Justifying Our Existence: An Essay in Applied Phenomenology

Graeme Nicholson

Published by University of Toronto Press 2009

Justifying Our Existence

An Essay in Applied Phenomenology

Graeme Nicholson

https://doi.org/10.3138/9781442688421

Overview
Contents

About this book

Justifying Our Existence examines the ways in which human beings attempt to calm their existential concerns by magnifying and proving their existence through phenomena such as self-righteousness, careerism, nationalism, and religion.

Author / Editor information

Nicholson Graeme :

Graeme Nicholson is a professor emeritus of Philosophy at the University of Toronto.

Reviews

John Russon, Department of Philosophy, University of Guelph:
'Justifying Our Existence is an excellent and original work of philosophy that makes compelling use of Heideggerean insights to explore our everyday efforts to make our lives meaningful. Suitable for undergraduate university courses, the book will appeal to a broad audience: Nicholson makes his subject come alive through highly personal and concrete engagement with the parameters of our lived experience, rather than through scholarly debate.'

Richard Polt, Department of Philosophy, Xavier University:
'It is rare to find a philosophical book that is ambitious and penetrating but also a pleasure to read. Justifying Our Existence is that rare book. It takes an intimate look at personal aspirations and conscience, reflects on broad problems of national identity, and touches on far-reaching questions in philosophical theology. These themes are unified by the overarching question of why and how we seek to justify ourselves. Nicholson's approach to this question draws fruitfully on Kierkegaard and Heidegger and is extraordinarily clear, unpretentious, and relevant to real life.'

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	v
Acknowledgments Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	vii
1. INTRODUCTION Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
2. THE ABILITY TO BE Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	19
3. MAGNIFYING THE SELF Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	50
4. JUSTIFYING THE SELF Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	75
5. MAGNIFYING THE COMMUNITY Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	111
6. JUSTIFYING THE COMMUNITY Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	125
7. A SPIRITUAL EXISTENCE Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	141
8. CONCLUSION Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	169
Notes Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	173
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	189

Language: English
Publisher: University of Toronto Press
Audience: College/higher education;Professional and scholarly;
Pages
- Main content: 208

eBook

Published: February 21, 2009
ISBN: 9781442688421