Philosophical traditions and schools of thought

Ateenan kulttuurieliitti jarjestaa monipaivaiset pidot, joihin osallistuu taiteilijoita, poliitikkoja ja ajattelijoita - mukaan lukien antiikin Kreikan tunnetuin filosofi Sokrates. Platon kuvaa dialogimuodossa Sokrateen ja muun juhlavaen puheita Erokselle, rakkauden jumalalle. Puheet yltyvat syvalliseen pohdintaan rakastamisen merkityksesta seka rakkauden ja filosofian ikiaikaisesta erottamattomuudesta. -

I århundreder har filosofien haft indflydelse på alverdens civilisationer, og ikke mindst har den europæiske kultur draget megen nytte af filosofien. David Favrholdts bog giver en kort og præcis introduktion til en række filosofiske problemstillinger og forklarer den mindre velbevandrede læser, hvorfor filosofi er vigtig, og hvad den har af betydning for den verden, vi lever i. Bogen henvender sig til alle, der har lyst til at snuse til filosofien, og den lægger op til videre selvstudium, hvis man finder nogle af emnerne særligt interessante.David Favrholdt (1931-2012) var en dansk filosof, der skrev en lang række bøger om blandt andet bevidsthedsfilosofi, videnskabsteori og erkendelse. Han stod endvidere bag flere bøger om Niels Bohr. David Favrholdt uddannet cand.psych. og mag.art. i psykologi og filosofi. I 1966 blev han professor ved Odense Universitet, hvor han forblev frem til, at han trak sig tilbage i 2001 og blev professor emeritus.

Den kinesiske filosofihistorie strækker sig tusindvis af år tilbage i tiden og har haft enorm indflydelse på verdens filosofihistorie, buddhisme, taoisme og en række andre religioner og kulturelle strømninger. Professor i filosofi David Favrholdt giver en kort og overskuelig indførsel i den kinesiske filosofis forskellige strømninger og store tænkere. Bogen er forsynet med et kort over oldtidens Kina og en litteraturliste til yderligere læsning om det spændende og næsten uudtømmelige emne.David Favrholdt (1931-2012) var en dansk filosof, der skrev en lang række bøger om blandt andet bevidsthedsfilosofi, videnskabsteori og erkendelse. Han stod endvidere bag flere bøger om Niels Bohr. David Favrholdt uddannet cand.psych. og mag.art. i psykologi og filosofi. I 1966 blev han professor ved Odense Universitet, hvor han forblev frem til, at han trak sig tilbage i 2001 og blev professor emeritus.

"Skønt den nyere tids store kampe imellem de forskellige religiøse, sociale og politiske retninger også angår etiske spørgsmål, tør man dog påstå, at der hvad etikkens indhold, selve pligtloven angår, hersker langt større ensartethed og overensstemmelse, end modstanderne i stridens hede er sig bevidste. På samme kulturtrin ville ifølge tingenes gang de almindelige grundsætninger og regler for den menneskelige handlen være de samme for alle. En fælles grund af humanitet udgør den arena, hvor kampen føres."Harald Høffding gennemgår filosofihistorien for at undersøge, hvad grundlaget for den humane etik og diskussionen om denne er. Bogen belyser både de psykologiske, sociale og filosofiske aspekter for at komme helt i dybden med det i enhver tid relevante emne.Harald Høffding (1843-1931) var teolog og filosof og virkede gennem 30 år som professor ved Københavns Universitet. I løbet af sin karriere opnåede han en central position i det danske videns- og kulturliv og nød stor anerkendelse både i og udenfor Danmark. Høffding var yderst virksom hele sit liv, og tankegodset i hans bøger er stadig relevant i dag. Udover værkerne om etik, filosofihistorie og psykologi kendes han for monografier om Søren Kierkegaard, Jean-Jacques Rousseau og Baruch Spinoza.

I "Den nyere filosofis historie" foretager Harald Høffdings en omfattende gennemgang af filosofihistorien fra renæssancen til starten af det tyvende århundrede, hvor bogen er skrevet.Du kan blandt andet lære noget om René Descartes’ systemdannelser, John Lockes erfaringsfilosofi og Immanuel Kants etik og erkendelsesteori. Høffding introducerer også til romantikkens store tænkere Fichte, Hegel og Kierkegaard, til Darwins positivisme og de psykologiske problemstillinger, som optog filosofferne i slutningen af det nittende århundrede.Harald Høffding (1843-1931) var teolog og filosof og virkede gennem 30 år som professor ved Københavns Universitet. I løbet af sin karriere opnåede han en central position i det danske videns- og kulturliv og nød stor anerkendelse både i og udenfor Danmark. Høffding var yderst virksom hele sit liv, og tankegodset i hans bøger er stadig relevant i dag. Udover værkerne om etik, filosofihistorie og psykologi kendes han for monografier om Søren Kierkegaard, Jean-Jacques Rousseau og Baruch Spinoza.

Gli aforismi su "La saggezza della vita" di Arthur Schopenhauer costituiscono un classico della letteratura di uno dei maggiori moralisti di tutti i tempi. L’opera indica una via che dovrebbe consentirci di vivere più serenamente o il meno infelicemente possibile. "Bastare a se stesso, esser per se stesso tutto in tutto, e poter dire: «Omnia mea mecum porto» (porto con me tutte le cose mie), ecco certamente la condizione più favorevole per la nostra felicità"Arthur Schopenhauer è stato un filosofo tedesco, cittadino espatriato del regno di Prussia, e uno dei maggiori pensatori del XIX secolo e dell'epoca moderna. Il suo pensiero recupera alcuni elementi dell'illuminismo, della filosofia di Platone, del romanticismo e del kantismo, fondendoli con la suggestione esercitata dalle dottrine orientali, specialmente quella buddhista e induista. Schopenhauer crea una sua originale concezione filosofica caratterizzata da un forte pessimismo, la quale ebbe una straordinaria influenza, seppur a volte completamente rielaborata, sui filosofi successivi, come ad esempio Friedrich Nietzsche, e, in generale, sulla cultura europea coeva e successiva, inserendosi nella corrente delle filosofie della vita.

These works articulate the most fundamental principles of Kant’s ethical and political world-view. "What is Enlightenment?" (1784) and "Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysics of Morals" (1785) challenge all free people to think about the requirements for self-determination both in our individual lives and in our public and private institutions. Kant’s "Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysics of Morals" is dedicated to the proposition that all people can know what they need to know to be honest, good, wise, and virtuous. The purpose of Kant’s moral philosophy is to help us become aware of the principles that are already contained within us. Innocence and dependence must be replaced with wisdom and good will if we are to avoid being vulnerable and misguided. According to Kant, freedom of thought leads naturally to freedom of action. When that happens, governments begin to treat human beings, not as machines, but as persons with dignity. Immanuel Kant begins "Toward Lasting Peace" by contrasting the realism of practical politicians with the high-minded theories of philosophers who "dream their sweet dreams." His opening line provides a grim reminder that the only alternative to finding a way to avoid the war of each against all is the lasting peace of the graveyard. The advent of total war and the development of nuclear weapons in the twentieth century give Kant’s reflections an urgency he could not have anticipated. Kant published this work in 1795, during the aftermath of the American Revolution and the French Revolution. The high hopes of the European Enlightenment had been dampened by the Reign of Terror in which tens of thousands of people died, and the perpetual cycle of war and temporary armistice seemed to be inescapable. Kant’s essay is best known as an early articulation of the idea of a league of nations that could bring "an end to all hostilities." Today The United Nations continues to pursue that dream, but lasting peace still seems to be wishful thinking.No modern philosopher is more important than Immanuel Kant. His works extend from epistemology and metaphysics to aesthetics, ethics, and political philosophy. His "Critical Philosophy" is developed in three major works: "The Critique of Pure Reason," "The Critique of Practical Reason," and "The Critique of Judgment." A German speaker, he was born in Prussia, an area that is now part of Poland. He never travelled more than 50 miles from his home in Königsberg, but his influence has since pervaded every aspect of Western culture.

Den menneskelige erkendelse opnås blandt andet via kategorisering af tanker, mente filosof Harald Høffding. Her kan du læse noget om totalitet som kategori. Teksten blev oprindeligt udgivet i et videnskabeligt tidskrift. Høffdings totalitetsbegreb fik både betydning i filosofisk og psykologisk forskning, men også indenfor jura. Det spillede blandt andet en vigtig rolle for den danske jurist Alf Ross' udvikling af retsbegreber.Harald Høffding (1843-1931) var teolog og filosof og virkede gennem 30 år som professor ved Københavns Universitet. I løbet af sin karriere opnåede han en central position i det danske videns- og kulturliv og nød stor anerkendelse både i og udenfor Danmark. Høffding var yderst virksom hele sit liv, og tankegodset i hans bøger er stadig relevant i dag. Udover værkerne om etik, filosofihistorie og psykologi kendes han for monografier om Søren Kierkegaard, Jean-Jacques Rousseau og Baruch Spinoza.

I denne religionsfilosofisk essaysamling introducerer Harald Høffding læseren for en række store tænkeres – heriblandt Platon, Kierkegaard og Spinoza – idéer om religion. Høffding beskæftigede sig også selv indgående med med religion, og han opstillede 'det etisk-religiøse problem' som et af sine filosofiske hovedproblemer. Noget af det, der ifølge Høffding kendetegner religion, er, at den er forbundet med en tro på "Værdiens Bestaaen" – en tro på at de kræfter, der styrer tilværelsen, ikke er indifferente over for det, der er værdifuldt for os.Harald Høffding (1843-1931) var teolog og filosof og virkede gennem 30 år som professor ved Københavns Universitet. I løbet af sin karriere opnåede han en central position i det danske videns- og kulturliv og nød stor anerkendelse både i og udenfor Danmark. Høffding var yderst virksom hele sit liv, og tankegodset i hans bøger er stadig relevant i dag. Udover værkerne om etik, filosofihistorie og psykologi kendes han for monografier om Søren Kierkegaard, Jean-Jacques Rousseau og Baruch Spinoza.

I dette filosofihistoriske værk behandler Harald Høffding tankegodset fra en række af 1800-tallets største tænkere, heriblandt Søren Kierkegaard og Friedrich Nietzsche.Høffdings værk handler om moderne filosofi, men rummer også filosofihistoriske tilbageblik, der uddyber og eksemplificerer hans egne og andre samtidige filosofiske tænkeres standpunkter. Ved at forene og sammenligne tendenser fra forskellige perioder og videnskabelige strømninger, bliver han i stand til at skabe helhedsanskuelser.Harald Høffding (1843-1931) var teolog og filosof og virkede gennem 30 år som professor ved Københavns Universitet. I løbet af sin karriere opnåede han en central position i det danske videns- og kulturliv og nød stor anerkendelse både i og udenfor Danmark. Høffding var yderst virksom hele sit liv, og tankegodset i hans bøger er stadig relevant i dag. Udover værkerne om etik, filosofihistorie og psykologi kendes han for monografier om Søren Kierkegaard, Jean-Jacques Rousseau og Baruch Spinoza.

Gorgias of Leontini, a famous teacher of rhetoric, has come to Athens to recruit students, promising to teach them how to become leaders in politics and business. A group has gathered at Callicles' house to hear Gorgias demonstrate the power of his art. This dialogue blends comic and serious discussion of the best life, providing a penetrating examination of ethics. Is it better to suffer evil or to do evil? Is it better to do something wrong and avoid being caught or to be caught and punished? Is pleasure the same as goodness? As the characters in the dialogue pursue these questions, the foundations of ethics and the nature of the good life come to light.Plato lived in Athens, Greece. He wrote approximately two-dozen dialogues that explore core topics that are essential to all human beings. Although the historical Socrates was a strong influence on Plato, the character by that name that appears in many of his dialogues is a product of Plato’s fertile imagination. All of Plato’s dialogues are written in a poetic form that his student Aristotle called "Socratic dialogue." In the twentieth century, the British philosopher and logician Alfred North Whitehead characterized the entire European philosophical tradition as "a series of footnotes to Plato." Philosophy for Plato was not a set of doctrines but a goal — not the possession of wisdom but the love of wisdom. Agora Publications offers these performances based on the assumption that Plato wrote these works to be performed by actors in order to stimulate additional dialogue among those who listen to them.

The basic principles that Bergson articulates, especially his way of thinking about reality as a dynamic process and his view of human beings as creative and evolving, should be helpful to anyone who seeks to go beyond simply dealing with the practical demands of daily life and consider the nature of things. Of special importance is Bergson’s claim that it is both possible and necessary to know from the inside rather than confining our attention to external perspectives and points of view. Intuition is able to get beyond what is relative and place us inside reality. This essay is, as the title says, an introduction. But if we think there is more to a human being — and even to nature itself — than material structures alone, perhaps the time has come to take a fresh look at Bergson’s essay. In "An Introduction to Metaphysics," Bergson traces the demise of metaphysics to the failure of both scientific materialism and dogmatism and to the immense success of a kind of pragmatism that promised liberation from the fruitless battles among various schools of philosophy. He also rejects relativism and criticizes the vacuum that is created when philosophers refuse to inquire about the nature of reality. To avoid metaphysics easily leads to a worldview shaped by unexamined ideas and hidden presuppositions. Henri Bergson was born in the year that Darwin published the Origin of the Species. He could not have imagined the philosophical impact of evolutionary theory, which is now so great that Bergson’s philosophy, which emphasizes "creative evolution," is experiencing a significant revival. The basic principles that Bergson articulates, especially his way of thinking about reality as a dynamic process and his view of human beings as creative and evolving, should be helpful to anyone who seeks to go beyond simply dealing with the practical demands of daily life and consider the nature of things.

After Socrates is sentenced to death by the Athenian court, his friend Crito comes to the prison to help him escape and go to another country. Socrates responds by saying that he would accept Crito’s offer only if he can be convinced that it is right and just to do so. This dialogue is not only about Socrates’ particular choice but also about the very essence of law and community.Plato lived in Athens, Greece. He wrote approximately two-dozen dialogues that explore core topics that are essential to all human beings. Although the historical Socrates was a strong influence on Plato, the character by that name that appears in many of his dialogues is a product of Plato’s fertile imagination. All of Plato’s dialogues are written in a poetic form that his student Aristotle called "Socratic dialogue." In the twentieth century, the British philosopher and logician Alfred North Whitehead characterized the entire European philosophical tradition as "a series of footnotes to Plato." Philosophy for Plato was not a set of doctrines but a goal — not the possession of wisdom but the love of wisdom. Agora Publications offers these performances based on the assumption that Plato wrote these works to be performed by actors in order to stimulate additional dialogue among those who listen to them.

John Stuart Mill’s "On Liberty" was first published in 1859. In the 21st century this text confirms Socrates’ claim that "it is only the life of true philosophy that scorns the life of political ambition" (Plato’s Republic, 521). Mill’s thinking about freedom in civic and social life examines fundamental principles shared among conservative, liberal, and radical politicians. The life of true philosophy stands outside the political battles that are rampant in society and seeks the political wisdom that is necessary for a good life in any age. "On Liberty" should be read alongside the classic documents that declare the basic nature and importance of human freedom and liberty such as the "U.S. Declaration of Independence" (1776), the French "Rights of Man" (1789), "The Declaration of Sentiments at the Seneca Falls Convention" (1848), and the "United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights" (1948). When the officials of any government seek to change the laws that regulate individual liberty or when rhetoricians seek to change public opinion about what individuals should or should not be allowed to say or do, Mill’s "On Liberty" serves as an antidote to the poisons of excessive intrusion into the lives of individuals.Mill was born in London, the son of James Mill, a Scotsman who came to England and joined with Jeremy Bentham to develop utilitarianism. Today John Stuart Mill is also known as one of the major proponents of utilitarianism, but the depth of his philosophical thinking goes far beyond the disputes among ethical theorists. In spite of his criticism of some aspects of Immanuel Kant’s philosophy, his ethical position eventually embraces Kant’s most basic concepts: autonomy and universality. Mill contributed to logic, philosophy of science, epistemology, economics, psychology, politics, and ethics. He was also an early proponent of the rights of women.

Socrates is on trial for his life. He is charged with impiety and corrupting young people. He presents his own defense, explaining why he has devoted his life to challenging the most powerful and important people in the Greek world. The reason is that rich and famous politicians, priests, poets, and a host of others pretend to know what is good, true, holy, and beautiful, but when Socrates questions them they are shown to be foolish rather than wise.Plato lived in Athens, Greece. He wrote approximately two-dozen dialogues that explore core topics that are essential to all human beings. Although the historical Socrates was a strong influence on Plato, the character by that name that appears in many of his dialogues is a product of Plato’s fertile imagination. All of Plato’s dialogues are written in a poetic form that his student Aristotle called "Socratic dialogue." In the twentieth century, the British philosopher and logician Alfred North Whitehead characterized the entire European philosophical tradition as "a series of footnotes to Plato." Philosophy for Plato was not a set of doctrines but a goal — not the possession of wisdom but the love of wisdom. Agora Publications offers these performances based on the assumption that Plato wrote these works to be performed by actors in order to stimulate additional dialogue among those who listen to them.

Whitehead presented these three lectures at Princeton University in 1929. Although 85 years have passed, his central thesis and his analysis remain remarkably current. The scientific materialism that Whitehead opposed with such vigor continues to dominate in academic circles, and even now those who question that worldview are often accused of being anti-scientific. This is especially true in discussions of the nature of the human mind and its relation to the body (particularly the brain). It is hard to find a contemporary thinker with a better perspective on the nature and role of natural science than Whitehead who, with Bertrand Russell, published the "Principia Mathematica" in 1910; who taught logic and mathematics at Trinity College of Cambridge University; who taught philosophy of science at University College London; and who was professor of philosophy at Harvard University beginning in 1924. Whitehead’s cosmology is far from anti-scientific, but he does explain why scientific method and technological practice alone are not able to provide a comprehensive understanding of the full range of human thought and experience. This work explains what we must do to achieve such a comprehensive understanding.Whitehead, with Bertrand Russell, published the "Principia Mathematica" in 1910; he taught logic and mathematics at Trinity College of Cambridge University; he taught philosophy of science at University College London — with special emphasis on the conceptual impact of contemporary physics; and he was professor of philosophy at Harvard University, beginning in 1924, where he taught metaphysics. Whitehead’s cosmology is far from anti-scientific, but he does explain why scientific method and technological practice alone are not able to provide a comprehensive understanding of the full range of human thought and experience.

Art is the creative manifestation of essences. In order to understand the relation between art and reality, we need a philosophical guide. The best way to comprehend how the creative act of imagining enables the mind to seek reality is to employ the kind of dialectical thinking that Plato used in his dialogues. Beginning with the shadows on the wall of the cave in which each person dwells, that process gradually enables us to grasp the essences that are manifested in individual works of art. Without a philosophical guide, we are likely to encounter only a blur of images in the visual arts, a cacophony of sounds in music, a whirl of activity in the theater, and chaos in the building of cities. It is too much to expect a set of final answers to any serious question about what is true, good, or beautiful. If we abandon the quest for reality, we settle for too little. Plato’s dialectical approach offers a path between Scylla and Charybdis.Albert A. Anderson, Ph.D., is Professor of Philosophy Emeritus at Babson College in Massachusetts, where he held an endowed chair as Murata Professor of Ethics from 1995 to 2003. He has also held tenured faculty appointments in philosophy at Clark University and Albion College and full-time positions at Bates College and Rhode Island School of Design. He was a founding member of the International Society for Universal Dialogue serving as its president from 1996-2001. He joined Edward Casey in translating from French "The Phenomenology of Aesthetic Experience" by Mikel Dufrenne (Northwestern University Press). He is president of Agora Publications, Inc., which specializes in translating, adapting, and performing classical philosophical texts.

The dramatic nature of Plato’s dialogues is delightfully evident in the "Symposium." The marriage between character and thought bursts forth as the guests gather at Agathon’s house to celebrate the success of his first tragedy. With wit and insight, they each present their ideas about love — from Erixymachus’s scientific naturalism to Aristophanes’ comic fantasy. The unexpected arrival of Alcibiades breaks the spell cast by Diotima’s ethereal climb up the staircase of love to beauty itself. Ecstasy and intoxication clash as Plato concludes with one of his most skillful displays of dialectic.Plato lived in Athens, Greece. He wrote approximately two-dozen dialogues that explore core topics that are essential to all human beings. Although the historical Socrates was a strong influence on Plato, the character by that name that appears in many of his dialogues is a product of Plato’s fertile imagination. All of Plato’s dialogues are written in a poetic form that his student Aristotle called "Socratic dialogue." In the twentieth century, the British philosopher and logician Alfred North Whitehead characterized the entire European philosophical tradition as "a series of footnotes to Plato." Philosophy for Plato was not a set of doctrines but a goal — not the possession of wisdom but the love of wisdom. Agora Publications offers these performances based on the assumption that Plato wrote these works to be performed by actors in order to stimulate additional dialogue among those who listen to them.

Socrates is in prison, sentenced to die when the sun sets. In this final conversation, he asks what will become of him once he drinks the poison prescribed for his execution. Socrates and his friends examine several arguments designed to prove that the soul is immortal. This quest leads him to the broader topic of the nature of mind and its connection not only to human existence but also to the cosmos itself. What could be a better way to pass the time between now and the sunset?Plato lived in Athens, Greece. He wrote approximately two-dozen dialogues that explore core topics that are essential to all human beings. Although the historical Socrates was a strong influence on Plato, the character by that name that appears in many of his dialogues is a product of Plato’s fertile imagination. All of Plato’s dialogues are written in a poetic form that his student Aristotle called "Socratic dialogue." In the twentieth century, the British philosopher and logician Alfred North Whitehead characterized the entire European philosophical tradition as "a series of footnotes to Plato." Philosophy for Plato was not a set of doctrines but a goal — not the possession of wisdom but the love of wisdom. Agora Publications offers these performances based on the assumption that Plato wrote these works to be performed by actors in order to stimulate additional dialogue among those who listen to them.

A dialogue between Socrates and Meno probes the subject of ethics. Can goodness be taught? If it can, then we should be able to find teachers capable of instructing others about what is good and bad, right and wrong, or just and unjust. Socrates and Meno are unable to identify teachers of ethics, and we are left wondering how such knowledge could be acquired. To answer that puzzle, Socrates questions one of Meno’s servants in an attempt to show that we know fundamental ideas by recollecting them.Plato lived in Athens, Greece. He wrote approximately two-dozen dialogues that explore core topics that are essential to all human beings. Although the historical Socrates was a strong influence on Plato, the character by that name that appears in many of his dialogues is a product of Plato’s fertile imagination. All of Plato’s dialogues are written in a poetic form that his student Aristotle called "Socratic dialogue." In the twentieth century, the British philosopher and logician Alfred North Whitehead characterized the entire European philosophical tradition as "a series of footnotes to Plato." Philosophy for Plato was not a set of doctrines but a goal — not the possession of wisdom but the love of wisdom. Agora Publications offers these performances based on the assumption that Plato wrote these works to be performed by actors in order to stimulate additional dialogue among those who listen to them.

Aristotle's Poetics is best known for its definition and analysis of tragedy and comedy, but it also applies to truth and beauty as they are manifested in the other arts. In our age, when the natural and social sciences have dominated the quest for truth, it is helpful to consider why Aristotle claimed: "poetry is more philosophical and more significant than history." Like so many other works by Aristotle, the Poetics has dominated the way we have thought about all forms of dramatic performance in Europe and America ever since. The essence of poetry lies in its ability to transcend the particulars of everyday experience and articulate universals, not merely what has happened but what might happen and what ought to happen. Perhaps the greatest tribute to Aristotle comes from St. Thomas Aquinas who, in the 13th century, simply referred to him as "the Philosopher" and called him the master of those who know. Born in northeastern Greece, Aristotle went to Athens as a young man to study in Plato’s Academy where he remained for more than 20 years. When Plato died, he left the Academy, and four years later he returned to Macedonia to tutor the king’s son who quickly became Alexander the Great, the ruler of most of the civilized world. Like Plato, Aristotle’s writings extend far beyond what we currently call philosophy, including the natural sciences, the social sciences, and the humanities.

In Euthyphro, Socrates is on his way to the court where he must defend himself against serious charges brought by religious and political authorities. On the way, he meets Euthyphro, an expert on religious matters, who has come to prosecute his own father. Socrates questions Euthyphro’s claim that religion serves as the basis for ethics. Plato lived in Athens, Greece. He wrote approximately two-dozen dialogues that explore core topics that are essential to all human beings. Although the historical Socrates was a strong influence on Plato, the character by that name that appears in many of his dialogues is a product of Plato’s fertile imagination. All of Plato’s dialogues are written in a poetic form that his student Aristotle called "Socratic dialogue." In the twentieth century, the British philosopher and logician Alfred North Whitehead characterized the entire European philosophical tradition as "a series of footnotes to Plato." Philosophy for Plato was not a set of doctrines but a goal — not the possession of wisdom but the love of wisdom. Agora Publications offers these performances based on the assumption that Plato wrote these works to be performed by actors in order to stimulate additional dialogue among those who listen to them.

Hvad kendetegner kærlighed?Det er det store spørgsmål, som "Kierkegaard og kærlighedens kendetegn" forsøger at give svar på.Søren Kierkegaards bog "Kjerlighedens Gjerninger" udkom i 1847. Den har siden opnået nærmest ikonisk status; det er en bog, der bliver refereret til og citeret fra i mange forskellige sammenhænge, og det er en af den slags bøger, der kan være livsforandrende for sin læser. Men det er også en bog, der har ry for at være svær at læse.I "Kierkegaard og kærlighedens kendetegn" udlægger Pia Søltoft Kierkegaards tekst for os, så den bliver letforståelig og vedkommende. Søltofts gennemgang af Kierkegaards mesterværk gør det indlysende klart, at Kierkegaards tekst holder og har mere at sige sin læser i dag end nogensinde før.Pia Søltoft (f. 1963) er ph.d., forfatter og ejer af konsulentfirmaet Coaching-Kierkegaard. Fra 2017 har hun tillige været ansat som sognepræst ved Christians Kirke i København, og fra 2019 også som sognepræst ved Esajas Kirke på Østerbro.Før da var Pia Søltoft fra 2000 til 2016 lektor i etik og religionsfilosofi med særligt henblik på Søren Kierkegaard ved Københavns Universitet. Fra 2010 til 2013 var hun leder af Søren Kierkegaard Forskningscenteret og en af nøglepersonerne i markeringen af 200-året for Søren Kierkegaards fødsel. Hun er desuden forfatter og medforfatter til en lang række bøger om Søren Kierkegaard.

Eljas on nuori ylioppilas, joka viettaa tiiviisti aikaa Hellas-nimisessa kapakassa ystaviensa kanssa. Hellaassa parannetaan maailmaa, unelmoidaan ja luodaan merkitsevia katseita somaa kapakkatyttoa kohden. Eljas haaveilee pelastavansa kapakkatyton huonoilta teilta. Vuosien paasta Eljas muistelee tuota kaikkea haikeudella. Mihin vuodet kuluivat ja mita nuoruuden unelmille oikein tapahtui?"e;Hellaassa"e; on Santeri Ivalon esikoisromaani vuodelta 1890. Romaani kuvaa osuvasti nuoren opiskelijan elamaa ja tuntoja 1800-luvun lopun Helsingissa. -

Juuso Tuominen on nuori yliopistossa opiskeleva mies, tuleva maisteri. Han on innostunut yliopistossa suomalaisaatteesta ja suomentanut alun perin ruotsinkielisen nimensa. Aatteen innostamana Juuso on viettanyt kesan talonpoikien keskuudessa. Han on tutustunut kansan tapaan elaa ja tehda tyota. Kokemuksen jalkeen han tuntee olonsa valaistuneeksi: nyt han tietaa, mita tavallinen kansa haluaa. Juuso ei kuitenkaan aavista, etta aatteet muuttuvat nopeasti - ja han on jo jaljessa. "e;Aikansa lapsipuoli"e; on Santeri Ivalon vahva romaani idealismista ja idealismin sarkymisen aiheuttamasta surusta. Romaani julkaistiin vuonna 1895. -

Professor i filosofi Harald Høffding ridser den nyere filosofis historie og store tænkere op. Værket beskæftiger sig blandt andet med René Descartes’ systemdannelser, John Lockes erfaringsfilosofi og Immanuel Kants etik og erkendelsesteori. Høffding introducerer også læseren for oplysningstiden banebrydende syn på mennesket og dets rettigheder, romantikkens filosoffer Fichte, Hegel, Kierkegaard og John Stuart Mill, Darwin positivisme og nyere tids psykologiske problemstillinger, som optog filosofferne i slutningen af det 19. århundrede op mod bogens udgivelse i 1898.Harald Høffding (1843-1931) var teolog og filosof og virkede gennem 30 år som professor ved Københavns Universitet. I løbet af sin karriere opnåede han en central position i det danske videns- og kulturliv og nød stor anerkendelse både i og udenfor Danmark. Høffding var yderst virksom hele sit liv, og tankegodset i hans bøger er stadig relevant i dag. Udover værkerne om etik, filosofihistorie og psykologi kendes han for monografier om Søren Kierkegaard, Jean-Jacques Rousseau og Baruch Spinoza.

Georg Brandes introducerer her den berømte filosof Friedrich Nietzsches tænkning, der senere har rodfæstet sig som kanon inden for europæisk filosofi og åndsliv. Bogen er skrevet som del af Brandes berygtede forelæsninger på Københavns Universitet i slutningen af det 19. århundrede.Georg Brandes (1842-1927) er den mest indflydelsesrige litteraturkritiker og –teoretiker i dansk litteraturhistorie. Det var netop Georg Brandes, der definerede de litterære genrer realisme og naturalisme op imod senromantikken, som han så som virkelighedsfjern og præget af tom æstetik. Georg Brandes er den vigtigste teoretiker bag det moderne gennembrud.

"Hvad betyder Det Moderne? Det er der skrevet vognlæs af bøger om, og mange har hævdet: Vi er Det Moderne. Jeg bruger ’modernitet’ i samfundsforskernes betydning: den proces der begynder sidst i 1600-tallet og tager fart sidst i 1800-tallet. Moderniseringen sker i samspil mellem økonomisk vækst, handel, ny videnskab og teknologi, nye ideer, og den består i delprocesserne industrialisering, urbanisering, sekularisering, individualisering og gradvis demokratisering. Jeg vil se på disse processers møde med dansk litteratur og kulturliv."Efter over 40 år som underviser og forsker på Københavns Universitet holdt Hans Hertel i 2008 en forelæsning, der i al beskedenhed skulle beskrive Det Moderne som begreb og kulturel periode i Danmark. Den er her udgivet som artikel, og den indkapsler på imponerende vis dette kæmpe emne på ganske få sider.Hans Hertel (f. 1939) er uddannet mag.art. i komparativ litteraturhistorie og var i mange år professor i nordisk historie ved Københavns Universitet. Han har skrevet litteraturklummer for Dagbladet Information og været medarbejder på Politiken. Hans Hertel har blandt andet skrevet bøger om Georg Brandes, romanproblemer og forlag.

Johannes Sløks bøger og foredrag om eksistentialisme i anden halvdel af 1900-tallet var med til at genoplive interessen for denne filosofiske retning i Danmark. I "Eksistentialisme" gør han brug af sin enorme viden som både teolog, idehistoriker og filosof til at redegøre for denne særlige disciplin, der har sin rod i Søren Kierkegaards kristen-eksistentialistiske tanker og fortsættes af Jean Paul Sartre, Albert Camus og Simone de Beauvoir i 1940‘erne.Johannes Sløk (1916-2001) var en dansk teolog, filosof, idehistoriker og debattør. Han blev ansat som professor ved Det Teologiske Fakultet ved Aarhus Universitet i 1959 og blev sidenhen en af hovedkræfterne bag oprettelsen af Institut for Idehistorie ved Aarhus Universitet. Johannes Sløk var som filosof stærkt inspireret af Søren Kierkegaard og har skrevet flere bøger om hans tanker og eksistentialisme generelt. Gennem sit mangeårige akademiske virke nåede Johannes Sløk at skrive mere end 60 bøger om filosofi, teologi og idehistorie.

Ludvig Holberg er på mange måder synonym med den danske oplysningstid, og den store forfatter og filosof havde noget at sige om næsten alt. Professor i nordisk litteratur Thomas Bredsdorff giver en spændende og dog lettilgængelig indførsel i Ludvig Holbergs tanker, der er forblevet relevante gennem århundrederne og har dannet grundlag for mange af eftertidens store danske tænkere. Ludvig Holbergs tekster er gengivet med moderne retskrivning for at lette adgangen til dem."Jeg takker Thomas Bredsdorff for hans bog om den radikale Holberg... Jeg vil anbefale alle, der ikke har tid til at læse Holbergs samlede skrifter, at læse denne bog. De vil ikke fortryde det. Den er både til oplysning og underholdning – som vor elskede Holberg selv var det." –Ekstra BladetThomas Bredsdorff (f. 1937) er en dansk forfatter, litteraturforsker og kritiker. Han er uddannet cand.mag. i dansk og engelsk og var fra 1978 til 2004 professor i nordisk litteratur ved Københavns Universitet. Thomas Bredsdorff har skrevet en lang række bøger om dansk og international litteratur og blev i 2001 Ridder af 1. grad af Dannebrosordenen.