Desperately Wicked: Philosophy, Christianity and the Human Heart

by Patrick Downey

What is the human heart like? Theologians and philosophers have attempted to address this question, not just in the abstract, but concretely in personal, as well as social and political, dimensions. Patrick Downey explores the biblical writings of Genesis and the Hebrew prophet Jeremiah, the Greek tragedies, Plato, Aristotle, and political philosophers--such as Rousseau, Hobbes, Nietzsche and René Girard--to seek answers to this profound question. Recognizing our resistance to know the truth about our own hearts, Downey calls his readers to join with these thinkers in the search for truth and serious self-reflection. Not for the faint of heart, this book courageously addresses the most foundational question of our existence as individuals in community. What is the nature of the human heart and can we, will we, know it?

Genres: Philosophy, Theology

182 pages, Paperback

First published February 4, 2009

About the author

I am the author of Gangster City: The History of the New York Underworld 1900-1935 and Bad Seeds in the Big Apple: Bandits, Killers & Chaos in New York 1920-1940 and Legs Diamond: Gangster.

My newest book, Hollywood on the Spot: Crimes Against the Early Movie Stars, is now available as paperback or Kindle book.

I invite you to visit me at:
www.deadgangster.blogspot.com

Reviews

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth every penny

An important book in our time of hollow positive affirmations. A deep dive into the nature of politics and man where even now our political utopians and humane optimists cant shake their bloodlust for political scapegoats and deplorables. One is reminded of Tolkien's ring of power in Downey's use of the invisible ring metaphor and how the corrosiveness of the ring is not in the ring but latent in the human heart which hides its desires for self-aggrandizement, vengeance and murder in lies and fears of punishment.

[Paul Duggan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Girardian. Need to digest this more. Someone else read it with me and talk about it :)

[Jeffrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty abstract but some good insights: the idea that human beings are not good.