A landmark work. Mandatory reading for anyone who wants to learn to be a good skeptic.

In this widely acclaimed and highly controversial book, Paul Kurtz examines the reasons why people accept supernatural and paranormal belief systems in spite of substantial evidence to the contrary. According to the author, it is because there is within the human species a deeply rooted tendency toward magical thinking - the 'transcendental temptation' - which undermines critical judgment and paves the way for willful beliefs. He explores in detail the three major monotheistic religions - Judaism, Christianity, and Islam - finding striking psychological and sociological parallels between these religions, the spiritualism of the 19th century, and the paranormal belief systems of today. There are sections on mysticism, belief in the afterlife, the existence of God, reincarnation, astrology, and ufology. Kurtz also explains the nature of skepticism as an antidote to belief in the transcendental.

In his final book, the late Paul Kurtz outlines his personal vision for a planetary ethics inspired by scientific wisdom. Blending realism and optimism, he lays out the basic principles of an ethical approach that he calls humanist eupraxsophy--that is, the application of practical moral choices inspired by scientific wisdom. Emphasizing the dramatic character of the biosphere, human affairs, and the physical universe itself, Kurtz has structured the book in terms of an operatic scenario, with an overture, intermezzo, nine acts, and a grand finale. Citing the emergence of a new planetary civilization, he proposes the development of a planetary ethics based on universal human rights, free scientific inquiry unfettered by dogma, an attitude of exuberance toward human potentials, and courage and determination in the face of the daunting challenges of our time. Kurtz concludes on an enthusiastic note: there is meaning to be found in creative human endeavors as well as a sense of awe and profound reverence inspired by the spectacle of the enormous universe and the prospects for the human adventure.

John Dewey was recognized in his own day as America's philosopher. His defenses of pragmatism, naturalism, humanism, and democracy stand among the highest achievements of thought, and they helped shape the destiny of America and the world. In this collection of twenty-three essays, written especially for this volume, many of the most prominent scholars on Dewey and pragmatism offer fresh insights and explorations of Dewey's enduring impact. The contributors are inspired to search for that new enlightenment that Dewey himself sought, reconfigured to deal with the pressing problems of our times. The world seems to be reaching a tipping point of social, political, and ecological instability. Can Dewey's philosophy help once again with the real-world problems of our own day? Among this book's contributors are John Peter Anton (University of South Florida), Molly Cochran (Georgia Tech), Peter Godfrey-Smith (Harvard University), James Gouinlock (Emory University), Judith Green (Fordham University), Larry Hickman (Southern Illinois University), Philip Kitcher (Columbia University), Paul Kurtz (Center for Inquiry), Joseph Margolis (Temple University), Gregory Pappas (Texas A&M University), Hilary Putnam (Harvard University), Ruth Anna Putnam (Wellesley College), Jay Schulkin (Georgetown University), and Giuseppe Spadafora (University of Calabria).

Out of the long and enlightened history of humanism—with its concern to overcome superstition in all its varied forms by employing reason, the scientific method, critical thinking, pluralism, democracy, tolerance, and compassionate caring—has emerged an exciting new antidote to the infectious factionalism that plagues every facet of our lives.

Paul Kurtz and the Institute for Science and Human Values offer the world this compelling Neo-Humanist Statement of Secular Principles and Values as a reasonable, and practical approach to living a vibrant, meaningful, and morally grounded life. Endorsed by over 100 leading scientists and public intellectuals, the statement celebrates the many differences that highlight our uniqueness while emphasizing that we are all members of the human community and we must act cooperatively using transnational institutions if we are to solve our many pressing problems.

The endorsers include Arthur Caplan, Rebecca Newberger Goldstein, Lawrence Krauss, Elizabeth Loftus, Joe Nickell, Jean-Claude Pecker, Steven Pinker, James Randi, Carol Tavris, and Lionel Tiger, among others. Paul Kurtz, a leading humanist advocate, is the chairman of the Institute for Science and Human Values, a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a humanist laureate, and president of the International Academy of Humanism.

Naturalism is widely regarded as the dominant philosophical worldview in the West. The prestige of science and the power of technology have driven naturalism to prominence, even as deep questions mount on all sides.

In this volume of all new essays, prominent philosophers consider a wide variety of challenges to naturalism, proposing improved defenses and novel developments in this influential worldview. Some essays question whether naturalism is a unified philosophy, and try to determine how one or another variety of naturalism has an advantage. Other essays defend naturalism’s approaches to religion, the mind, experience, morality, and society. To ensure that naturalism has a strong future, this volume’s authors are determined to help reformulate its principles for the 21st century.

Among the contributors are Mario Bunge (McGill University), Paul Kurtz (Center for Inquiry and State University of New York at Buffalo), John Lachs (Vanderbilt University), Isaac Levi (Columbia University), Joseph Margolis (Temple University), Nicholas Rescher (University of Pittsburgh), John R. Shook (Center for Inquiry), and other leading philosophers.

Kurtz (philosophy emeritus, State U. of New York, Buffalo), one of America's leading secular humanists, asserts it is possible to live a good life and be morally responsible without religion, and argues that humanity is limited by traditional religious values. In this edition, with a new introduction added to the original 1988 text, Kurtz defends the ethics of secularism and humanism, and states that in order to progress to a maximum level of creative development humans must fully partake of the forbidden fruit of the Garden of Eden, which is the knowledge of good and evil. Stating that this knowledge is the guiding principles in autonomous reason, he defends the idea that the awareness of the centrality of moral decency is common to all people. He describes the roles and ethics of excellence, human rights and responsibilities, the role of education in character and cognition, the purpose of privacy, and the real fruit of the tree of life. Annotation ©2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

This volume reprints the second six complete issues (24 stories) of the comic book Weird Science, originally published in 1951 and 1952, and features science fiction and fantasy stories, flying saucers, aliens, other worlds, space travel, similar to the first science fiction movies of the same period.

Are there any ethical values and principles that nonreligious individuals can live by? In a time when many have forsaken otherworldly religions, what does human life mean? What is its significance? Secular humanism attempts to answer these questions in a way that resonates with human aspirations and the findings of science. It provides a scientific, philosophical, and ethical outlook that exerts a profound influence on civilization and that may be traced back to the ancient world, through the modern world, down to the present. Today many schools of thought broadly identify with humanist ideas and values. By conjoining the term secular with humanism, we may narrow its focus and meaning, enabling us to distinguish secular humanism from other forms of humanism ... in the contemporary world Secular Humanism offers a bold new paradigm.

Kartz and two of his associates at the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (which he founded) have edited a collection of 39 previously published articles written for the popular reader that discuss questions related to science and religion. Among the topics are the existence of God, creationism, the Big Bang theory, the existence of the soul, and Galileo's encounter with the Church. Annotation (c) Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Addresses global issues and conflicts through a humanist ethics perspective, and offers solutions based on reason, optimism, and the values of international human rights.