For a Kinder, Gentler Society
Belief and Integrity: Philosophical Dialogues
  • Nicholas J. Pappas
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Belief and Integrity: Philosophical Dialogues.
Sound Bite
Short philosophical dialogues geared to today's problems stimulate readers to think about their approach to life and, like a good interlocutor, help readers to explore their assumptions from a variety of perspectives.

About the Author

Nick Pappas has published a series of over 20 thought-provoking books with Algora Publishing, examining ways to handle personal challenges, how to think about our relationships to each other and how to decide our own path in life, how to choose what we do and why, and how to get the most out of everyday life.

Nick teaches high school English Language Arts in Western New York. Prior to that he worked as a director and consultant in information technology. He is a graduate of the University of Chicago and Harvard Law School. Nick has written numerous short stories and poems in addition to his philosophical dialogues.

About the Book
Join the discussion among friends as they take a fresh look at two concepts whose meaning and definitions we may all too often take for granted. Belief. The dialogues in this section deal with both the positives and negatives of belief. How do...
Join the discussion among friends as they take a fresh look at two concepts whose meaning and definitions we may all too often take for granted. Belief. The dialogues in this section deal with both the positives and negatives of belief. How do you know what to believe? How do you know what to stop believing? For instance, the dialogue called Nothing asks, What does it mean to believe in nothing? What is the difference between belief that something is so and calculation that it is likely? Can you believe in nothing and still have a conscience? From this last question one sees how this connects with the next group of dialogues, those dealing with integrity. Integrity. We all value integrity. Or do we? What does it take to achieve it? How do you know when you've got it? What does it take to maintain it? The dialogues here get at these questions. The dialogue called Right prods readers to ponder, When are you in the right? What does doing what you're supposed to do earn you? Who helps you when you don't know what to do? As each dialogue is a short piece that builds upon others within the book, readers might choose to enjoy a single piece at a time or pursue one after another, depending on the time at hand. Either way, the reader will find a thoughtful inquiry on individual themes that reflect upon each other and add up to a larger discussion.
Introduction
...Is it possible to believe without integrity? Perhaps we should say that integrity means living up to your beliefs. But what if you believe contradictory things? How do you live up to that? Does anyone live in a pure state of non-contradiction? Is it the art in life not to let your contradictions show? Or maybe contradictions are fine as long...
...Is it possible to believe without integrity? Perhaps we should say that integrity means living up to your beliefs. But what if you believe contradictory things? How do you live up to that? Does anyone live in a pure state of non-contradiction? Is it the art in life not to let your contradictions show? Or maybe contradictions are fine as long as they are the generally accepted contradictions we see in everyday life. Some beliefs are better than others. How do we know that? As the characters engage in dialogue some of that should come clear. Some beliefs are inherently stronger than others, it seems. And it may seem that some characters are stronger than others. Is that a function of integrity alone, or integrity coupled to the right beliefs? Can strong belief alone give one strength? Can a lack of integrity destroy one's beliefs over time?How do you build up integrity? You act. But what sort of acts are possible in these very short dialogues? To speak can be to act, and the characters do nothing if not speak. But what is left unsaid? That, too, must be taken into account. Is holding one's tongue an act?Some beliefs are better than others, we've said. But what makes a belief bad? ...
Categories

Pages 284
Year: 2011
LC Classification: BD215.P37 2011
Dewey code: 100--dc22
BISAC: PHI005000 PHILOSOPHY / Ethics & Moral Philosophy
BISAC: PHI011000 PHILOSOPHY / Logic
Soft Cover
ISBN: 978-0-87586-855-4
Price: USD 21.95
Hard Cover
ISBN: 978-0-87586-856-1
Price: USD 31.95
eBook
ISBN: 978-0-87586-857-8
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