Brett_PhilosopherZ reviewed The courage to become by Paul Kurtz
Review of 'The courage to become' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
An expansion of Kurtz's secular ethics.
This book is an elaboration and extension of humanistic ideas found in earlier works of Paul Kurtz (most specifically, "Forbidden Fruit: The Ethics of Secularism" and "Living without Religion: Eupraxsophy"), however, this book stands on its own and doesn't require familiarity with the earlier works.
This small book provides a brief but concise introduction to three positive humanistic virtues (courage, cognition, and caring), by comparing and contrasting them with a theistic perspective, and from the perspective of a sceptical nihilist. The book provides the atheist and theist alike with a means to explore what can constitute a life of meaning. Because of this comparative approach, there is an expected amount of criticism of the other two opposing views. What is most welcome, though, is that the criticism is civil in tone, and the humanist perspective is presented in a positive way.
Thus, this book …
An expansion of Kurtz's secular ethics.
This book is an elaboration and extension of humanistic ideas found in earlier works of Paul Kurtz (most specifically, "Forbidden Fruit: The Ethics of Secularism" and "Living without Religion: Eupraxsophy"), however, this book stands on its own and doesn't require familiarity with the earlier works.
This small book provides a brief but concise introduction to three positive humanistic virtues (courage, cognition, and caring), by comparing and contrasting them with a theistic perspective, and from the perspective of a sceptical nihilist. The book provides the atheist and theist alike with a means to explore what can constitute a life of meaning. Because of this comparative approach, there is an expected amount of criticism of the other two opposing views. What is most welcome, though, is that the criticism is civil in tone, and the humanist perspective is presented in a positive way.
Thus, this book is useful at several levels. First it provides the reader with a good introduction to several humanist virtues that can assist in developing an affirmative life of meaning. This is done through a thorough, but civil comparison with two opposing views. And finally, it does so in a positive and constructive way.
If, after reading this, you seek a more sustained analysis of these types of ideas by Kurtz, consider looking at Kurtz's books
[b:Forbidden Fruit|1207872|Forbidden Fruit|Paul Kurtz|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1365463430s/1207872.jpg|1196233] and
[b:Living Without Religion|605895|Living Without Religion|Paul Kurtz|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1365463171s/605895.jpg|592442].