The Good, the True and the Beautiful: A Quest for Meaning

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Why should we be good How do we know what is true What defines beauty The Good, the True and the Beautiful asks critical questions about who we are and what makes life worthwhile.

Michael Boylan offers a stimulating introduction to philosophy, exploring issues to do with ethics, knowledge and aesthetics, and how they relate to our everyday lives. He proposes a highly original understanding of the good, the true and the beautiful that seeks to answer many of the questions that have traditionally occupied philosophers. Using thought experiments to engage the reader in "doing" philosophy, Boylan explores what it means to be good, true and beautiful in today's world. The Good, the True and the Beautiful takes the reader on a fascinating journey of self-discovery.

Reviews

Mention -Book News, February 2009
'Accessible in style, sophisticated in content, Michael Boylan's The Good, the True and the Beautiful is an excellent guide to philosophical reflection on the most important of life's questions. The author's good nature comes through on every page, as readers are challenged and coaxed to become better and more thoughtful people.' Jeffrey Reiman, William Fraser McDowell Professor of Philosophy, American University, USA.
'This book is a triumph: it opens deep philosophical thought to every reader. Through his conversational style, Boylan invites us to take a fresh look at central subjects in philosophy--the good, the true, and the beautiful.' Robert Paul Churchill, professor of Philosophy, George Washington University, USA
'In combining philosophical argumentation with observations from the social world, politics and the arts the book goes far beyond a scholarly investigation of a perennial topic of philosophy. Even for readers without background in the history of philosophy the book will make those fundamental questions accessible.'Professor, Marcus Dwell, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
"In his concise account of the major theories of art, he accomplishes the remarkable feat of explaining Heidegger in simple language. All in all, Boylan displays a thorough knowledge of both classical and modern views. Highly recommended for all philosophy collections." - David Gordon, Library Journal, October 1, 2008 -- David Gordon * Library Journal *

Author Bio

Michael Boylan is Professor and Chair in philosophy at Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia, USA. His most recent books are The Extinction of Desire (Blackwell, 2007), a philosophical novel and A Just Society (Rowman and Littlefield, 2004), a monograph on ethics and political philosophy.