline . . . doesnt disappoint in his terrific new book.--Steve Donoghue, *The National* Wonderfully engaging. . . . Archaeology has developed over the last two centuries into one of the great human sciences. It steadily expands the known history of humans on earth and thickens our knowledge of human diversity. Cline is fortunate to be a leader in this remarkable profession and readers are lucky that he knows how to write about it with precision and joy.--Robert Fulford, *National Post* This ambitious project is to be warmly welcomed. [Cline] writes clearly, informatively and enthusiastically and tells a good story, often illuminated by personal experiences from working on site. . . . As a general, up-to-date and excellent value introduction to the world of archaeology and the past it reveals, it can be counted a success.--Peter Jones, *Classics for All* From the Back Cover This book takes your hand and leads you on a magical archaeology mystery tour across the globe. Youll meet famous archaeologists, explore legendary sites, and see the latest discoveries using new technologies. Archaeology is full of wonderful things, and Three Stones Make a Wall, written by one of its greatest storytellers, is a must-have.--Sarah Parcak, University of Alabama at Birmingham, winner of the 2016 TED Prize Eric Cline takes the reader on an amazing journey through the history of archaeology, essentially allowing us to walk in the boots of archaeologists at the moment of the greatest discoveries of all time. This book is at once a wonderful introduction for those curious to know more about archaeology and a relevant read for lifelong excavators who uphold our human responsibility to uncover, preserve, and protect our past.--Kara Cooney, author of *The Woman Who Would Be King Hatshepsuts Rise to Power in Ancient Egypt* Three Stones Make a Wall is an experienced archaeologists fast-paced and fascinating account of the fields greatest hits, one that will engage all readers no matter what their background.--Jodi Magness, author of *The Archaeology of the Holy Land* In this up-to-date and eminently readable introduction to the field, Eric Cline, one of the worlds foremost archaeologists, gives people a chance to peek behind the curtain of the mysterious and exciting world of archaeology. Readers will learn about famous sites and discoveries around the world as well as how to find, dig, and date ancient artifacts without ever leaving the house.--Candida Moss, author of *The Myth of Persecution How Early Christians Invented a Story of Martyrdom* I loved this book. Three Stones Make a Wall is a great read filled with many interesting stories. A terrific piece of work.--Kenneth L. Feder, author of *The Past in Perspective An Introduction to Human Prehistory* Cline provides an excellent history of both civilizations and the archaeological process--his knowledge of the subject is second to none.--Robert R. Cargill, author of *The Cities That Built the Bible* An accurate and engaging picture of archaeology past and present. This book fills a real need within the discipline, as it properly presents archaeology to the public in a way that has not been done before.--Rachel Hallote, author of *Bible, Map, and Spade The American Palestine Exploration Society, Frederick Jones Bliss, and the Forgotten Story of Early American Biblical Archeology *

Author: John Cullen Gruesser File Type: pdf Edgar Allan Poe and His Nineteenth-Century American Counterparts addresses Poes connections with, critical assessments of, borrowings from, and effect on his literary peers. It situates Poe within his own time and place, paying particular attention to his interactions with, and impact on, figures such as Nathaniel Hawthorne, Walt Whitman, Herman Melville, Mark Twain, Harriet Jacobs, and Pauline Hopkins. John Cullen Gruesser rebuts myths that continue to cling to Poe, demonstrates Poes ability to transform themes he encountered in the works of his literary contemporaries into great literature, and establishes the profound influence of Poes invention of detective fiction on nineteenth-century American writers. **Review In the crowded field of Poe criticism, John Cullen Gruesser stands out for the range, erudition, and accessibility of his work. By charting Poes place in American literary culture while also dispelling myths about him and his work, this book captures perfectly the qualities that make Poe both unique and simultaneously representative of his times. David Schmid, Associate Professor of English, State University of New York at Buffalo, USA Edgar Allan Poe and His Nineteenth-Century American Counterparts is a meticulous work of scholarship that expands our knowledge of Poes place in our literary tradition. Drawing on his remarkable command of Poe scholarship, John Cullen Gruesser rescues the author from the process of mystification that still hangs around him. He reveals new connections to Hawthorne, Melville, and Twain and such lesser known figures as Joel Tyler Headley and Mrs. E.D.E.N. Southworth. His exploration of the ways in which Poe not only invents but continuously reinvents crime fiction into a richly metafictional form capable of confronting racial and political ideologies is both perceptive and persuasive. Alfred Bendixen, Lecturer in English, Princeton University, USA, and co-editor of The Centrality of Crime Fiction in American Literary Culture (2017) John Gruesser always writes with passion and purpose, and his Edgar Allan Poe and his Nineteenth-Century American Counterparts illuminates two key facets of Poes career his preoccupation with exposing the secret practices of antebellum American literary culture and his invention of the alluring paradigm for detective fiction. In the process, Gruesser creates a vivid narrative of Poes entanglements with other literary lives, especially with such counterparts as Melville, Hawthorne, Fuller, Whitman, and Willis. But he also suggests the irresistibility of the ratiocinative tale and its repurposing by such unlikely figures as Twain, Southworth, Jacobs, and Hopkins. These linked essays connect Poe to a broader culture and a longer historical moment they also bring into sharper focus Poes twin penchants for mystification and revelation. J. Gerald Kennedy, Boyd Professor of English, Louisiana State University, USA, and author of Strange Nation Literary Nationalism and Cultural Conflict in the Age of Poe (2016) About the Author John Cullen Gruesser is Senior Research Scholar of Literary Studies at Sam Houston State University, USA. He is the author or editor of ten books and a past President of the Poe Studies Association.