Matthew Sharpe Books

"The idea of philosophy as a 'way of life' is not a new one. From the first recorded philosophy by Plato, there has been a tradition of thinking about philosophy as pointing us towards the good life, happiness and an ethical existence. But where does this notion that philosophy has anything to offer in terms of guiding us in how to live and live well come from? In this first ever introduction to philosophy as a way of life, Matthew Sharpe and Michael Ure take us us through the history of the idea from Plato and the Buddha to Foucault, Hadot and Zizek. They examine the kinds of practical exercises each thinker recommended and practiced to transform their philosophy into manners of living and acting. Philosophy as a Way of Life also examines the recent resurgence of thinking about philosophy as a practical, lived reality and why this ancient tradition still has so much relevance and power in the contemporary world"

Focusing on the application of Stoic philosophy, this book provides practical exercises aimed at individuals facing bullying and mobbing. It offers valuable strategies for managing negative emotions and making sound decisions during these challenging experiences. By addressing the epidemic of bullying, the author empowers targets with tools for resilience and self-care, helping them navigate one of life's most significant challenges.

Presents an introduction to the key concepts and developments in psychoanalysis and its impact on modern thought. Charting pivotal moments in the theorization and reception of psychoanalysis, this book provides an account of the concerns and development of Freud's work, as well as his prominent successors, Melanie Klein and Jacques Lacan.

Focusing on the evolution of Slavoj Zizek's thought, this book analyzes his works from 1989 to 2001, presenting them as part of a cohesive theoretical project. Matthew Sharpe offers a clear and structured account of Zizek's critical theory, exploring its social and philosophical dimensions alongside its political implications. The analysis reveals that Zizek's writings provoke as many questions as they resolve, prompting reflection on his theoretical framework and its relevance to the contemporary new Left.

The narrative centers on a group of settlers arriving in Virginia from a devastated Manhattan, aiming to establish an outpost and exploit local resources. However, their plans unravel amidst bizarre occurrences, including a settler's dismemberment. Pocahontas stands out with her unique dialogue, blending various languages and dialects, and embarks on a modern romance with Johnny Rolfe through text and instant messaging, culminating in telepathic communication. The story intertwines humor and historical elements in a contemporary setting.

This book is a collection of specifically commissioned articles on the key continental European philosophical movements since 1914. It shows how each of these bodies of thought has been shaped by their responses to the horrors set in train by World War I, and considers whether we are yet ‘post-post-war’. The outbreak of World War I in August 1914, set in chain a series of crises and re-configurations, which have continued to shape the world for a century: industrialized slaughter, the end of colonialism and European empires, the rise of the USA, economic crises, fascism, Soviet Marxism, the gulags and the Shoah . Nearly all of the major movements in European thinking (phenomenology, psychoanalysis, Hegelianism, Marxism, political theology, critical theory and neoliberalism) were forged in, or shaped by, attempts to come to terms with the global trauma of the World Wars. This is the first book to describe the development of these movements after World War I, andas such promises to be of interest to philosophers and historians of philosophy around the world.

Eine kleine Stadt namens Bellwether in Connecticut: Bernard Schwartz hat seine Frau, seine Karriere und obendrein sein Bewußtsein verloren. Als er aus dem Koma erwacht, erwarten ihn sein Sohn Chris, der ewige Klugscheißer, und seine Tochter Cathy, ein zur eifrigen Katholikin mutierter jüdischer Teenager. Das Wort »Pubertä« deutet ihre Probleme nur zaghaft an. Wenn man mit sechzehn bereits alle Drogen konsumiert hat, wenn Selbstmordgedanken Anlaß zur Heiterkeit geben, wenn die eigene Mutter mit dem Gärtner schläft und die Pflegerin des Vaters mit einem selbst, ist man eben ein bißchen haltlos. Doch trotz aller Turbulenzen nehmen Chris und Cathy die Dinge in die Hand, und aus Kindern werden unverhofft Erwachsene.§So heiter und melancholisch wie American Beauty, erzählt Matthew Sharpes Roman von den heiklen Banden, die Eltern und Kinder zusammenhalten. Nicht zuletzt spiegelt er die große Verunsicherung im heutigen Amerika wider, den Vertrauensverlust in Obrigkeiten und das mentale Leid einer nach außen hin starken Nation. Doch in erster Linie erzählt er eine ebenso komische wie rührende Geschichte, in der sich alle Leser wiederfinden werden.