Property delivers incredible insight into barbarity of slavery in America. “Property” describes not only situation of the slaves but also of the wife of sugar plantation owner. Manon is unhappy in her marriage, she misses her family and longs for the vibrant lifestyle of her native New Orleans. She saffocates because of her domestic situation.… Continue reading Book Review: Property by Valerie Martin
After U.S independence, twenty- one year old Robert travels to Europe to expand family business. The warm reception from pre- war associates of his father in France and England, draws Robert into life in France and in England. The unexpected onset of revolution in France challenges young American and brings experience that he had never… Continue reading Book Review: Conventions: The Garden at Paris by R. J. Nello
“A comfortable, smooth, reasonable, democratic unfreedom prevails in advanced industrial civilization, a token of technical progress” (Marcuse, 1991: 3) One- Dimensional Man by Herbert Marcuse is one of my favourite books offering powerful critique of growing conformity, new modes of domination and social control. In particular, Part I One- Dimensional Society gives very good perspective… Continue reading Conformity of our times. One- Dimensional Man by Herbert Marcuse
During my short trip to Copenhagen I visited The Black Dimond, the extension to the Danish Royal Library on Slotsholmen in central Copenhagen. The name refers to its polished black granite cladding and irregular angles. The black facets mirror the sea and the sky at the waterfront. The building includes six reading rooms, hall for… Continue reading Royal Danish Library- The Black Dimond
Do you support the absolute freedom of speech and expression? Or, do people with unfettered tongue and pen make you uncomfortable? Are a person that support bold and fierce writers or a person that prefers to be quite and consequently keeps others quite as well? Christopher Hitchens claimed that the right of others to free… Continue reading Absolute versus limited freedom of speech and expression
Elsa and her husband Paul enjoy comfortable life in Mussolini’s Fascist Italy. When they purchase the Pensione Alexandra in Naples, their life changes. They host guests from different countries. Many of the visitors remain family friends. Almost all guests have been impacted by actions of Nazi Germany. Idyllic life in Naples drastically changes for Elsa… Continue reading Book Review: One More Moon by Ralph Webster
Aristotle claimed that Plato, who focused on ideal political system, failed to provide accessible form of knowledge that statesmen need. Aristotle applied inductive and rationalist approach to studying human beings as political animals, unity of polis and the best practicable political regıme. Aristotle aim was to limit social conflicts and advise how to advance the… Continue reading The best practicable regime according to Aristotle
There are numerous critics of Hayek’s theory of minimal state and his justification of social and economic inequalities in the name of progress of civilization. He also claimed that social redistribution was wrong because redistributing taxes from the rich to the poor is a violation of individual liberties. In other words, he was a proponent… Continue reading Liberalism and Democracy: Marriage of Convenience? Constitution of Liberty by F. Hayek
Berlin discusses distinction between negative and positive concepts of liberty. Negative liberty covers the area within which the individual can act without interference by other persons (169). Person is free when is unobstructed by other to do what he/she wish to do. Negative liberty is a “normal” sense of liberty. The positive concept of liberty… Continue reading Review: Two Concepts of Liberty by Isaiah Berlin
In The Liberalism of Fear, Shklar develops her view on political liberalism. Firstly, the author argues the main aim of liberalism is to secure political conditions that are necessary for exercise of political freedom (p.3). Liberalism does not have any particular doctrine and does not depend on specific religious or philosophical system of thought. On… Continue reading Response to Liberalism of Fear by Judith N. Shklar
to create | to philosophize | to ferment
A few words on some great books
Blurring Lines Between Nightmares & Reality
co.uk
What South Dublin Libraries Staff are reading. Book Reviews (Tuesday + Thursdays), New Books to Watch Out For (Wednesdays) and Brilliant Book Titles (Monday + Fridays)
Patrisya M. 