现代性及其不满

by Steven B. Smith, 史蒂文·史密斯, 朱陈拓 (Translator)

本书围绕着“何为现代性”和“我们的不满”两个主题展开论述。

在前一部分中，作者追溯了“现代性”概念在哲学中的历史，从“第一个现代政治科学家”马基雅维利，到将人类认知的核心定位到自己主观意识的笛卡尔，再到资产阶级市民社会的颂扬者黑格尔；

而在后一部分中，作者则梳理了从卢梭到施特劳斯，再到索尔·贝娄等一系列“反启蒙”思想家或曰现代性批判者的理路。

在全书的最后，他把选择建立或赞同何种意义上的现代性这个问题留给“现代人”自己去回答——我们无法避免成为现代人，但并不需要全盘接受现代性所包含的一切，也并不需要全盘否定之。

Genres: Philosophy, History, Nonfiction

528 pages, Hardcover

Published November 1, 2021

About the author

Steven B. Smith is the Alfred Cowles Professor of Political Science and Master of Branford College at Yale. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in 1981. At Yale he has served as the Director of Graduate Studies in Political Science, Director of the Undergraduate Program in Humanities, and Acting Chair of Judaic Studies. His research has been focused on the history of political philosophy and the role of statecraft in constitutional government. His recent publications include Spinoza, Liberalism, and Jewish Identity, Spinoza's Book of Life, and Reading Leo Strauss.

Reviews

[Victoria Hawco · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh I’ll show ya discontent.

[Erkan Saka · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has a very smoothly flowing narrative. Its style is in somewhere in between literary and philosophy. Why particular personas are chosen could be explained and I believe there might be many issues to be contested. I particularly found Nietzsche section limited and narrow-minded. However, I did love the book and I will recommend it to my students.

[junyan]

dnf. 有些失望，奔着对现代化及其正负面效应的深度剖析而来，却得到一整本文献综述

[Joshua Glucksman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This might be one of the best intro modern philosophy books I have ever read. It helped I had a familiarity with lots of the philosophers, otherwise it would be overwhelming. I LOVE the addition of some non-philosophical literature and plays, because that too can be deeply telling about modernity and its criticism. I also really learn a lot about philosophers through their plays and fiction! Lots of philosophers dabbled in poetry, art, and literature, which, I think one philosopher says, is the deepest sign of being human! I actually think I might agree.

Anyways, I think I subscribe to value pluralism, Isaiah Berlins idea, but also some of Strauss's stuff, not the conservatism. And I am decidedly NOT a modernist! And NOT a post-modernist neither. Welp.

[Peter Flom · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting collection of chapters on an interesting collection of philosophers, but it could have used more in the way of cohesion. My full review is at http://peterfsblogs.blogspot.com/2016... .