That a writer of Dr. Lewis's scholarly and literary stature should publish more than a dozen books directly or indirectly defending Christianity is news; that his works should have such wide repercussions is still more significant news and merits a second thought. What does it mean when his books become best-sellers? Does the fact indicate anything about the intellectual currents of the present decade? If so, it seems time to examine more closely the exact kind of Christianity and philosophy presented in Dr. Lewis's writings, and the literary techniques that have brought him into the forefront of authors dealing with religious themes." "In this book I hope to add something (though not too much) to the scanty supply of biographical information available about Dr. Lewis, but my main concern will be with his ideas, the way he presents them, and the significance of his popularity. " --from the foreword by the author
C. S. Lewis has been read and studied as though he were two authors--a writer of Christian apologetics and a writer of science fiction and fantasy. Only in recent years has there been any move to examine his work as the creation of a single, unique mind. This is the first major critical study to undertake that task. Chad Walsh, who wrote an earlier study of Lewis, Apostle to the Skeptics, reassesses the Oxford don's legacy fifteen years after his death--his poetry, visionary fiction, and space fiction; The Chronicles of Narnia; Till We Have Faces; his criticism; and his religious-philosophical writing. Lewis emerges as an archetypal Christian and the creator of some of the most original books of our century.
Almost five decades after his death, there is still ample reason to pay attention to the life and legacy of Bertrand Russell. This is true not only because of his role as one of the founders of analytic philosophy, but also because of his important place in twentieth-century history as an educator, public intellectual, critic of organized religion, humanist, and peace activist. The papers in this anthology explore Russell’s life and legacy from a wide variety of perspectives. This is altogether fitting, given the many-sided nature of Russell, his life, and his work. The first section of the book considers Russell the man, and draws lessons from Russell’s complicated personal life. The second examines Russell the philosopher, and the philosophical world within which his work was embedded. The third scrutinizes Russell the atheist and critic of organized religion, inquiring which parts of his critical stance are worth emulating today. The final section revisits Russell the political activist; it directs an eye both at Russell’s own long career of peace activism, but also at his place in a highly political family tradition of which he was justifiably proud. This book thus constitutes an invitation, if one were needed, to the world of Bertrand Russell. Those new to Russell, but with an interest in biography, philosophy, religion, or politics, will hopefully find something to learn here. This may spark an interest in learning more about Russell. But this book is not just intended for the Russell neophyte. The book sheds fresh light on a number of topics central to Russell studies—his connections to other philosophers, for example. Scholars well-versed in Russell studies will enjoy grappling with the treatment given to these topics here.
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