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Meaning and Value in a Secular Age: Why Eupraxsophy Matters - The Writings of Paul Kurtz

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The secular age has confronted human beings with a fundamental challenge. While the naturalistic worldview rooted in science has persuasively shown that traditional religious conceptions of the universe are unsustainable, it has so far offered no compelling secular narratives to replace the religious narratives so entrenched in civilization. In the absence of religion, how do thoughtful contemporary individuals find meaning in a secular world?In this book, philosopher Paul Kurtz argues for a new approach that he calls eupraxsophy. Kurtz first coined the term in 1988 to characterize a secular orientation to life that stands in contrast to religion. Derived from three ancient Greek roots, eupraxsophy literally means "good practice and wisdom." Drawing upon philosophy, science, and ethics, eupraxsophy provides a thoroughly secular moral vision, which respects the place of human values in the context of the natural world and presents an empirically responsible yet hopeful picture of the human situation and the cosmos in which we abide. Editor Nathan Bupp has conveniently gathered together Kurtz's key writings about the theory and practice of eupraxsophy for the first time in this volume.Written with eloquence and scope, these incisive essays show how Kurtz's brand of humanism moves above and beyond the current "new atheism." Eupraxsophy successfully bridges the cultural divide between science and value and provides a genuine and constructive alternative to religion. Bupp's informative introductionplaces the concept of eupraxsophy in historical perspective and shows why it is critically important, and relevant, today.

363 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2012

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About the author

Paul Kurtz

68 books59 followers
Dr. Paul W. Kurtz was a prominent American skeptic and secular humanist. Before his retirement, he was Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at the State University of New York at Buffalo, having previously also taught at Vassar, Trinity, and Union colleges, and the New School for Social Research.

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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
Profile Image for Mark Abrams.
98 reviews37 followers
April 18, 2014
Paul Kurtz has been known as a great humanist for years. It is in this book, he puts together a tremendous collection of his best thoughts and philosophies in one volume. His writing is clear, his logic is faultless, and his conclusions flow smoothly from that logic. This is destined to be a classic in the realm of secular humanism. Also, it can serve as a course in advanced philosophy unto itself!

I would most highly recommend this rather heavy volume to my fellow freethinkers around the globe. If you are serious about secular humanism, this book is a must!
193 reviews19 followers
September 23, 2015
Thought-provoking, despite the occasionally murky prose; a few excellent chapters, a few ho-hum, breezy ones.
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