
- 160 pages
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
Is Nothing Sacred?
About this book
We call many things sacred, from cows, churches and paintings to flags and burial grounds. Is it still meaningful to talk of things being sacred, or is the idea merely a relic of a bygone religious age? Does everything - and every life - have its price?
Is Nothing Sacred? is a stimulating and wide-ranging debate about some of the major moral dilemmas facing us today, such as the value of human life, art, the environment, and personal freedom.
Packed with clearly presented controversial issues, we are asked to decide whether we should revere life when someone chooses to die, preserve the giant California redwoods, cherish Vermeer's originals for their own sake, or curtail personal freedom for the greater good. Ronald Dworkin argues that the concept of the scared is essential to any human ethics, and Simon Blackburn explains why he thinks 'a humanist should not feel guilty at the emotions of awe and reverence that can be inspired by great religious works of art. Throughout, the idea of the sacred in a secular age is hotly debated amongst the authors and put to the test: should it be abandoned altogether, or does it still have something to teach us?
Is Nothing Sacred? brings together outstanding philosophers and thinkers, including Suzanne Uniacke, Michael Clark, Alan Holland, Simon Blackburn, Richard Dawkins, Richard Norman, Alan Howarth, Nigel Warburton, Matthew Kieran and John Harris.
Frequently asked questions
- Essential is ideal for learners and professionals who enjoy exploring a wide range of subjects. Access the Essential Library with 800,000+ trusted titles and best-sellers across business, personal growth, and the humanities. Includes unlimited reading time and Standard Read Aloud voice.
- Complete: Perfect for advanced learners and researchers needing full, unrestricted access. Unlock 1.4M+ books across hundreds of subjects, including academic and specialized titles. The Complete Plan also includes advanced features like Premium Read Aloud and Research Assistant.
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app.
Information
Table of contents
- Cover
- Is Nothing Sacred?
- Title
- Copyright
- Contents
- Notes on Contributors
- Preface and Acknowledgements
- Introduction
- 1. Nature, Science, and the Sacred
- 2. Is Nature Sacred?: Response to Richard Norman
- 3. Is Art Sacred?
- 4. Art and the Limitations of Experience: Response to Nigel Warburton
- 5. Is Life Sacred?
- 6. The Sacred and the Profane: Response to Suzanne Uniacke
- 7. Is Liberty Sacred?
- 8. The Limits of Liberty: A response to Alan Haworth
- 9. The Idea of the Sacred
- 10. Salvaging the Sacred
- 11. The Sacred and the Scientist
- 12. The Concept of the Sacred: A Response to My Critics
- Index