What if Socrates and Kant could be brought to life to engage in a dialogue about key philosophical questions? Peter Kreeft creatively resurrects the two noble philosophers and transcribes for us their fascinating discussion in his book Socrates Meets Kant.
In full iconic style, Kreeft, creates a book where the Father of Philosophy, Socrates, meets his most influential modern child, Immanuel Kant. Naturally using the Socratic Method, Socrates gives an insightful cross-examination of Kant’s Critique of Pure Reason and Foundations of the Metaphysics of Morals.
Even more intriguing is Kreeft’s way of giving Socrates an understanding of modern life enabling the conversation to be relevant for today’s readers. In contrast, the portrayal of Kant stays strictly within the confines of his own time period. Thus when Socrates analogously refers to a computer, Kant has no idea what he is talking about. This helps add to the humorous nature of the book.
It is truly a creative idea to bring Socrates to life because students of philosophy and the academy at large thrive on the Socratic Method. Learning about Kant through a fictional dialogue with Socrates is quite ingenious. Kreeft sets the dialogue in the realm of the afterlife where the two meet for the first time.
4 comments:
How are you doing with the Very Short Introduction series? I've read 24 so far and have another 10-12 to work through. No doubt some of them will interest you.
If you haven't do so already check out the VSI label over on the right hand side of my Blog. I'll let you know when I read anything else in the series that might interest you - I have a few coming up on Evolution and even one on Catholicism.....
This has not been a good reading year for me. I've read very little. I have not finished the VSI book I was reading, I hope to get it done this year. Usually I am reading a book a week or so, but I've had a busy year with other obligations. I will check out your reviews soon.
I hope to have more time to read next year.
Life does get in the way of reading sometimes! I'm aiming to read 8 over the Christmas break.
I'm trying to finish 4 books before Thanksgiving and we'll see what I may start between then and January. I like to start fresh in January so I won't start anything I cannot finish this year.
I read more fiction than anything this year and not great fiction -- pop Christian fiction. Sadly, I just didn't get the time to read much that makes me think. But I did write a lot this year. Not so much here, but I did on Helium.
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