Twelve Theories of Human Nature
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Author Description
Over five previous editions, Ten Theories of Human Nature has been a remarkably popular introduction to some of the most influential developments in Western and Eastern thought. Now titled Twelve Theories of Human Nature, the sixth edition adds chapters on Islam (by Peter Wright) and Freud to those on Confucianism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Plato, Aristotle, the Bible, Kant, Marx, Sartre, and Darwinism. The authors juxtapose the ideas of these and other thinkers and traditions in a way that helps students understand how humanity has struggled to comprehend its nature.To encourage students to think critically for themselves and to underscore the similarities and differences between the many theories, the book examines each one on four points--the nature of the universe, the nature of humanity, the diagnosis of the ills of humanity, and the proposed cure for these problems.Ideal for introductory courses in human nature, philosophy, religious studies, and intellectual history, this unique volume will engage and motivate students and other readers to consider how we can understand and improve both ourselves and human society.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This volume investigates the fundamental question of what constitutes human nature by comparing twelve distinct philosophical and religious frameworks. The authors, including Leslie Stevenson and Peter Matthews Wright, utilize a structured comparative methodology to analyze how diverse traditions—ranging from ancient Greek philosophy to modern psychoanalysis and world religions—define the human condition. By examining the universe, humanity, societal ills, and proposed cures within each theory, the text provides a systematic approach for students to evaluate competing intellectual perspectives.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Comparative analysis of twelve major intellectual traditions including Confucianism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, and Darwinism.
- A consistent four-point evaluation framework applied to every theory covered in the text.
- Examination of foundational texts and thinkers such as Plato, Aristotle, Kant, Marx, Sartre, and Freud.
- Discussion of the intersection between religious doctrine and secular philosophical inquiry regarding human existence.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Experts and educators frequently cite this work as a foundational text for introductory courses in philosophy and intellectual history due to its clear, comparative structure. Readers often note the accessibility of the prose, which manages to distill complex metaphysical and ethical arguments into a format suitable for undergraduate study.
Page Count:
320
Publication Date:
2012-09-05
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0199859035
ISBN-13:
9780199859030
Non-Fiction
Philosophy
Intellectual History
Human Nature
Philosophical anthropology
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