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Promoting virtues such as filial devotion, compassion, loyalty, and propriety, these dialogues between the ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius and his disciples comprise the crux of Confucianism. (Summary by Andrea L)....

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Philosophy

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Awaiting his trial on charges of impiety and heresy, Socrates encounters Euthyphro, a self-proclaimed authority on matters of piety and the will of the gods. Socrates, desiring instruction in these matters, converses with Euthyphro, but as usual, the man who professes to know nothing fares better than the man who claims to be an expert. One of Plato’s well-known Socratic Dialogues, Euthyphro probes the nature of piety, and notably poses the so-called Euthyphro Dilemma: Do the gods love a thing because it is holy, or is a thing holy because it is loved by the gods? (Summary by LauraFox)...

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Philosophy

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A series of biographical lectures originally published in 1850. Each chapter is a philosophical treatment of the life of an intellectual. The six representatives are Plato, Swedenborg, Shakespeare, Montaigne, Napolean and Goethe. (Introduction by S. Kovalchik)...

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Biography, Philosophy

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In Plato's ION, Socrates questions Ion, whether he should really claim laud and glory for his 'rhapsodic' recitals of Homer's poetry. —Description by Simon-Peter Zak...

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Philosophy

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In diesem indischen Märchen erzählt Manfred Kyber die Geschichte von Mantao, der als Sohn armer, einfacher Leute geboren wird, aber in Wahrheit ein Königssohn ist. Wir begleiten Mantao auf seinem Lebensweg, auf dem uns Wiedergeburt und Bestimmung, Versuchung und die Erfüllung einer göttlichen Aufgabe, die ewige Verkettung der Dinge und die Verantwortung für die Schöpfung begegnen. Mit einer poetischen Sprache schafft Kyber eine schöne, leicht mystische Atmosphäre. (Zusammenfassung von Karlsson)...

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Fairy tales, Philosophy

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This dialogue brings Socrates face to face with the famous sophist Gorgias and his followers. It is a work likely completed around the time of Republic and illuminates many of the spiritual ideas of Plato. The spirituality, as Jowett points out in his wonderful introduction, has many ideas akin to Christianity, but is more generous as it reserves damnation only for the tyrants of the world. Some of the truths of Socrates, as presented by Plato, shine forth in this wonderful work on sophistry and other forms of persuasion or cookery. (Summary by Kevin Johnson)...

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Ancient Texts, Philosophy, Satire

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The Autobiography of a Slander exposes the consequences of reckless words or, even worse, intentionally disparaging words. In this moral tale, told from the point of view of the slander, Edna Lyall (pseudonym used by Ada Ellen Bayley) reveals her ideals and goals in life and relationships. (Summary by Rhonda Federman)...

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Fiction, Philosophy, Short stories, Literature

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Diese kleine Schrift ist eine grosse Kriegserklärung; und was das Aushorchen von Götzen anbetrifft, so sind es dies Mal keine Zeitgötzen, sondern ewige Götzen, an die hier mit dem Hammer wie mit einer Stimmgabel gerührt wird, - es giebt überhaupt keine älteren, keine überzeugteren, keine aufgeblaseneren Götzen... Auch keine hohleren... Das hindert nicht, dass sie die geglaubtesten sind; auch sagt man, zumal im vornehmsten Falle, durchaus nicht Götze... (aus Friedrich Nietzsches Vorwort zur Gützendämmerung)...

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Philosophy

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After a number of deaths in his close family, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle turned to spiritualism in hope of finding proof of the afterlife. Being open in this way, he wanted to believe that spirits and other supernatural being including fairies were real. Because of this he believed the photographs of fairies taken by the Cottingley girls were proof of the existence of such beings. In this book he presents his stance on the issue. Eventually it was proven that the photographs were indeed a hoax. (Summary by Amy Gramour)...

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Philosophy, Myths/Legends

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volunteers bring you 18 recordings of The House by the Side of the Road by Sam Walter Foss. This was the Fortnightly Poetry project for January 15, 2012. Sam Walter Foss was an American librarian and poet whose works included The House by the Side of the Road and The Coming American. Foss used to write a poem a day for the newspapers, and his five volumes of collected poetry are of the frank and homely “common man” variety. Longtime baseball announcer Ernie Harwell alluded to one of Foss's poems whenever he described a batter taking a called third strike: He stood there like the house by the side of the road and watched it go by. ( Summary from Wikipedia )...

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Poetry, Instruction, Nature, Philosophy

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volunteers bring you 14 recordings of Life by Sir Walter Raleigh. This was the Weekly Poetry project for July 25th, 2010.

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Philosophy, Poetry

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The Apology is Plato's version of the speech delivered by Socrates before the Athenian people in his defence agaist charges of impiety and of misleading others, which ended in his condemnation and death in 399 BC. It is the earliest and most eloquent expression of what has been termed 'philosophical faith', as that love and search for truth which gives meaning to life and trust in the face of death. (Summary by zaaf) Ο Πλάτωνας ήταν σπουδαίος Έλληνας φιλόσοφος και συγγραφέας (427 π.Χ. - 347 π.Χ.), ο γνωστότερος μαθητής του Σωκράτη. Ο Πλάτων έγραψε την Απολογία του Σωκράτους, που θεωρείται ως μια σχετικά ακριβής καταγραφή της απολογίας του Σωκράτη στη δίκη που τον καταδίκασε σε θάνατο....

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Ancient Texts, Classics (antiquity), Biography, Memoirs, Philosophy

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The work consists of ten books, originally separate scrolls, and is understood to be based on notes said to be from his lectures at the Lyceum which were either edited by or dedicated to Aristotle's son, Nicomachus. In many ways this work parallels the similar Eudemian Ethics, which has only eight books, and the two works can be fruitfully compared. Books V, VI, and VII of the Nicomachean Ethics are identical to Books IV, V, and VI of the Eudemian Ethics. Opinions about the relationship between the two works, for example which was written first, and which originally contained the three common books, is divided. Aristotle describes his ethical work as being different from his other kinds of study, because it is not just for the sake of contemplating what things are, but rather to actually become good ourselves. It is therefore practical rather than theoretical in the original Aristotelian senses of these terms. (Summary from Wikipedia)...

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Philosophy, Classics (antiquity)

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The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was ratified in 1948 by the United Nations General Assembly. It defines the fundamental rights of individuals, and exhorts all governments to protect these rights. The UN has translated the document into over three hundred languages and dialects. This audiobook includes readings in 21 languages, by volunteers....

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Philosophy

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Gilbert Keith Chesterton was an influential English writer of the early 20th century. His prolific and diverse output included journalism, philosophy, poetry, biography, Christian apologetics, fantasy, and detective fiction. Chesterton has been called the prince of paradox. He wrote in an off-hand, whimsical prose studded with startling formulations. Chesterton wrote about 4000 essays on various subjects, and Ararms and Discursions is one of his collections. (Summary adapted from Wikipedia by Karen Merline.)...

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Essay/Short nonfiction

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The power of population is indefinitely greater than the power in the earth to produce subsistence for man. Population, when unchecked, increases in a geometrical ratio. Subsistence increases only in an arithmetical ratio. A slight acquaintance with numbers will show the immensity of the first power in comparison with the second (Malthus)....

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Science, Nature, Philosophy

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The purpose of the Apology is to prove to the emperors, renowned as upright and philosophical men, the injustice of the persecution of the Christians, who are the representatives of true philosophy … Christians are the true worshipers of God, the Creator of all things; they offer him the only sacrifices worthy of him, those of prayer and thanksgiving, and are taught by his Son, to whom they assign a place next in honor to him. This teaching leads them to perfect morality, as shown in their teacher's words and their own lives, and founded on their belief in the resurrection. (Summary from Wikipedia)...

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Religion

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Pubblicato nel 1542, questo dialogo espone le teorie sulla lingua italiana che, già dal secolo precedente, presero forma, cercando di trasformare il volgare italiano, ancora instabile grammaticalmente, in una vera e propria lingua regolata da norme. I protagonisti del dialogo sono: Bembo (Pietro Bembo), sostenitore del volgare colto e che prende come modelli il Decameron del Boccaccio e il Canzoniere del Petrarca; Lazaro (Lazzaro Bonamico), cultore del latino e spregiatore dell'uso colto del volgare; un Cortegiano, portavoce della teoria di Baldassarre Castiglione, che propone di aprire il volgare di base toscana alle influenze di altre regioni e lingue; uno Scolare che riporta un dialogo tra Lascari (Giano Lascaris), professore di greco, sostenitore dell'indissolubilità tra concetto e parola, e Peretto (Pietro Pomponazzi - detto Peretto per la bassa statura), filosofo aristotelico, che auspica l'utilizzo del dialetto nell'esercizio dell'attività speculativa, per non perdere tempo inutile nello studio delle parole a scapito delle cose.(Summary by Riccardo Fasol)...

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Languages, Essay/Short nonfiction, Philosophy

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In this collection, Bevis Hillier has put together some of Chesterton's essays in The Defandant, Varied Types and Tremendous Trifles. These 12 pieces were chosen to giving a peek into the margins of Chesterton's work and give a sense of the distinctive flavor of his mind. They were also chosen with an eye to showing what a complex and fascinating character he was. (Summary by Phil chenevert)...

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Humor, Essay/Short nonfiction, Philosophy

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A primer for those interested in the basic philosophy, beliefs & secrets of the Rosicrucians. (Summary by Kirk Ziegler)

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Philosophy, Religion