Standpoints

Svend Brinkmann is professor of general psychology and qualitative methods at Aalborg University.

• ForewordPrologue: The Meaningful Life1. The Good (Aristotle)2. Dignity (Kant)3. The Promise (Nietzsche)4. The Self (Kierkegaard)5. Truth (Arendt)6. Responsibility (Løgstrup)7. Love (Murdoch)8. Forgiveness (Derrida)9. Freedom (Camus)10. Death (Montaigne)Epilogue: Perspectives on the Meaning of Life

"In this crisply-written, page-turner of a book, Svend Brinkmann courageously demonstrates how we can stand firm against the tsunami of societal mandates for self-improvement, with their reality-defying instructions for achieving happy, healthy, wealthy lives. Easy and fun to read, Standpoints breathes new life into the old philosophers who have something new and important to tell us yet."—Barbara S. Held, Barry N. Wish Professor of Psychology and Social Studies Emerita, Bowdoin College"A short, clever, witty book which gradually and powerfully builds a forensic critique of the self obsessions of modern culture. Provocative and highly enjoyable."—Matthew Taylor, The Royal Society of Arts"With characteristic aplomb, Svend Brinkmann follows his wildly popular Stand Firm with a timely set of reminders about what makes a human life worth living. Brinkmann wears his wisdom lightly, but it is wisdom indeed that he wears."—Todd May, Clemson University