The Wisdom of the Myths
- 404 pages
- 15 hours of reading
More than 100,000 copies sold in FranceA fascinating new journey through Greek mythology that explains the myths' timeless lessons and meaningHeroes, gods, and mortals.
Luc Ferry Book order
January 3, 1951
Luc Ferry is a French philosopher and a notable proponent of Secular Humanism. His work delves into the profound questions of human existence, morality, and the meaning of life in the modern world. Ferry seeks to offer philosophical responses to contemporary crises of identity and values. His approach often bridges philosophical tradition with current societal issues, providing readers with thought-provoking insights into the present era.
- 2014
- 2011
A Brief History of Thought
- 282 pages
- 10 hours of reading
Eight months on the bestseller lists in France! From the timeless wisdom of the ancient Greeks to Christianity, the Enlightenment, existentialism, and postmodernism, Luc Ferry’s instant classic brilliantly and accessibly explains the enduring teachings of philosophy—including its profound relevance to modern daily life and its essential role in achieving happiness and living a meaningful life. This lively journey through the great thinkers will enlighten every reader, young and old.
- 2010
Learning to Live
- 270 pages
- 10 hours of reading
A smart, accessible history of philosophy to inspire readers young and old
- 1993
Homo aestheticus
- 280 pages
- 10 hours of reading
Can subjective, individual taste be reconciled with an objective, universal standard? Luc Ferry explores this central problem of aesthetic theory in relation to democratic individualism. He begins in the mid-1600s, when the concepts of taste (art as subjective pleasure) and modern democracy (the State as a consensus among individuals) emerged. By examining the evolution of aesthetic theory through Kant, Hegel, Nietzsche, and avant-garde thinkers, Ferry distinguishes between subjectivity and individuality. He identifies two "moments" of avant-garde aesthetics: the hyperindividualistic iconoclasm of creating something entirely new, and the hyperrealistic pursuit of extraordinary truth. This tension, he argues, preserves an essential Enlightenment concern for reconciling the subjective and the objective, intertwining aesthetic, ethical, and political dimensions. Ferry rejects postmodern ideas advocating for a radical break from or a return to tradition, instead proposing a postmodernism that reinterprets Enlightenment values as a new intersubjectivity. His analysis of the rise and decline of the twentieth-century avant-garde movement offers fresh insights into the connections between aesthetics, ethics, and political theory.