Adler's Philosophical Dictionary: 125 Key Terms for the Philosopher's Lexicon

by Mortimer J. Adler

Overview

Stimulating, engaging, and organized in an easy-to-use, A-to-Z format, Adler's Philosophical Dictionary is an ideal introduction to the history of the great ideas.

The terms and concepts that have simulated thinkers from Aristotle onward come to life in the latest work by the man TIME magazine has called "America's philosopher for everyman." Is the human soul immortal? What does it mean to know something? What is the nature of erotic love? Adler examines these questions as well as many others with his trademark clarity, rigor, and common sense.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781439105665
Publisher:	Touchstone
Publication date:	08/06/1996
Sold by:	SIMON & SCHUSTER
Format:	eBook
Pages:	224
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Dr. Mortimer J. Adler was Chairman of the Board of the Encyclopedia Britannica, Director of the Institute for Philosophical Research, Honorary Trustee of the Aspen Institute, and authored more than fifty books. He died in 2001.

Editorial Reviews

Indomitable and, now well into his nineties, seemingly eternal, America's foremost public philosopher produces his fifty-eighth book and one of the most useful. It consists of reasonably thorough definitions of some 125 terms (a few are just cross references to others) that reflect Adler's famous adherences to the Aristotelian mainstream of Western philosophy (if anything, Adler is downright anti-Kantian), to democracy and socialism (but not communism: Adler very cogently explains why communism is antithetical to socialism) as the political and economic practices most in accordance with the principles of justice, and to world government. The defined terms do not include philosophy's hardware words--"ontology, epistemology, phenomenology, heuristics", etc.--but rather are its meat and potatoes--"art, beauty, God, idea," etc. If, now and then, a definition seems to overlook crucial aspects of its term, Adler appends a list of sources of further elucidation in his own other books. A helpful and, aptly, thought-provoking little resource, perhaps even at the reference desk.

Ray Olson

Riley recounts his two-year tour of duty as a flight surgeon and pilot on the USS Forrestal, painting a vivid picture of the unique culture of a modern aircraft carrier. He offers insights on the role of doctors in a military organization, and describes daily life working with the 6,000 sailors on the carrier. Includes b&w photos. No bibliography or index. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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