Roy Sorenson offers a unique exploration of an ancient problem: vagueness. Did Buddha become a fat man in one second? Is there a tallest short giraffe? According to Sorenson's epistemicist approach, the answers are yes! Although vagueness abounds in the way the world is divided, Sorenson argues that the divisions are sharp; yet we often do not know where they are. Written in Sorenson'e usual inventive and amusing style, this book offers original insight on language and logic, the way world is, and our understanding of it.
Readers get to follow the minds of Zeno, Socrates, Aquinas, Okham, Pascal, Kant, Hegel, and many other major philosophers deep inside the tangles of paradox."--BOOK JACKET.
An entertaining history of the idea of nothing - including absences, omissions, and shadows - from the Ancient Greeks through the 20th centuryHow can nothing cause something? The absence of something might seem to indicate a null or a void, an emptiness as ineffectual as a shadow. In fact, 'nothing' is one of the most powerful ideas the human mind has ever conceived. This short and entertaining book by Roy Sorensen is a lively tour of the history and philosophy of nothing, explaining how various thinkers throughout history have conceived and grappled with the mysterious power of absence -- and how these ideas about shadows, gaps, and holes have in turned played a very positive role in the development of some of humankind's most important ideas. Filled with Sorensen's characteristically entertaining mix of anecdotes, puzzles, curiosities, and philosophical speculation, the book is ordered chronologically, starting with the Taoists, the Buddhists, and the ancient Greeks, moving forward to the middle ages and the early modern period, then up to the existentialists and present day philosophy. The result is a diverting tourthrough the history of human thought as seen from a novel and unusual perspective.
Paulie Zahn is a sergeant in the army, awarded with the Purple Heart, an Air Medal with a V for valor, and a Distinguished Flying Cross. One fateful meeting with a captivating woman during her vacation leads Paulie on a roller coaster of events that change her life forever. Spartak Newmark and his company has been interested in Sgt. Paulie Zahn since before her attack. After her conversion, her skills that she learned in the army as well as her new-found vampire talents make her indispensable for the Newmark Industries and their vampire coven. But someone else surfaces in their area that has become too interested in Paulie as well. A group of rogue vampires created by Newmark's adversaries begin stalking Paulie, considering her their property as she was created by one of their own. Now, Paulie along with the Newmark clan must discover the den of the rogue vampires and eliminate them before they get their hands on her.
Eddie Vangh is a private investigator in his mid-twenties with an unusual secret of his own. He was born Eddie Chang in 1920 and nearly died of a gunshot wound by a German soldier in World War II, whose little daughter Eddie had saved. Realizing his mistake, the German soldier saved Eddie's life - in an unusual manner - and when Eddie regained consciousness, he was never the same. Now, more than seventy years later, still in his mid-twenties, Eddie is hired by the Newmark Industries to investigate a theft at Spartak Newmark's manor. Eddie's initiation into the Newmark family and business will be one that will change his life - for he will finally meet others of his kind. Eddie must help uncover the intentions of a malicious gang and stop them to ensure the safety and secrecy of his people.
Eddie Vangh is a private investigator in his mid-twenties-with an unusual secret of his own. He was born Eddie Chang in 1920 and nearly died of a gunshot wound by a German soldier in World War II, whose little daughter Eddie had saved. Realizing his mistake, the German soldier saved Eddie's life-in an unusual manner-and when Eddie regained consciousness, he was never the same. Now, more than seventy years later, still in his mid-twenties, Eddie is hired by the Newmark Industries to investigate a theft at Spartak Newmark's manor. Eddie's initiation into the Newmark family and business will be one that will change his life-for he will finally meet others of his kind. Eddie must help uncover the intentions of a malicious gang and stop them to ensure the safety and secrecy of his people.
Was war zuerst da, die Henne oder das Ei? Und ist das Glas nun halb voll oder halb leer? Philosophieprofessor Roy Sorensen präsentiert kurzweilig und amüsant ein Sammelsurium an Gedankenverdrehern, Seltsamkeiten und Dilemmata, die unser logisches Denken herausfordern und uns in die Welt von Platos Höhle, Wittgensteins Untersuchungen und Schopenhauers Intelligenztest entführen. Bei der Lektüre kommt der Leser nicht nur gehörig ins Grübeln, sondern erfährt auf charmante Art und Weise, wie Descartes einmal in einer Kneipe verschwand, was es mit der Hummer-Logik auf sich hat und wie man sich den Abwasch fair mit dem Partner teilt. Ein philosophisches Kuriositätenkabinett, das seine Leser überrascht, erleuchtet und verblüfft – vor allem aber hervorragend unterhält.
