Plato at the Googleplex: Why Philosophy Won't Go Away

(Paperback, Main)

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Imagine that Plato came to life in the twenty-first century and embarked on a multi-city speaking tour. How would he mediate a debate between a Freudian psychoanalyst and a 'tiger mum' on how to raise the perfect child How would he handle the host of a right-wing news program who denies there can be morality without religion What would Plato make of Google, and of the idea that knowledge can be crowdsourced rather than reasoned out by experts

Plato at the Googleplex is acclaimed thinker Rebecca Newberger Goldstein's dazzling investigation of these conundra. With a philosopher's depth and erudition and a novelist's imagination and wit, Goldstein probes the deepest issues confronting us by allowing us to eavesdrop on Plato as he takes on the modern world; it is a stunningly original plunge into the drama of philosophy, revealing its hidden role in today's debates on religion, morality, politics and science.

Reviews

This could be one of the best ever demonstrations of the value and utility of philosophy. Richly insightful, beautifully written, it is at once introduction, exploration, and application, revealing the fascination and significance of philosophical ideas and their relevance to life. Like the Plato who figures largely here, Goldstein has both literary and philosophical gifts of the highest order: the combination is superb. -- A.C. Grayling * author of The God Argument *
Felicitously written, impressively researched, insightful, important, entertaining, independent-minded and glowing with intelligence... Plato is brought marvellously to life and relevance in these passionate pages. -- Colin McGinn * Wall Street Journal *
A wonderful book - enjoyably readable, full of stimulating insights and refreshing observations, unintimidatingly erudite, and salted with a gentle wit. -- Harry Frankfurt * author of On Bullshit *
An important and amazing book. Goldstein beautifully combines the skills of a distinguished novelist with breathtaking philosophical scholarship. -- Hilary Putnam, John Cogan University Professor of the Humanities Emeritus, Harvard University
Long awaited... Rebecca Goldstein manages to be so funny and right -- Stephen Fry

Author Bio

Rebecca Newberger Goldstein received her doctorate in philosophy from Princeton University. Her award-winning books include the novels The Mind-Body Problem, Properties of Light, and 36 Arguments for the Existence of God: A Work of Fiction and nonfiction studies of Kurt G.del and Baruch Spinoza. She has received a MacArthur Foundation Fellowship, has been designated a Humanist of the Year and a Freethought Heroine, and is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. She lives in Massachusetts.