Paul Kurtz is one of America's foremost expositors of humanist philosophy. In Living without Religion he has introduced a new word to describe humanism - eupraxophy. Derived from the Greek roots eu (good), praxis (practice), and sophia (philosophical and scientific wisdom), eupraxophy means literally "good conduct and wisdom in living."
Eupraxophy draws upon the disciplines of the sciences, philosophy, and ethics - yet it is more than these. Not simply an intellectual position, eupraxophy expresses convictions about the nature of the universe and how to live one's life with commitment and dedication. It thus combines both a cosmic outlook and a life stance. Kurtz maintains that the eupraxopher can lead a meaningful life and help create a just society, and he offers concrete recommendations for the development of the humanism of the future.
An entire section of this book is devoted to the careful definition of religion, which clearly demonstrates than an authentic moral life is possible without religious belief.
Following Kurtz's Transcendental Temptation and Forbidden Fruit, Living without Religion completes a trilogy of humanist works that responds to theistic critics of modern secular humanism.
". . . this book will give enormous satisfaction." -Secularist
"I heartily recommend this book to anyone with a serious interest in philosophy and religion. Concise and clearly written, it is reader-friendly throughout. Kurtz is able to distill the essence of complex subjects while retaining the high level of sophistication demanded by serious philosophers. Secular humanism desperately needs expositors and defenders of the first rank. Paul Kurtz fills that role admirably." - Independent Thinking Review
"Kurtz is one of the rare intellectuals of our time, the most energetic and best informed of the humanists." - The Christian Century
Book Binding: Paperback
Pages: 159
ISBN: 0-87975-929-1
Shipping Weight: 1lbs
Author Bio:
Paul Kurtz (1925-2012), professor emeritus of philosophy at the State University of New York at Buffalo and a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, was the author or editor of more than fifty books, including The Transcendental Temptation, The Courage to Become, and Embracing the Power of Humanism, plus nine hundred articles and reviews. He was the founder and chairman of the Institute for Science and Human Values and Prometheus Books. He was also the founder and chairman emeritus of the Center for Inquiry, the Council for Secular Humanism, and the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. He appeared on many major television and radio talk shows and lectured at universities worldwide.
