vbid/9781315522487

Description

This book provides a unique overview of and introduction to the work of the German psychologist and philosopher Ludwig Klages (1872-1956), an astonishing figure in the history of German ideas. Central to intellectual life in turn-of-the-century Munich, he went on to establish a reputation for himself as an original and provocative thinker. Nowadays he is often overlooked, partly because of the absence of an accessible and authoritative introduction to his thought; this volume offers just such a point of entry. With an emphasis on applicability and utility, Paul Bishop reinvigorates the discourse surrounding Klages, providing a neutral and compact account of his intellectual development and his impact on psychology and philosophy. Part 1 offers an overview of Klages�s life, visiting the major stations of his intellectual development. Part 2 examines in turn nine major conceptual �tools� found in Klages�s extensive writings, aiming to clarify Klages�s terminology, to demystify his discourse, and to sift through Klages�s credentials as a psychological thinker. Part 3 consists of extracts from Klages�s writings, thematically oriented; these showcase the aphoristic and lyrical, as well as psychological and philosophical, qualities of Klages�s writing, including his interest in aesthetics. Taken together, all three parts constitute a vitalist �toolkit� � to build a fuller, richer life. Drawing on previous studies of Klages that have only been available in German, Ludwig Klages and the Philosophy of Life provides a non-polemical account of Klages�s life and work, with explanations and commentaries to guide the reader through extracts from his writings. The book accessibly explains the most important ideas and concepts found in Klages�s work, including soul, spirit, character, expression, will, and consciousness, and it reveals Klages to be a serious figure whose thought remains relevant to many disciplines today. It will stimulate interest in his work and create a new readership for his remarkable worldview.Typham this is the title: Ludwig Klages and the Philosophy of Life A Vitalist Toolkit 1st Edition