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Ernest Gellner

    December 9, 1925 – November 5, 1995

    Ernest Gellner was a distinguished British-Czech philosopher, social anthropologist, and writer on nationalism. His work delves deeply into the nature of modern societies and the genesis and functioning of nationalism. Gellner's analytical approach and his ability to bridge philosophy, sociology, and history allowed him to offer unique insights into the complexities of human culture and politics. His writings remain essential for understanding the formation of nations and the modern state.

    Ernest Gellner
    Encounters With Nationalism
    Words and Things
    Spectacles and Predicaments
    Nationalism
    The Psychoanalytic Movement
    Plough, Sword and Book
    • 2012

      Language and Solitude

      Wittgenstein, Malinowski and the Habsburg Dilemma

      • 230 pages
      • 9 hours of reading
      4.0(57)Add rating

      Focusing on the philosophical contributions of Wittgenstein and the anthropological insights of Malinowski, this final work by Gellner offers a comprehensive analysis of their ideas. It explores the intersections of language, culture, and human understanding, presenting a unique synthesis that highlights the significance of both thinkers in contemporary thought. Through this lens, Gellner aims to illuminate the broader implications of their theories for social science and philosophy.

      Language and Solitude
    • 2009

      Spectacles and Predicaments

      Essays in Social Theory

      • 396 pages
      • 14 hours of reading

      This collection of essays addresses critical issues within philosophy, politics, and society, offering insightful analysis and perspectives. It explores fundamental questions and challenges, encouraging readers to reflect on the interplay between these disciplines. Each essay contributes to a deeper understanding of contemporary societal problems, making it a valuable resource for those interested in the complexities of human thought and governance.

      Spectacles and Predicaments
    • 2005

      Words and Things

      • 416 pages
      • 15 hours of reading
      4.3(33)Add rating

      First published in 1959, this classic challenge to the prevailing philosophical orthodoxy of the day, remains the most devastating attack on a conventional wisdom in philosophy to this day.

      Words and Things
    • 2005

      Poslední kniha Ernesta Gellnera, vydaná až po jeho smrti, se zabývá soupeřením dvou základních forem moderního myšlení, způsobu života a politiky. Zaměřuje se tedy na napětí mezi tím, co autor označuje na jedné straně jako atomistický individualismus a na druhé straně jako romantický organicismus. Konflikt těchto dvou koncepcí života i myšlení byl a je neobyčejně ostrý zejména ve střední Evropě a tvoří jakési podloží četných dalších střetů ať již v oblasti politiky nebo ekonomie. Byl nejvíce reflektován v Habsburské říši, ale dodnes ho pociťujeme v celém našem prostoru. Je to zároveň konflikt mezi rozumem a kulturou. Gellner jeho podstatu objasňuje analýzou myšlení R. Wittgensteina a B. Malinowského.

      Jazyk a samota: Wittgenstein, Malinowski a habsburské dilema
    • 2003

      The Devil in Modern Philosophy

      • 272 pages
      • 10 hours of reading

      The collection of essays explores the intricate relationship between philosophy and life, drawing on the insights of notable figures such as Chomsky, Piaget, and Eysenck. Gellner examines various perspectives on this connection, offering a multifaceted analysis that engages with both philosophical concepts and practical implications in everyday life. Through these discussions, the essays illuminate the ways in which philosophical thought influences our understanding of human behavior and societal dynamics.

      The Devil in Modern Philosophy
    • 1999

      Práce je jedním z nejpozoruhodnějších výkladů dějin moderní evropské filozofie od Descarta po současnost. Nejde však o tradiční akademické dějiny filozofie, chápané pouze jako vnitřní vývoj logiky, ontologie, gnoseologie, etiky a dalších součástí této disciplíny. Gellner vytrvale poukazuje na to, že filozofie je součástí mnohem širších i hlubších posunů v lidském vědění, chápání a jednání.

      Rozum a kultura. Historická úloha racionality a racionalismu
    • 1998

      Nationalism

      • 128 pages
      • 5 hours of reading
      4.3(18)Add rating

      A provocative essay on a subject that, since the collapse of the Soviet empire, has become once again, a central subject of contemporary politics. Lucid, witty and brilliant, Gellner's essay combines the perspectives of politics, history, philosophy and anthropology with the multidisciplinary flair for which he is renowned

      Nationalism
    • 1997

      Co vyplní vakuum vzniklé po dramatickém pádu komunismu v bývalém Sovětském svazu a východní Evropě? Jak ukazuje ve své knize nedávno zesnulý filozof E. Gellner, jedním z nejdůležitějších rozdílů mezi komunismem a západním liberalismem spočívá v jejich chápání občanské společnosti.

      Podmínky svobody. Občanská společnost a její rivalové
    • 1996

      Conditions of Liberty

      Civil Society and Its Rivals

      • 240 pages
      • 9 hours of reading
      3.7(46)Add rating

      A distinguished scholar's provocative analysis of the political forces transforming post-Communist Eastern Europe. What is filling the void left by the fall of Communism in the ex-Soviet Union and Eastern Europe? In this groundbreaking book, one of Europe's most distinguished social anthropologists addresses this question through an examination of the idea of the civil society, which is rooted in the Enlightenment's belief that society can be organized rationally.

      Conditions of Liberty