parenting childhood parenthood reflections

books:

1 review
William B. Irvine

Paragon House Publishers, 2003

An intriguing philosophical look at parenting
William Irvine has written an intriguing book exploring our notions and attitudes toward procreation, parenting, and governmental/societial responsibility to children. As any good philosopher would do Irvine quickly abandons political correctness and engages in a dispassionate critique of Eugenics and argues that it has a proper place, if we operate on the stewardship model of parenting. (Which ...

Doing Right by Children: Reflections on the Nature of Childhood and the Obligations of Parenthood

1 review
William B. Irvine

Paragon House, 2001

Doing Right By Children by William B. Irvine
Take a look at the astonishing abuses children have been subjected to throughout the ages. Mr. Irvine exposes the cruelties children have incurred from the 1700's to modern day. Chimney sweeps and coal mine "donkeys", child movie stars and gymnists; European, Asian, American degradations. He suggests that parenthood needs to be examined more closely. Only persons who are committed to making ...

A Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy

3 reviews

Oxford University Press, USA, 2008

Maybe the best Intro to being Stoic
I have read tons of Stoic books, and I am also part of a Stoic community, thestoicregistry.org, so I feel that I can guide you to a good pick. I think Mr.Irvine's book has the best of both worlds, one is the academic world (zzzz), and the other is the practical world. He does a great job, by making the academic and history part a joy to read, and brings it down to earth for us, leaving you think ...

On Desire: Why We Want What We Want

9 reviews
William B. Irvine

Oxford University Press, USA, 2005

Thoughtful and easy to read for philosophical novices
A former professor of mine recommended this book to me, and I actually read it twice in a row. It's incredibly lucid for a philosophy text; Irvine's style is gentle and meditative, but sharp, and the book has plenty of relatable, real-world examples of what he's talking about woven through it. Irvine seems to ultimately side with Buddha, Epictetus, and many other thinkers who concur that ...