1st Edition
Polemical Papers Essays on the Philosophy of Life and Death
First published in 1997, this valuable volume is a collection of previously published, clear, non-technical essays brought together in this volume on a wide range of polemical topics including war and peace, love and sex, and life and its meanings. Written between 1979 and 1994, the papers lucidly approach human questions which are of issues to both academic philosophers and the wider, popular audience. Jenny Teichman’s polemics have been written with wit and gusto and her writing displays a talent for puncturing the pretensions of highly reputable thinkers and landing some well-placed blows. Much amusement can be derived from this book, along with much instruction.
Part 1. War and Peace. 1. ‘Your Terrorist is My Freedom Fighter’. 2. The Just War. 3. Pacifism and Violence. 4. How to Define Terrorism. Part 2. Love and Sex. 5. Love on the Couch. 6. Henry James among the Philosophers. 7. Thoughts about Love and Sex. 8. Intention and Sex. 9. Illegitimacy and Literature. Part 3. Life and its Meanings. 10. The False Philosophy of Peter Singer. 11. Free Speech and the Public Platform. 12. What is Sacred? Ronald Dworkin and His Answers. 13. Understanding Arendt. 14. The Niagara of Philosophy. 15. Flights of the Enchanter. 16. Don’t be Cruel or Reasonable. 17. Nihilism Refuted? 18. Deconstruction and Aerodynamics. 19. Life and its Meanings.
Biography
Jenny Teichman has been a Fellow of New Hall, the University of Cambridge, since 1968 and has also taught in North America and Australia. She is the author of The Mind and the Soul; Illegitimacy; Philosophy and the Mind; Pacifism and the Just War; Philosophy: a Beginner's Guide (with Katherine Evans); and Intention and Intentionality (with Core Diamond and others).
’Jenny Teichman is a clear-eyed  philosophical polemicist who elegantly deconstructs many fashionable shibboleths, from euthanasia, abortion and Å’regenerative¹ cloning to free speech, moral relativism  --- and deconstruction itself.’ Peter Coleman , writer and editor. ’Jenny Teichman’s polemics are written with wit, gusto and a sinewy good sense. She is not afraid to take on big names, or to deal with big issues. She has a talent for puncturing the pretensions of highly reputable thinkers and even where her victims’ intellects match their reputations, she is still able to land some well-placed blows. There is much amusement to be derived from this book, and also much instruction.’ Nicholas Denyer, Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge ’...contains some of her witty and trenchant pieces and will be relished by connoisseurs.’ Jane Heal, Fellow of St John’s College, Cambridge ’...Teichman’s essays are models of philosophical sophistication and moral intelligence... It is one of Teichman’s great gifts as a philosopher to be able to write clearly not only about technical philosophical matters but also things that people actually care about.’ The American Spectator
