The Mind of God and the Works of Man

by Edward Craig

What is the connection between philosophy as studied in universities and those general views of man and reality which are commonly considered "philosophy"? Through his attempt to rediscover this connection, Craig offers a view of philosophy and its history since the early 17th century. Craig discusses the two contrary visions of man's essential nature that dominated this period--one portraying man as made in the image of God and required to resemble him as closely as possible, the other depicting man as the autonomous creator of his own environment and values--and uses this context to clarify previously opaque textual detail. Illustrating how general concepts embodied by philosophical thought can be embodied in other media--especially literary--the author brings together disparate disciplines; he also reveals striking similarities between Anglo-American and certain 20th-century continental European lines of thought.

Genres: Philosophy

364 pages, Hardcover

First published June 4, 1987

About the author

Edward John Craig was educated at Charterhouse. He read philosophy at Trinity College, Cambridge (1960–1963), and was Reader in Philosophy at Cambridge from 1992 to 1998. He became Knightbridge Professor of Philosophy in 1998, a chair he held until his retirement in 2006. He is a Fellow of Churchill College. He edited the journal Ratio from 1988 to 1992. He is also a former cricketer at first-class level: a right-handed batsman for Cambridge University and Lancashire.

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Reviews

[saml · Rating 4 out of 5]

weird, wide-ranging, brisk, bright history of a few moments in philosophy, historicising them in the relation to the present, and historicising the present thereby. articulates the shape of a few climates of opinion, which might help us foist off the broad pragmatism craig identifies of the present, though i wouldn't want us to. here, i am on the side of repression.