Man is the Measure

Rating:
Summary: Philosophy for the Amateur Thinker
Review: Abel has created a superb introduction to the often esoteric topic of Philosophy in "Man is the Measure". I am a student in the International Baccalaureate Program at a high school in Arizona where this is the core book for our learning the Theory of Knowledge. After reading this book I can seriously say that my grasp of the "Central Problems of Philosophy" has been broadened to actual understanding and appreciation. The author is able to convey his message in a conversational way that doesn't come across as overly instructional. The main points are set off from the prose of the text and are thoroughly outlined which allow the reader to comprehend what is being said. Reoccurring concepts are tied in throughout the book as well. This book is recommended for any student of philosophy or anyone who has always pondered the questions of the universe. Abel has truly made Philosophy inviting.

Rating:
Summary: Philosophy for the Amateur Thinker
Review: Abel has created a superb introduction to the often esoteric topic of Philosophy in "Man is the Measure". I am a student in the International Baccalaureate Program at a high school in Arizona where this is the core book for our learning the Theory of Knowledge. After reading this book I can seriously say that my grasp of the "Central Problems of Philosophy" has been broadened to actual understanding and appreciation. The author is able to convey his message in a conversational way that doesn't come across as overly instructional. The main points are set off from the prose of the text and are thoroughly outlined which allow the reader to comprehend what is being said. Reoccurring concepts are tied in throughout the book as well. This book is recommended for any student of philosophy or anyone who has always pondered the questions of the universe. Abel has truly made Philosophy inviting.

Rating:
Summary: Anthropocentrism without the hubris.
Review: Mr. Abel was a humanist that traced his lineage of thought from the English pragmatic humanist F.C.S. Schiller to the Greek Sophist Protagoras (420-490 BCE) and beyond. "Man is the measure of all things: of those that are, that they are; and of those that are not, that they are not." Protagoras' notion that judgements and knowledge are in some way relative to the individual. This is a line of agnostic thinkers that put man at the center of the stage. They claim no absolute knowledge. This last claim Socrates did one better by not claiming any knowledge at all. Socrates is the first of the great Humanists in the West, and Confucius was the first great Humanist in the East. Humanists are proud to be human beings. Humanists' two fundamental tenets are that a man should learn to think for himself, and values are uniquely human--man is the measure. Though a little too manthropocentric an approach to our specie's place in the Cosmos for my liking Abel nevertheless does manage to make me feel good about being human. I matter. Abel's pride does not seem to me to be the false pride of hubris. Rather he seems a very dignified human being that represents us well. I am sorry ladies, but you will just have to keep being patient with us men. I assure you when Abel says man he means mankind, men and women.

With the above said Abel's "Man is the Measure" is a cordial invitation from a humanist perspective addressed to all human beings in regards to the central problems of philosophy. He believes in humanity, in our capacity to grow. The one and the many are invited to join in the philosophical debates. "Man is the Measure" is written with a friendly tone and in an elegantly simple manner. It is a very thorough outline of philosophical history, and you may join in if you like. Abel is to be congratulated for his ecumenical approach to truth. This is a very good place for those with a curious mind to begin or continue their examined life.



Rating:
Summary: Summary
Review: The book is ok, has many examples but it is repetative, boring, and does not always answer what it asks.