Thoreau and Philosophy - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 13: 9798897360277

Verlag: Mercer University Press, 2026

Inhaltsangabe

A great amount of ink has been spilled attempting to understand and make sense of Henry David Thoreau. Some people dismiss Thoreau as a mere Romantic nature poet, writer of travel narratives, or performance artist who commandeered huckleberry parties. But Thoreau is much more substantial than that. Many find him inspiring as a social and political critic, an activist for the cause of freedom. Others pick up on one of the many scientific hats he wore, as a forest ecologist, botanist, geologist, hydrologist, engineer, or land surveyor. Thoreau is also considered a seminal thinker in the environmental movement. But Thoreau is most often taught in English and American Literature classes, not in philosophy classes. The purpose of the essays in this anthology is to explore the multifaceted ways in which Thoreau's thought could be considered philosophical. He wanted to create a distinctive American identity that sought to venerate nature by trying to overcome our anthropocentric bias and place the value of wild spaces before the utilitarian needs of human civilization. He sought to reform not only misguided political practices but also a materialistic culture increasingly centered on consumerism, social status, and the domination of nature. A central theme of these essays is that there is much philosophical value in Thoreau and that without a proper understanding of philosophy, one cannot fully appreciate the depth of his thought. It is the aim of this anthology to help the reader do just that. Contributors include Philip Cafaro, William Homestead, Brent Ranalli, Paul Muench, Michael Jonik, Alfred Tauber, Lydia Willsky-Ciollo, Krishnan Venkatesh, Henrik Otterberg, Drew Lanham, David H. Gordon, and Marc A. Jolley.

Details zur Ausgabe

• Verlag: Mercer University Press
• Erscheinungsdatum: 2026
• Sprache: Englisch
• ISBN 13: 9798897360277
• Einband: Taschenbuch
• Kontakt zum Hersteller: Nicht verfügbar
• Verantwortliche Person: Nicht verfügbar