Plato's Revenge: Politics in the Age of Ecology by William Ophuls (English) Pape

Description: Plato's Revenge by William Ophuls A provocative essay that imagines a truly ecological future based on political transformation rather than the superficialities of "sustainability." FORMAT Paperback LANGUAGE English CONDITION Brand New Publisher Description A provocative essay that imagines a truly ecological future based on political transformation rather than the superficialities of "sustainability." In this provocative call for a new ecological politics, William Ophuls starts from a radical premise- "sustainability" is impossible. We are on an industrial Titanic, fueled by rapidly depleting stocks of fossil hydrocarbons. Making the deck chairs from recyclable materials and feeding the boilers with biofuels is futile. In the end, the ship is doomed by the laws of thermodynamics and by the implacable biological and geological limits that are already beginning to pinch. Ophuls warns us that we are headed for a postindustrial future that, however technologically sophisticated, will resemble the preindustrial past in many important respects. With Platos Revenge, Ophuls, author of Ecology and the Politics of Scarcity, envisions political and social transformations that will lead to a new natural-law politics based on the realities of ecology, physics, and psychology.In a discussion that ranges widely-from ecology to quantum physics to Jungian psychology to Eastern religion to Western political philosophy-Ophuls argues for an essentially Platonic politics of consciousness dedicated to inner cultivation rather than outward expansion and the pursuit of perpetual growth. We would then achieve a way of life that is materially and institutionally simple but culturally and spiritually rich, one in which humanity flourishes in harmony with nature.A provocative essay that imagines a truly ecological future based on political transformation rather than the superficialities of "sustainability." In this provocative call for a new ecological politics, William Ophuls starts from a radical premise- "sustainability" is impossible. We are on an industrial Titanic, fueled by rapidly depleting stocks of fossil hydrocarbons. Making the deck chairs from recyclable materials and feeding the boilers with biofuels is futile. In the end, the ship is doomed by the laws of thermodynamics and by the implacable biological and geological limits that are already beginning to pinch. Ophuls warns us that we are headed for a postindustrial future that, however technologically sophisticated, will resemble the preindustrial past in many important respects. With Platos Revenge, Ophuls, author of Ecology and the Politics of Scarcity, envisions political and social transformations that will lead to a new natural-law politics based on the realities of ecology, physics, and psychology.In a discussion that ranges widely-from ecology to quantum physics to Jungian psychology to Eastern religion to Western political philosophy-Ophuls argues for an essentially Platonic politics of consciousness dedicated to inner cultivation rather than outward expansion and the pursuit of perpetual growth. We would then achieve a way of life that is materially and institutionally simple but culturally and spiritually rich, one in which humanity flourishes in harmony with nature. Author Biography William Ophuls is the author of the award-winning Ecology and the Politics of Scarcity and Requiem for Modern Politics. Review I would strongly recommend Platos Revenge as a clear and compelling polemic that deserves to be read alongside Batesons 1972 work Steps to an Ecology of Mind: Collected Essays in Anthropology, Psychiatry, Evolution and Epistemology...and yes, alongside Plumwoods Feminism and the Mastery of Nature. Beyond the debate about Plato, all three have something important to say about the fate of our planet. * Times Higher Education *It should be mandatory reading for everyone with any influence and is a delight to read even though its drift is hardly comforting. It is a devastating critique of modern Western thinking – so good that I thought there was no point in my writing another word, since it says it all. * Resurgence & Ecologist * Promotional Ophuls takes us on a wide-ranging review of history, philosophy, science, and political economy in search of natural law and objective value by which to replenish the lode of fossil virtue and belief inherited from the premodern era and depleted by modern nihilism. A worthy contribution. -- Herman Daly, Professor Emeritus, School of Public Policy, University of Maryland What Ophuls does in Platos Revenge is what needs to be done more often but is rarely even attempted. The study of political philosophy in universities is primarily about studying the classic texts and assessing them but not about actually updating and re-inventing political philosophy. This book should encourage others to make similarly brave attempts to rethink how present and future societies might be organized given the array of environmental and sustainability challenges that we face. -- Robert Paehlke, Professor Emeritus of Environmental and Resource Studies, Trent University; author of Democracys Dilemma: Environment, Social Equity, and the Global Economy For decades, William Ophuls has been among the worlds most original thinkers about the implications of our global ecological crisis for freedom, democracy, and political order. In Platos Revenge, he goes to the essence of this crisis: the deep, tacit, and widespread beliefs that nature and society are nothing more than machines, that the state should play no role in cultivating citizens virtue, and that self-interested individuals should rely solely on reason to guide their lives. Ophuls weaves together the ideas of some of historys greatest thinkers to argue that humankinds future lies in small, simple republics that cultivate their citizens virtue through natural law. In doing so, he shreds conventional wisdom and invigorates our conversation about the kind of world we intend our grandchildren to inherit. -- Thomas Homer-Dixon, University of Waterloo, author of The Upside of Down:Catastrophe, Creativity, and the Renewal of Civilization Review Quote "I would strongly recommend Platos Revenge as a clear andcompelling polemic that deserves to be read alongside Batesons 1972 work Steps to anEcology of Mind: Collected Essays in Anthropology, Psychiatry, Evolution andEpistemology...and yes, alongside Plumwoods Feminism and the Mastery of Nature. Beyond the debateabout Plato, all three have something important to say about the fate of our planet" - Times Higher Education Details ISBN0262525283 Author William Ophuls Short Title PLATOS REVENGE Language English ISBN-10 0262525283 ISBN-13 9780262525282 Media Book Format Paperback Birth 1934 Year 2013 Imprint MIT Press Subtitle Politics in the Age of Ecology Place of Publication Cambridge, Mass. Country of Publication United States Audience Age 18 Publication Date 2013-09-13 UK Release Date 2013-09-13 AU Release Date 2013-09-13 NZ Release Date 2013-09-13 US Release Date 2013-09-13 Series Platos Revenge Pages 272 Publisher MIT Press Ltd Alternative 9780262015905 DEWEY 363.7 Audience Professional & Vocational We've got this At The Nile, if you're looking for it, we've got it. With fast shipping, low prices, friendly service and well over a million items - you're bound to find what you want, at a price you'll love! TheNile_Item_ID:159791064;

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