Peter Kreeft is a Catholic apologist and professor of philosophy whose extensive writings draw heavily from deep philosophical and religious traditions, particularly the thought of Thomas Aquinas, Socrates, G. K. Chesterton, and C. S. Lewis. His work delves into a wide array of subjects, from Socratic logic and the nature of evil to Heaven and angels. Kreeft is recognized for his engaging style that makes complex philosophical concepts accessible to a broad audience, earning him a reputation as one of the most significant contemporary Catholic thinkers in the United States.
Focusing on the significance of ethical study, the book explores profound questions about life's meaning and moral conduct. Peter Kreeft emphasizes that ethics is tangible and that understanding good and evil leads to personal growth and happiness. By examining the key ideas of thirty-two influential ethical philosophers, it serves as a guide to their philosophies, providing insightful analysis and reflections. This work is designed for both classroom discussion and individual contemplation, making it a valuable resource for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of ethics.
"This book almost didn't exist. I was about to write a serious, heavy book entitled How To Save Western Civilization, as a sequel to my book How To Destroy Western Civilization and Other Ideas from the Cultural Abyss. But writing it was not making me happy, and reading it was not going to make anybody else happy either. And then I stopped just long enough for my guardian angel to squeeze through that tiny window of opportunity that I had opened up by my silence and to whisper this commonsense question into my subconscious: "Why not make them happy instead?" (Angels specialize in common sense.) I started thinking: Western civilization is neither healthy, happy, nor holy. Humor is all three. Humor is not only holy, it's Heavenly. And if you are surprised to be told that humor is Heavenly, you need to read this book because you reveal your misunderstanding of both humor and Heaven. If you ask, 'Is there laughter in Heaven?' my answer is: 'You can't be serious!'"
""So we must (1) restore love to our philosophy, and (2) restore philosophy (wisdom) to our love, not just to understand this book but also to understand wisdom (which cannot be understood without love) and to understand love (which cannot be understood without wisdom), and thus to understand ourselves.""--
Peter Kreeft presents a series of brilliant essays about many of the problems that undermine our Western civilization, along with ways to address them. "These essays are not new proposals or solutions to today's problems," he says. "They are old. They have been tried, and have worked. They have made people happy and good. That is what makes them so radical and so unusual today." In his witty, readable style, Kreeft implores us to gather wisdom and preserve it, as the monks did in the Middle Ages. He offers relevant philosophical precepts, divided into various categories, that can be collected and remembered in order to guide us and future generations in the days ahead. Kreeft emphasizes that the most necessary thing to save our civilization is to have children. If we don't have children, our civilization will cease to exist. The "unmentionable elephant in the room", he tells us, is sex, properly understood. Religious liberty is being attacked in the name of "sexual liberty", in other words, abortion. Kreeft encourages us to fight back—with joy and confidence—with the one weapon that will win the children.
The Psalms are the most popular, most universally loved and used book in the Bible, which in turn is the most popular book in the world. They are hymns, songs, poems and prayers, both formal (liturgical and communal) and informal (spontaneous, personal, and individual); and this gives them many layers of meaning rather than one, unlike theologies and creeds.They Psalms are literally inexhaustible, so a new book of reflections on them is always welcome. Especially a book by the beloved, widely read, best-selling author and philosopher, Peter Kreeft.In this work Kreeft shares his personal explorations into the riches of the Psalms, his profound expeditions into this deep ocean of the divinely inspired spiritual water. He focuses on the dozen or so Psalms that are most people's favorites, including Kreeft.Kreeft says that the Pslams are powerful prayers, and a spiritual weapon that God himself has given us for our great task of spiritual warfare, which is human life on earth."What prayers did Jesus and his disciples pray? The Psalms! As all Jews have always done ever since they had them. The Psalms are God's answer to our plea, 'Teach us to pray.' Christ prayed them not only in synagogue but throughout His life, and at his death. He prayed Psalm 22, 'My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?' even as He was dying on the Cross."- Peter Kreeft, from the Introduction
Humorous, frank, and insightful, this book challenges the reader to step in and take hold of what is right and to cast away what is wrong. Topics covered included such varied subjects as private property, the individual, the Three Philosophies of Man, women, individualism, and more. A wonderful introduction to philosophy for the neophyte, and a joy for the experienced student of thought. "Imagine two of the most influential thinkers of all time, and two of the most diametrically opposed, thrust together in a no holds barred debate about some of the most important questions: Does man move the world or is he only a puppet of forces beyond his control? Is there a human nature or only market forces? Is Communism the liberator of mankind or a deadly scourge? In Peter Kreeft's Socrates Meets Marx, the father of philosophy cross examines the founder of communism using the Communist Manifesto, details from the life of Marx himself, and the witnesses of history as evidence to be considered for judgment. If only every edition of the Communist Manifesto would have been bound together with a copy of this book, the world would be a much saner place." - Christopher Kaczor, author of Proportionalism and the Natural Law Tradition
This is no ordinary book. It is a set of probing questions (1,450 in fact) designed to help individuals or groups, especially groups, to dive deeply into Saint John’s Gospel. No answers are provided, but the questions are phrased in such a way as to set a person in a reliable direction for finding the answers. The questions correspond to the verses of the Gospel and require active and personal interaction. Some of the questions are easy, some difficult, and they are marked accordingly. Some questions include background information or hints that help the reader along. Some were written with a fair bit of humor. Any person or group using these questions to explore John will find themselves entertained as well as informed and inspired.
Kant is portrayed as a dual philosopher, excelling in both epistemology and ethics, making him a pivotal figure in modern philosophy. Peter Kreeft emphasizes that Kant's contributions to understanding knowledge and moral principles establish him as a significant influence in philosophical discourse. His exploration of how we know things and the nature of right and wrong showcases the depth and breadth of his thought, affirming his status as a monumental thinker in history.
Engaging with existentialist philosophy, the book presents a fictional dialogue between Socrates and Sartre in the afterlife, challenging Sartre's ideas. Through this imaginative exchange, it explores profound questions and critiques modern philosophical concepts with wit and insight, making complex themes accessible and entertaining for readers.
My title explains itself. But it's misleading. There are more than 40 reasons. In fact, there are at least ten to the 82nd power, which, I am told, is the number of atoms in the universe. And that's just in ordinary matter, which makes up only 4.9% of the universe, the rest being dark matter and dark energy. Each of my reasons is an independent point, so I have not organized this book by a succession of chapters or headings. After all, most readers only remember a few big ideas or separate points after reading a book. (I've never heard anyone say "Oh, that was a good continuous-process-of-logically-ordered-argumentation" but I've often heard people say, "Oh, that was a good point." Which takes me back to my main point: "Why are you a Catholic" is a good question. A good question deserves a good answer. Here are forty of mine.
