The expanded edition includes a thought-provoking essay by Singer that delves into the complexities of marriage, with a particular emphasis on same-sex marriage. He argues that sexual questions are central to understanding marriage and explores the legitimacy of same-sex unions and their rights to benefits. By examining the connections between marriage, union, family, sexuality, and love, Singer provides insightful reflections that illuminate contemporary and evolving philosophical issues surrounding sex, making it accessible for both new and returning readers.
Exploring mythic themes and philosophical inquiries, this book delves into the cinematic works of notable filmmakers such as Preston Sturges, Jean Cocteau, and Stanley Kubrick. It examines how these directors weave complex narratives that reflect deeper existential questions, showcasing the interplay between storytelling and philosophical thought in film. Through detailed analysis, the text highlights the unique contributions of each filmmaker to the art of cinema and the exploration of human experience.
Exploring concepts such as bestowal, appraisal, imagination, and idealization, this work delves into the writings of influential thinkers like Plato, Ovid, and Martin Luther. It forms part of Irving Singer's acclaimed trilogy, The Nature of Love, which has received high praise for its philosophical depth and critical thinking. The trilogy is celebrated for its wisdom and insight into the enduring significance of love in human experience, making it a significant contribution to contemporary philosophy.
Exploring the evolution of love from medieval courtly ideals to Romantic expressions, this work analyzes influential figures such as Dante, Shakespeare, and Schopenhauer. It delves into philosophical perspectives on love, offering a comprehensive and critical examination of its enduring significance in human experience. Praised as a monumental and wise contribution to contemporary philosophy, the book is recognized for its eloquent and thorough exploration of a timeless theme that continues to resonate in today's world.
Exploring the philosophy of love, this work delves into historical and philosophical perspectives, starting from Plato and discussing figures like Kant and Schopenhauer. It addresses the morality of sex and compassion, while examining sexual pluralism's nature and limitations. The author expands on Irving Singer's concepts of appraisal and bestowal, making the chapters accessible to general readers eager to comprehend the complex emotions surrounding love.
Philosophical reflections on creativity in science, humanities, and human experience as a whole. In this philosophical exploration of creativity, Irving Singer describes the many different types of creativity and their varied manifestations within and across all the arts and sciences. Singer's approach is pluralistic rather than abstract or dogmatic. His reflections amplify recent discoveries in cognitive science and neurobiology by aligning them with the aesthetic, affective, and phenomenological framework of experience and behavior that characterizes the human quest for meaning. Creativity has long fascinated Singer, and in Modes of Creativity he carries forward investigations begun in earlier works. Marshaling a wealth of examples and anecdotes ranging from antiquity to the present, about persons as diverse as Albert Einstein and Sherlock Holmes, Singer describes the interactions of the creative and the imaginative, the inventive, the novel, and the original. He maintains that our preoccupation with creativity devolves from biological, psychological, and social bases of our material being; that creativity is not limited to any single aspect of human existence but rather inheres not only in art and the aesthetic but also in science, technology, moral practice, as well as ordinary daily experience.
Exploring the interplay of imagination, idealization, and love, this volume delves into humanity's quest for meaning and values. Singer addresses profound issues such as the significance of death, the role of anxiety in our lives, and the essential conditions for a fulfilling existence. He also contemplates the possibility of fostering a love for life, both within ourselves and in others, offering an insightful examination of what it means to live meaningfully.
This exploration of cinema offers a fresh perspective by merging realist and formalist approaches, addressing a longstanding debate within film studies. It delves into how these two methodologies can coexist and enrich our understanding of film as an art form, presenting a nuanced analysis that challenges traditional views and encourages deeper engagement with cinematic techniques and narratives.
