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The Labyrinth: God, Darwin, and the Meaning of Life
For anyone pondering the meaning of life, this wide-ranging book will be a helpful companion. Have you wondered where we came from or whether there is a god? And if so, why there is so much evil and turmoil in the world? Have you pondered the notion of an afterlife? And what role it has in determining our behavior while alive?
Philip Appleman sagely and eloquently addresses these questions, putting them in the illuminating context of our evolutionary development and cultural history. Twenty-first century thinkers, reflecting on the long and horrendous history of religious wars and atrocities, are no longer willing to pay the traditional deference to religious authority, preferring instead to seek inside their own lives, thoughts, and action for the answers to life’s greatest questions. Appleman concludes that a life well lived, short as it is in the eons of our planet’s existence, is its own reward.
Philip Appleman sagely and eloquently addresses these questions, putting them in the illuminating context of our evolutionary development and cultural history. Twenty-first century thinkers, reflecting on the long and horrendous history of religious wars and atrocities, are no longer willing to pay the traditional deference to religious authority, preferring instead to seek inside their own lives, thoughts, and action for the answers to life’s greatest questions. Appleman concludes that a life well lived, short as it is in the eons of our planet’s existence, is its own reward.
72 pages, Hardcover
First published September 20, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 15, 2016
A concise and eloquent endorsement of humanism that retains a deep sense of humility and spirituality.
December 1, 2016
This book characterizes the naive resentment a teenager begins to feel against religion when suddenly introduced with 8th grade biology and evolution. To give credit where it's due, it's a well written book which is short, precise and to the point. But it fails at the following:
1. Stating something that isn't obvious to a 15 year old who took his evolution class seriously and has some critical thinking ability
2. Understanding religion as a more nuanced phenomenon than "an easy escape with easy answers used for exploitation".
3. Going beyond positivism.
I'd highly recommend the author of the book to read kierkegaard or spinoza and entertain the possibility of religion than being something more than just an evil oppressive hammer of delusion. And I say this all of this as an atheist. Lastly, not every individual is content with the meaning or salvation offered by what the author believes is the grand sum of human endeavor.
1. Stating something that isn't obvious to a 15 year old who took his evolution class seriously and has some critical thinking ability
2. Understanding religion as a more nuanced phenomenon than "an easy escape with easy answers used for exploitation".
3. Going beyond positivism.
I'd highly recommend the author of the book to read kierkegaard or spinoza and entertain the possibility of religion than being something more than just an evil oppressive hammer of delusion. And I say this all of this as an atheist. Lastly, not every individual is content with the meaning or salvation offered by what the author believes is the grand sum of human endeavor.
December 11, 2014
Amazing book. A must read for everybody.
October 9, 2024
It’s an interesting read. Just remember, Humanism.. is an ism too, and just as dogmatic as any religion.. I suppose everyone has to believe in something… funny how we can come to the same conclusion but from very very different perspectives!
Enjoy the debates with your book club after you read this one. Just remember, Philip Appleman is just as human as the rest of us giving you HIS big brain opinion regarding the meaning of life. We are all on our own journeys, enjoy your own experience!
Enjoy the debates with your book club after you read this one. Just remember, Philip Appleman is just as human as the rest of us giving you HIS big brain opinion regarding the meaning of life. We are all on our own journeys, enjoy your own experience!
April 7, 2019
the book ia small, the letters are quite eye-friendly, the words are poetic and litlle bit difficult for english is not my first language. but what is written still up to date.
May 24, 2015
This book is a wonderful acknowledgement of Darwin's vast contributions to science and society as a whole. I feel that this book should be a companion to all who delve into "Decent of Man".
My main criticism of this short work is the author's absolute denial of the concept of spirituality. My personal experiences consisting of mostly atheistic views throughout life have ultimately matured into more agnostic tendencies as of late. I still hold science to be the basis of my personal philosophy, but as my education and knowledge of this world has evolved, I cannot objectively deny a certain intangible quality to life in good, 'scientific' conscience. This is indeed a personal statement of opinion, but many late night discussions with friends of similar world views have also admitted that they to cannot find all the answers within the capacity of our senses. Science still has many doors to open, and these questions may still be answered, of course.
If I ever have the opportunity to have a talk with Appleman about this book, I would ask him if he cannot see the spiritual possibilities of his own words. The ideas of social moral instinct and an apparently hereditary urge to protect all life on this planet, whether altruistic or self serving, carries with it strong implications of a higher level of consciousness that is blatantly regarded in this book as being scientific heresy. I question the hypocrisy in absolute denial just as I distrust the same attitudes in religion. It is absolutely, and in my opinion necessary, to separate main stream religion from spirituality in effort to begin a more unified relationship between spirituality and science.
My main criticism of this short work is the author's absolute denial of the concept of spirituality. My personal experiences consisting of mostly atheistic views throughout life have ultimately matured into more agnostic tendencies as of late. I still hold science to be the basis of my personal philosophy, but as my education and knowledge of this world has evolved, I cannot objectively deny a certain intangible quality to life in good, 'scientific' conscience. This is indeed a personal statement of opinion, but many late night discussions with friends of similar world views have also admitted that they to cannot find all the answers within the capacity of our senses. Science still has many doors to open, and these questions may still be answered, of course.
If I ever have the opportunity to have a talk with Appleman about this book, I would ask him if he cannot see the spiritual possibilities of his own words. The ideas of social moral instinct and an apparently hereditary urge to protect all life on this planet, whether altruistic or self serving, carries with it strong implications of a higher level of consciousness that is blatantly regarded in this book as being scientific heresy. I question the hypocrisy in absolute denial just as I distrust the same attitudes in religion. It is absolutely, and in my opinion necessary, to separate main stream religion from spirituality in effort to begin a more unified relationship between spirituality and science.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews