1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910822847203321

Autore

Grant Patrick

Titolo

Imperfection / / Patrick Grant

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Athabasca University Press, 2012

Edmonton, [Alberta] : , : AU Press, , 2012

©2012

ISBN

1-926836-77-4

1-280-68713-4

9786613664075

1-926836-76-6

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (240 pages) : digital, PDF file(s)

Collana

Cultural Dialectics, , 1915-8378

Disciplina

128

Soggetti

Philosophy - History

Criticism

Imperfection

Self

Philosophical theology

Ethnic conflict - Religious aspects

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references (pages 225-227).

Nota di contenuto

PART I: Imperfection. 1 Plato and the Limits of Idealism; 2 The Van Gogh Letters: The Art of the Unfinished; 3 The Trouble with Visions; 4 Northern Ireland, Sri Lanka, and Regressive Inversion; 5 Osama, Theo, and the Burnt Fool's Bandaged Finger; 6 What the Buddha Didn't Say; 7 Not So Good News: The Gospel According to Mark -- PART II: Self. 8 Immortal Souls and State Executions; 9 The Eyes Have It: Seeing One's Self and Others; 10 The God of Battles and the Irish Dimension of Shakespeare's Henry V.

Sommario/riassunto

"".aspirations to perfection awaken us to our actual imperfection."" It is in the space between these aspirations and our inability to achieve them that Grant reflects upon imperfection. Grant argues that an awareness of imperfection, defined as both suffering and the need for justice, drive us to an unrelenting search for perfection, freedom, and



self-determination. The twenty-one brief chapters of Imperfection develop this governing idea as it relates to the present situation of the God debate, modern ethnic conflicts, and the pursuit of freedom in relation to the uncertainties of personal i

“…aspirations to perfection awaken us to our actual imperfection.” It is in the space between these aspirations and our inability to achieve them that Grant reflects upon imperfection. Grant argues that an awareness of imperfection, defined as both suffering and the need for justice, drives us to an unrelenting search for perfection, freedom, and self-determination. The twenty-one brief chapters of Imperfection develop this governing idea as it relates to the present situation of the God debate, modern ethnic conflicts, and the pursuit of freedom in relation to the uncertainties of personal identity and the quest for self-determination.Known for his exploration of the relationship between Buddhism and violent ethnic conflict in modern Sri Lanka, as well as his contribution to the study of Northern Ireland and the complex relationships among religion, literature, and ethnicity, Grant provides the reader with an analysis of the widespread rise of religious extremism across the globe. Referencing Plato, Van Gogh, Jesus, and the Buddha, he enlightens the reader with both succinct and original insights into human society. Imperfection is the result of an important Canadian public intellectual at work.