Donald Phillip Verene Knihy

Exploring the interplay between philosophy and literature, this work examines how philosophical thought engages with poetic wisdom. It begins with a reinterpretation of Plato's critique of Homer and progresses through Renaissance humanism and Hegelian Idealism. The book analyzes four dimensions: philosophy as literature, philosophy of literature, philosophy in literature, and the relationship between both fields, using examples like Borges's The Immortal and Joyce's Finnegans Wake. It emphasizes the enduring significance of literature and philosophy amidst contemporary literary interpretations.

Exploring the nature of self, world, and God, this book presents metaphysics through both systematic and historical lenses. It begins with Aristotle's notion of wonder and traces the evolution of metaphysical thought from ancient Greek mythology to Christian ontological arguments. The text delves into Renaissance cosmology and concludes with key issues in the metaphysics of history, highlighting thinkers like Vico, Hegel, Cassirer, and Whitehead. This engaging account makes complex philosophical concepts accessible and enjoyable for modern readers.

Exploring the nature of human virtue, this work delves into the philosophical insights of Plato, Aristotle, and Cicero, along with Renaissance Christian humanists like Pico, Vives, and Erasmus. It emphasizes the significance of moral actions guided by cardinal virtues as essential for achieving happiness and developing character. The text posits that character forms the foundation for self-knowledge, decorum, and dignity, which are crucial for navigating human affairs effectively.

The inscription on the Temple of Apollo at Delphi, Gnothi seauton (Know thyself), is taken up by Socrates and pursued as the center of philosophy. Self-knowledge is the theme that endures throughout the history of philosophy. It is a theme that philosophy shares with literature. We know ourselves to be human, but the question remains as to what it means to be human. What we are is a metaphysical and ethical problem. Satire shows us how others see us. Memory, the mother of the Muses, gives us access to see ourselves as we have been, are now, and may be in the future. This work considers the idea of satire through the writings of Aristophanes, Lucian, Erasmus, Rabelais, Swift, Voltaire, and Joyce. It examines the nature of memory in terms of the views of Hesiod, Plato, Aristotle, Camillo, Vico, Hegel, and Joyce. Attention to Joyce in both instances is to Finnegans Wake. The author invites readers to take up the question of self-knowledge, to pursue it further in their own terms and sources.

The philosophic spirit has persisted as part of the human spirit and human culture for over twenty-five centuries. This book presents examples of this spirit from its beginnings in Greek thought through the modern age. Among these examples are an account of Empedocles jumping into the volcano of Mt. Etna to join the gods, Plato’s quarrel with the poets, St. Anselm’s famous argument for the existence of God, Descartes’s Archimedean proof of his own existence, and Kant’s description of the perfect island of the Understanding. Attention is also given to Cassirer’s concept of symbolic forms and Whitehead’s theory of actual entities. The volume concludes with a discussion, based on the thought of Giambattista Vico, of a way to approach philosophy through a balance between the Ancient and the Moderns.

The Science of Cookery and the Art of Eating Well is a philosophical and historical reflection on food and dining in human culture. It includes discussions of the nature of the first meals as found in Greek literature and the philosophy of history of Giambattista Vico, the Roman cookbook of Apicius (the first known cookbook), the cookbook of Artusi (the seminal cookbook of Italian cooking), Brillat-Savarin’s Physiology of Taste, Plutarch’s “Dinner of the Seven Wise Men,” and Athenaeus’ work on the Learned Banqueters (the Deipnosophists). These discussions are joined with contemporary observations on the importance of the traditions of home cooking and dining with friends as essential to the promotion of human well-being.

Focusing on the importance of engaging with historical ideas, this book provides strategies for reading philosophical texts with "intellectual empathy." It recommends 100 essential works to create a foundational canon and explores the influence of philosophers throughout history and society. Additionally, it delves into the nature of history, encouraging readers to appreciate the relevance of past thoughts in contemporary discourse.

Verene advocates for a transformative approach to philosophy, urging it to move beyond mere criticism and reflection. He emphasizes the need for a speculative philosophy that embodies Hegel's idea of the True as the entirety of existence, while also aligning with the Socratic pursuit of self-knowledge. This work invites readers to explore deeper philosophical concepts and the interconnectedness of truth and understanding.

The book emphasizes the importance of self-knowledge through a broad education rather than specialization. Verene advocates for a curriculum that fosters the arts of reading, writing, and thinking. He views class lectures as a form of oratory, guided by the principles of rhetoric. Presented as a series of letters, it articulates his original and practical ideas about humane education, encouraging a holistic approach to learning that integrates various fields of thought.