From mcgillqueens university press, the book of absolutes argues that relativism is not only. Mar 09, 2009 you surely have it by now, so lets move on to the twelve objections to relativism as outlined by gairdner in his book of absolutes. The theme of the great divide is that the populations of the democratic world, from boston to berlin. The rank immorality of the welfare state in print less than two years after his splendid book of absolutes, william gairdners the trouble with canadastill is his twelfth major work to date, and promises to be yet another bestseller. His candour and daring is refreshing in an age awash in wishywashiness. He is presently retired and lives near toronto, canada. William gairdner has had a busy life as an athlete, an academic, a businessman, and latterly, as a successful author. William douglas bill gairdner born october 19, 1940 in oakville, ontario is a retired track and field athlete who represented canada in the mens 400 m hurdles and the mens decathlon at the 1964 summer olympics in tokyo, japan. Gairdner adds a wealth of detailed evidence to lewiss laconic exposition and offers an updated and expanded account of the fundamental absolutes of human nature and the realities of our creaturely existence. A critique of relativism and a defence of universals. He was awarded a silver medal in decathlon event at the 1963 pan american games in brazil. The book of absolutes is probably gairdner s most important work to date, not that this former olympic decathlete shows any signs of slowing down. William d gairdner current dogma holds that all cultures and moral values are conditional, nothing human is innate, and einstein proved that the whole universe is relative.
William gairdner william gairdner has had a busy life as. A critique of relativism and a defence of universals gairdner, william d. William gairdner bestselling author of the war against the family and the book of absolutes. William douglas bill gairdner is a retired track and field athlete who represented canada in. A critique of relativism and a defence of universals by william d. Gairdner refutes the popular belief in cultural relativism by showing that there are hundreds of wellestablished cross.
Ah, i guess its hard to spot contradictions like this when were exposed to them so often that they seem natural. Current dogma holds that all cultures and moral values are conditional,nothing human is innate, and einstein proved that the whole universe isrelative. A critique of relativism and a defense of universals by william d. Sep 01, 2009 with oh, oh, canada and the book of absolutes, gairdner now adds two more tomes to an already impressive opus. A critique of relativism anda defence of universals, montreal kingston, mcgillqueens universitypress, 2008, 416 p. William gairdner william gairdner has had a busy life as an. Current dogma holds that all cultures and moral values are condition. A critique of relativism and a defense of universals 2008. William gairdner is the author of numerous bestselling books. Gairdner provides a potent weapon for the struggle against todays sophistical reductionism that threatens intellectual clarity and moral certainty. A critique of relativism and a defense of universals.
I will attempt to answer only one perspective on the above question, the choice and use of language. William gairdner presents a lively challenge to postmodern opinion that reveals satisfying and reliable certainties. Setting that defect aside, i believe that we should forgive author william gairdners boast, too. Not since allan bloom s the closing of the american mind has a book come along that furnishes so many insights into the morbid mentality of a civilization that has lost confidence in its certainties and itself, or that more clearly points the way up from despair. What are the different perspectives on the yulin dog. Challenging this position, william gairdner argues that relativism is not only logically and morally selfdefeating but that progress in scientific and intellectual disciplines has actually strengthened the case for absolutes, universals, and constants of nature and human nature. With oh, oh, canada and the book of absolutes, gairdner now adds two more tomes to an already impressive opus. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. His work is a careful and comprehensive restatement of the position propounded in the abolition of man, which takes into. He was then the managing editor of canadas founding debates an historical landmark. In a country whose inhabitants are so contentedly in thrall to the swedish model that. Gairdner, 97807735341, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide.
Above all other sophistries used to condone this barbarity inflicted on nonhuman animals is the euphemism festival, a word chosen t. The book of absolutes begins by defining its foe and placing it in context. Trouble with canada, the trouble with democracy and the book of absolutes. A critique of relativism and a defence of universals by. As a young athlete, bill competed in the decathlon at the 1963 panam games in brazil silver medal, and.
The critical wager 1982 was the first of his published books to appear, and these have included a string of important works on intellectual history, and of political, moral and social commentary, such as the trouble with canada, the war against the family, canadas founding debates, and the book of absolutes. For more than a century, the citizens of the western world have been uncritically subjected in the media, the public square, and the classroom to the idea that there are no permanent, universal truths in human life. Jun 25, 2017 also booklength and wideranging, but with different aims, is william gairdners the book of absolutes. The critique of relativism is the clear aim of the book, but the extensive marshalling of evidence for absolutes stretches from physics to literature and myth. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. Gairdner has assembled a virtual mountain of evidence for his claim. To describe canada as a totalitarian stateinprogress sounds like a gross and indeed absurd exaggeration.
Denise lodde a conversation with best selling author, business and independent scholar william gairdner, whose. Gairdner table of contents ix introduction xi 1 a brief history of relativism 3 2 the main types of relativism 22 3 objections to. A critique of relativism and a defence of universals 2008. A critique of relativism anda defence of universals, montreal kingston, mcgillqueens. Feb 18, 2020 in the words of political philosopher william gairdner, author of the book of absolutes, the great divide, and the trouble with canada, canada has just crossed the red line between soft. You surely have it by now, so lets move on to the twelve objections to relativism as outlined by gairdner in his book of absolutes. Feb 17, 2020 yet many premonitory signs are present. He then discusses the many universals found in physics as well as einsteins personal regret at how his work was misinterpreted by the publics eagerness to promote relativism.
Not since allan blooms the closing of the american mind has a book come along that furnishes so many insights into the morbid mentality of a civilization that has lost confidence in its. Why liberals and conservatives will never, ever agree william d. A critique of relativism and a defence of universals, by william d. Denise lodde a conversation with best selling author, business and independent scholar william gairdner, whose latest book, the book of absolutes. A mustread to describe canada as a totalitarian stateinprogress sounds like a gross and indeed absurd exaggeration. Gairdner refutes the popular belief in cultural relativism by showing that there are hundreds of wellestablished crosscultural human universals. A critique of relativism and a defense of universals, william d.
Gairdner table of contents ix introduction xi 1 a brief history of relativism 3 2 the main types of relativism 22 3 objections to relativism 31 4 the universals of human life and culture 44 5 the constants of nature 69 6 the war over biology. Whether you agree or not does not really matter, since this book will, at the very least, present a thorough case for absolutes in nature and morality. Hands down, this is the best book written in defense of absolutes. Also booklength and wideranging, but with different aims, is william gairdners the book of absolutes. In the words of political philosopher william gairdner, author of the book of absolutes, the great divi. Read the book of absolutes a critique of relativism and a defence of universals by william d. Whenever he mentioned something that he considered indubitably true, gairdner got fed up hearing. The universals of human biology, sex, and brain sex 120 8 universals of law. Lee the book of absolutes a critique of relativism and a defence of universals por william d. I much prefer it to the feigned humility of one who formulates. How global warming alarmists use threats, fraud, and deception to keep you misinformed christopher c. In the book of absolutes, gairdner trains his sights on the philosophy of relativism, the intellectual more accurately, antiintellectual matrix out of which many of the most odorous orthodoxies of the day have arisen.
William d gairdner current dogma holds that all cultures and moral values are conditional, nothing human is innate, and einstein proved that the whole universe is. The book should suffice to christen the book that reveals absolutes. Gairdner, phd, has had a busy life as an athlete, an academic, a businessman, and latterly, as a successful author. The first three chapters are a brief history of relativism, the main types of relativism, and objections to relativism. Oct 30, 2016 the rank immorality of the welfare state in print less than two years after his splendid book of absolutes, william gairdners the trouble with canadastill is his twelfth major work to date, and promises to be yet another bestseller. Gairdner challenges this modern dogma demonstrating not only that relativism is logically selfdefeating, but that progress in scientific and intellectual disciplines has actually strengthened the case for absolutes, universals, and. Oct 08, 2014 of the fundamental absolutes of human nature and the realities of our creaturely existence. As a young athlete, bill competed in the decathlon at the 1963 panam games in brazil silver medal, and at the olympic games in. The book of absolutes is probably gairdners most important work to date, not that this former olympic decathlete shows any signs of slowing down. Gairdner liberal fascism, jonah goldberg red hot lies.
In the words of political philosopher william gairdner, author of the book of absolutes, the great divide and the trouble with canada, canada has just crossed the red line between softsocialism and softtotalitarianism. In the words of political philosopher william gairdner, author of the book of absolutes, the great divide and the trouble with canada, canada has just crossed the. He is a published author and, among his works, bps books have published the. In quick succession, he produced a string of bestselling books, including the trouble with canada, and the war against the family. Gairdner, phd, has had a busy life as an athlete, an academic.
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