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Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated The Ethics of Ambiguity in Books

Aug 30, 2017

The Ethics of Ambiguity

Simone de Beauvoir | 1947 | Essays, Philosophy, Psychology & Social Sciences

8.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

Complex themes, slightly obvious

Simone De Beauvoir is one of the foremost feminist philiosophers there are. However, unlike in The Second Sex, The Ethics of Ambiguity explores the nature of freedom and basically deconstructs arguments made by pioneering philosophers Marx and Kant. She poses the question how can humans be both subject and object yet still be free? She says if humans are born free why are they also treated like objects to control? And there lies the ambiguity.

As free, we have the ability to take note of ourselves and choose what to do. As factic, we are constrained by physical limits, social barriers and the expectations and political power of others. She has quite a Hobbesian approach saying human beings are responsible for their own actions and therefore have to work at creating concrete ideals rather than following an abstract notion of freedom.

She also criticises approaches that require grasping for freedom at the expense of others - adding that inadvertently reduces gaining freedom down to another form of slavery ie. Communism, Capitalism and Democracies.

She concludes that the only way you can will yourself free is to will others free in the process.

While the sentiment is there, her writing style was very repetitive in this book, and at times a little tangential. Not her best work, but still very relevant for current times.

Kudos

ClareR (5674 KP) rated Reign Of The Wolf in Books

Apr 22, 2018

Reign Of The Wolf

Dianna Hardy | 2017 | Erotica, Paranormal, Science Fiction/Fantasy

9.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

An outstanding end to the series.

I believe that if it’s a good book, I’ll read it. I don’t care what genre it falls in to. There’s good literature in every genre, and if you stick to just one type, you’re missing out (potentially, but hey! Read what makes you happy, thats the most important thing!).

I can’t believe this is the final book!! I admit, I’ve left off reading this for as long as possible, because I knew it was the last one. This was action packed! The final battle between the Wolves and the Trident couldn’t have been more exciting. Secrets of Lawrence’s family come out, we find out more about the Trident, and there’s the Egyptian connection too (which I love, by the way). It’s an end of an era! The story is left in such a way as there is the possibility of spin-offs, though. I know the author has written one and is writing another. I can see at least one more avenue that I’d like to see explored!
Just a warning to those of a sensitive nature: there’s a fair bit of sex in this novel, sex in all it’s many varied forms. Don’t read it if you don’t like smoking hot books ?
And yes, I really did just say that.