Books published by Open Court Publishing Co ,U.S.

Stein provides a comprehensive summary of Jung's vision of psychological and spiritual life. The work covers: the collective unconscious; human consciousness and the structure of the ego; synchronicity; the complexes; shadow; psychic energy; self; persona; individuation; and anima/animus.

This collection uses "Seinfeld" episodes to introduce important concepts in philosophy. Some essays are devoted to single characters, while others explore philosophical issues raised by the show. The authors also examine ethical problems in everyday life, drawing upon examples from the show.

The progressive/hard rock band Rush has never been as popular as it is now. A documentary film about the band, "Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage," which was released in the summer of 2010 has been universally well received. They had a cameo in the movie "I Love You Man." Their seven-part song "2112" was included in a version of "Guitar Hero" released in 2010. The group even appeared on "The Colbert Report." And now this, a book about Rush written for a general audience and geared towards issues concerning popular culture and philosophy. There has been a recent explosion of Rush onto the popular culture front, and how ironic for a band that has spent the early days of their career on the outside of mainstream popularity. Even legendary trios such as Led Zeppelin, Cream, and The Police don't enjoy the commitment and devotion that Rush's fans lavish on Alex, Geddy, and Neil. In part, this is because Rush is equally devoted to its fans. Since their first album in 1974, they have released 18 additional albums and toured the world following nearly every release. Today, when other 70s-bands have either broken up or become nostalgia acts, Rush continues to sell out arenas and amphitheatres and sell albums--to date Rush has sold over 40 million albums. They are ranked fourth after The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Aerosmith for the most consecutive gold or platinum albums by a rock band. Rush's success is also due to its intellectual approach to music and sound. The concept album "2112" made Rush a world-class band and cemented its reputation as the thinking-person's progressive rock trio. Rush's interest in political philosophy, mind-control, the nature of free-will, of individuality, and our relationship to machines makes Rush a band that matters and which speaks to its fans directly and honestly like no other. Lyricist Niel Peart has even built a following by writing books, both about his motorcycle travels and about the tragic death of his daughter, which have only furthered the respect Rush's fans have for (arguably) rock's greatest drummer and lyricist. Fiercely independent of trends, Rush has maintained a clear mission and purpose throughout their career. With a unique sound, best described as the "Rush sound," the band has been able to blend thought-provoking lyrics and music for almost four decades. The Rush style of music can trigger the unusual combination of air-drumming, air-guitar, singing along, and fist-pumping, just as much as it can thoughtful reflection and deep thinking, making Rush "The Thinking Man's Band." Rush and Philosophy does not set out to sway the public's opinion, nor is it an awkward gushing of how much the authors love Rush. "Rush and Philosophy" is a fascinating look at the music and lyrics of the band, setting out to address thought-provoking questions. For example, elements of philosophical thinking from the likes of Jean Paul-Sartre, Ayn Rand, and Plato can be found in Peart's lyrics; does this make Peart a disciple of philosophy? In what ways has technology influenced the band through the decades? Can there be too much technology for a power-trio? Can listening to Rush's music and lyrics lead listeners to think more clearly, responsibly, and happily? Is the band's music a "pleasant distraction" from the singing of Geddy Lee? In what ways is Rush Canadian? How can a band that has been referred to as "right-wing" also criticize big government, religion, and imperialism? "Rush and Philosophy" is written by an assortment of philosophers and scholars with eclectic and diverse backgrounds who love Rush's music and who "get" the meaning and importance of it. They discuss Rush with the enthusiasm of fans and the seriousness of college professors. The book will be a must-read for the many fans who have long known that Rush deserves as much respect as the ideas, concepts, and puzzles about human existence they write and compose music about.

The first truly philosophical exploration of the drag queen in the context of this ground-breaking reality TV show

Here, philosophers wittily and expertly uncover amazing philosophical insights from the endlessly fascinating TV show, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.Greg Littmann shows how the values of the gang are the same as those of Homeric heroes. Christopher Ketcham argues that the Church should make Charlie a saint, partly because It’s Always Sunny is “all about free will.” Russ Hamer shows how closely the gang’s activities comply with the scientific method. Kyle Alkema and Adam Barkman analyze the way the gang perceives happiness and how they try to get it. Charlotte Knowles considers whether Heidegger would consider members of the gang authentic or inauthentic — and concludes that they’re a bit of both. Skyler King examines the morality of the gang’s behavior by the standard of how they respond to extreme suffering. Ethan Chambers agrees that each of the five central characters is a terrible person, but argues that they are not truly to blame for their actions. Fenner Tanswell demonstrates that many of the gang’s wrong actions result not from immoral motives but from illogical thinking. And Robert Arp compiles a hilarious list of historical examples where people acted even more foolishly than the Philadelphia Five.

Adventure Time and Philosophy is a monster-beating, wild ride of philosophical mayhem. One of the deepest and most thoughtful television shows ever to assault human brain waves, Adventure Time shows us what the world could be like, challenging everything we know about life, meaning, heroism, and even burritos, and it's time to give the show some serious thought. This book screws open our cranial lids, mucks about in the mess that is our heads, and attempts to come to some answers about the nature of reality. Adventure Time and Philosophy is a chance to put down your broadsword, put your exhausted monster-slaying feet up, and try to figure out why you spend your time rescuing people in distress and fighting for justice. Who better than Finn and Jake to have as companions when taking on Plato, Nietzsche, and Baudrillard or encountering the Slime Princess, the Ice King, and Marceline the Vampire Queen? Filled with chapters written by a colorful cast of characters, Adventure Time and Philosophy enlightens us about the profound and life-affirming spiritual subtext and dark comedic elements of an awesomely fantastic show.

What makes Larry a monster, and why doesn't he know that he's a monster? This title discusses philosophical answers to these questions. It also discusses the ethical and existential issues, such as whether Larry is a bad apple or perhaps worth emulating.

In this text, Rudolf Carnap analyzes the fundamental elements of experience, the derivation of qualities, the construction of sensory classes and the construction of the special and temporal orders.

In The Abuse of Beauty, art critic and philosopher Arthur Danto explains how the notion of beauty as anathema to art arose and flourished and offers a new way of looking at art and beauty. He draws on the thought of artists, critics, and philosophers such as Rimbaud, Fry, Matisse, and Greenberg, to reposition beauty as one of many modes -- along with sexuality, sublimity, disgust, and horror -- through which the human sensibility expresses itself. 20 black-and-white illustrations are included.

In this work, the author explains Heidegger's tool-analysis and then extends it beyond Heidegger's narrower theory of human practical activity to create an ontology of objects themselves.

Seyyed Hossein Nasr, a Persian Sufist, discusses his life and philosophical development in an intellectual autobiography. This is followed by 33 critical essays by various scholars and Nasr's replies to each of them. Topics covered include comparative religion, theology and Islamic studies.

The author of this work calls upon the world's religions to assist in combating the destructive trends of our time. She argues for mobilizing a virtual "alliance of religion and ecology" against unlimited economic growth, rampant consumption, and unrestrained globalization.

Against the background of the events of June 4th, the author proffers a more general analysis and evaluation of the economic "reforms" initiated by the Party leadership in 1978. Using China as a case study, he also introduces an ethical model of development for agrarian societies.

Philosophers explain and criticize many controversial aspects of the ambitious new TV show, His Dark Materials.

Richard Rorty was a seminal figure in philosophy, transforming the discipline during the last quarter of the 20th century and setting it on a new path for the 21st. An early, implacable critic of the widespread preoccupation with questions of truth, representation, and the foundations of knowledge, Rorty promoted a new type of philosophical pragmatism with great persuasive power, and many have credited him with inspiring the renewed interest in the thought of classical American philosophy, especially his hero John Dewey. Always controversial, Rorty's books and essays were read as carefully by his critics as by his admirers. This book includes in its nearly 1,000 pages Rorty's intellectual autobiography, 29 previously unpublished critical and descriptive essays by famous scholars, Rorty's replies to most of them, and a complete bibliography of his published works. Since Rorty passed away in 2007, his contributions to this volume have a special importance as among his final writings.

This volume of Hume's writings on religion includes "The Natural History of Religion", "Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion", "Of the Immortality of the Soul", "Of Suicide", "Of Superstition and Enthusiasm", "A Note on the Profession of Priest" and two letters. The text is accompanied by notes.

This work asks, "Will democracy figure prominently in China's future?", and, "If so, what kind of democracy?". The authors draw upon the ideas of Dewey and Confucius to help address these questions. They suggest that it is a mistake to equate "modernization" for China with "westernization".

Paradoxes are sets of propositions that are individually plausible, but collectively inconsitent. This book introduces the subject of paradoxes, it surveys the range of types of paradoxes, and introduces an integrated theory of paradoxes. It explains and analyzes over 130 paradoxes.

"A history of Chinese philosophy in the so-called Axial Period (the period of classical Greek and Indian philosophy), during which time China evolved the characteristic ways of thought that sustained both its empire and its culture for over 2000 years. It is comprehensive, lucid, almost simple in its presentation, yet backed up with incomparable authority amid a well-honed discretion that unerringly picks out the core of any theme. Garlanded with tributes even before publication, it has redrawn the map of its subject and will be the one essential guide for any future exploration. For anyone interested in the affinities between ancient Chinese and modern Western philosophy, there is no better introduction."—Contemporary Review

The closest Einstein ever came to writing an autobiography, this account is primarily concerned with the development of his ideas, saying little about his private life. It presents his "epistemological credo" and the development of his special and general theories of relativity.

A collection of essays by Kierkegaard scholars, representing the new consensus on Kierkegaard and his conception of moral selfhood. It answers the charges of one of Kierkegaard's biggest critics, Alasdair MacIntyre, and shows how some of Kierkegaard's insights may support MacIntyre's ideas.