An unsatisfying philosophical work that lacks intellectual meticulousness and historical rigor.
Marr proposes a grand theory of truth designed to reconcile some of philosophy’s most intractable conundrums.
The author contends that some of the questions that perennially plague philosophers could simply be settled if only a comprehensive account of truth could be devised. With much more intellectual ambition than rigor, Marr offers precisely this: an account of truth, though not one that answers or even discusses the thorny problems that historically arise within the field of epistemology. The author parses “truth” into four parts, the first of which is knowledge, the only aspect of the truth that is entirely free of subjectivity, the “the final arbiter in matters that can be decided on the basis of logic and reason.” (Marr never furnishes a thorough definition of knowledge or reason, seeming to equate them with the empirical findings of science.) The other aspects of truth he identifies—justice, love, and beauty—each permit the introduction of some measure of subjective determination. Again, none of these elements are scrupulously defined or even discussed in detail. On the basis of this threadbare discussion, which amounts to little more than brute postulation, Marr claims to solve a host of stubborn philosophical problems, including the presence of evil in the world and the contest between free will and determinism. These issues are covered in brief chapters that avoid a serious discussion of the relevant philosophical literature (a bibliography does cite Plato, Aristotle, the Bible, and contemporary works of film and literature).
The author presents an objective and universal account of morality, which he reduces to a “refined Golden Rule”: “Honoring the equal rights of all to their life, liberty, property and self-defense, to be free from violation through force or fraud.” He never discusses any of the historical challenges that attach to any theory of rights, nor does he provide the reader with any evidence that he is familiar with them. In the place of disciplined analysis, Marr substitutes rhapsodic paeans to the concept of truth. “Truth itself is the Holy of Holies, the universe its temple and the souls who seek it are its apostles,” he writes. “God’s true temple, Truth, should be the ultimate pursuit of our lives, and every waking moment we have in it.” The author claims to seek some detente between religion and reason while consistently reducing religion to “manufactured, ‘revealed’ myths.” Marr quickly dismisses the possibilities of revelation, supernatural events, and prophesy, as well as the existence of “interactive revealed gods,” claiming that only “hearsay evidence” exists for them, making it seem that he is wholly oblivious to both the philosophical and religious traditions that discuss these ideas. As intellectually undercooked as this book is, one can’t help but be impressed by the author’s commitment to finding an account of the truth that is not only comprehensive but also practical; Marr should be commended for interpreting philosophy as a guide to human affairs. However, this is simply not a serious work of philosophy but rather an assemblage of grandiose pronouncements.
An unsatisfying philosophical work that lacks intellectual meticulousness and historical rigor.Pub Date: Nov. 21, 2019
ISBN: 9781794758513
Page Count: 166
Publisher: Lulu Press
Review Posted Online: March 14, 2024
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A virtuoso performance and an ode to an undervalued medium created by two talented artists.
The veteran actor, comedian, and banjo player teams up with the acclaimed illustrator to create a unique book of cartoons that communicates their personalities.
Martin, also a prolific author, has always been intrigued by the cartoons strewn throughout the pages of the New Yorker. So when he was presented with the opportunity to work with Bliss, who has been a staff cartoonist at the magazine since 1997, he seized the moment. “The idea of a one-panel image with or without a caption mystified me,” he writes. “I felt like, yeah, sometimes I’m funny, but there are these other weird freaks who are actually funny.” Once the duo agreed to work together, they established their creative process, which consisted of working forward and backward: “Forwards was me conceiving of several cartoon images and captions, and Harry would select his favorites; backwards was Harry sending me sketched or fully drawn cartoons for dialogue or banners.” Sometimes, he writes, “the perfect joke occurs two seconds before deadline.” There are several cartoons depicting this method, including a humorous multipanel piece highlighting their first meeting called “They Meet,” in which Martin thinks to himself, “He’ll never be able to translate my delicate and finely honed droll notions.” In the next panel, Bliss thinks, “I’m sure he won’t understand that the comic art form is way more subtle than his blunt-force humor.” The team collaborated for a year and created 150 cartoons featuring an array of topics, “from dogs and cats to outer space and art museums.” A witty creation of a bovine family sitting down to a gourmet meal and one of Dumbo getting his comeuppance highlight the duo’s comedic talent. What also makes this project successful is the team’s keen understanding of human behavior as viewed through their unconventional comedic minds.
A virtuoso performance and an ode to an undervalued medium created by two talented artists.Pub Date: Nov. 17, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-250-26289-9
Page Count: 272
Publisher: Celadon Books
Review Posted Online: Aug. 30, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2020
PERSPECTIVES
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.
A compendium of charts, time lines, lists and illustrations to accompany study of the Bible.
This visually appealing resource provides a wide array of illustrative and textually concise references, beginning with three sets of charts covering the Bible as a whole, the Old Testament and the New Testament. These charts cover such topics as biblical weights and measures, feasts and holidays and the 12 disciples. Most of the charts use a variety of illustrative techniques to convey lessons and provide visual interest. A worthwhile example is “How We Got the Bible,” which provides a time line of translation history, comparisons of canons among faiths and portraits of important figures in biblical translation, such as Jerome and John Wycliffe. The book then presents a section of maps, followed by diagrams to conceptualize such structures as Noah’s Ark and Solomon’s Temple. Finally, a section on Christianity, cults and other religions describes key aspects of history and doctrine for certain Christian sects and other faith traditions. Overall, the authors take a traditionalist, conservative approach. For instance, they list Moses as the author of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) without making mention of claims to the contrary. When comparing various Christian sects and world religions, the emphasis is on doctrine and orthodox theology. Some chapters, however, may not completely align with the needs of Catholic and Orthodox churches. But the authors’ leanings are muted enough and do not detract from the work’s usefulness. As a resource, it’s well organized, inviting and visually stimulating. Even the most seasoned reader will learn something while browsing.
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2005
ISBN: 978-1-5963-6022-8
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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