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A Refutation of Moral Relativism: Interviews With an Absolutist |  | Author: Peter Kreeft
Label: Ignatius Press
Category: Book
List Price: $14.95
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Seller: amk
Rating:  33 reviews
Sales Rank: 135351
Media: Paperback
Pages: 177
Number Of Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 8.9 x 6 x 0.6
MPN: 9780898707311
ISBN: 0898707315
Dewey Decimal Number: 171.7
UPC: 008987073154
EAN: 9780898707311
Publication Date: October 1999
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
A Refutation of Moral Relativism by Peter Kreeft No issue is more fateful for civilization than moral relativism. History knows not one example of a successful society which repudiated moral absolutes. Yet most attacks on relativism have been either pragmatic (looking at its social consequences) or exhorting (preaching rather than proving), and philosophers' arguments against it have been specialized, technical, and scholarly. In his typical unique writing style, Peter Kreeft lets an attractive, honest, and funny relativist interview a "Muslim fundamentalist" absolutist so as not to stack the dice personally for absolutism. In an engaging series of personal interviews, every conceivable argument the "sassy Black feminist" reporter Libby gives against absolutism is simply and clearly refuted, and none of the many arguments for moral absolutism is refuted. "Kreeft offers
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 33
 The Best Peter Kreeft book yet. August 25, 2010
Michael J. Whinihan (Troy, Michigan)
I was a fan of Peter Kreeft's books before I bought this one, but this is now my favorite. As a beginning philosophy student, I wanted background on philosophers like Descartes and Kant, and I really enjoyed learning about those two philosophers through Kreeft's series "Socrates Meets ....". But I found "A Refutation of Moral Relativism" even more enjoyable than his other books and I believe it would appeal to a much wider audience than those who wish to learn some philosophy. To begin with, even though the title is misleading and suggests a dry essay, you should "try it, you'll like it". It is actually a lively entertaining dialogue, or, more correctly, an interview by a Black radical feminist reporter of an Islamic philosophy professor about moral relativism, and they cast many humorous barbs against each other. The interview is divided into ten sessions, each on an aspect of moral relativism. My favorite two interviews are the two in which the reporter offers 8 different arguments for moral relativism, and the professor offers an average of 4 different refutations for each of her arguments. One point worth repeating that he (and Aristotle) makes is that if your opponents terms are clear, his propositions true, and his reasoning valid then his conclusion is TRUE, not "true for him, but not true for me", but TRUE. And if you wish to preserve your self respect, you should gracefully concede the argument.
The professor's conclusion in the tenth interview seems outrageous but entirely plausible, so I won't give it away.
Mismatch of minds August 6, 2010
Michael Wilson (Brooklyn, NY, USA)
This is an absolutely delightful read. I don't want to salt the dig, but there are a couple important things to know about this work:
1) It's not really Kreeft. It's a series of transcriptions of taped interviews where he's 'moderating'. If I knew that up front I probably would have made the mistake of not buying the book.
2) The gentleman being interviewed possesses a truly exceptional mind and is impressively articulate. Unfortunately the interviewer... not so much. I'd love to hear a conversation on these topics between him and an intellectual equal, or at least someone playing in the same league. The downside is that there's a fair amount of rehash of obvious arguments, keeping Isa shackled down to the level of his interviewer. The upside is that you'll laugh when you hear the same hackneyed points posited by moral relativist illiterati in the wild.
None of that can ding it below 5 stars.
A wonderfully entertaining read May 5, 2010
Marathon Chaise (Madison, WI)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
It's nice to have all the arguments set in an interview format. It shows not only the logic of the debate, but also the history behind these two philosophies and their consequences. I highly recommend this book to everyone.
The Debate Continues... March 22, 2010
D. S. Thurlow (Alaska)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Peter Kreeft's "A Refutation of Moral Relativism" is subtitled "Interviews with an Absolutist." Kreeft, a Professor of Philosophy at Boston College and a Christian apologetic, crafts a fictional series of interviews by an American Black feminist journalist of a Muslim Palestinian professor and moral absolutist. The result is a surprisingly readable and educational give-and-take on the still-current debate between moral relativism and moral absolutism as appropriate philosophies for life.
Kreeft tips his eventual destination in the title, and partisans of moral relativism may reasonably disagree that their side gets equal treatment. However, the general reader will find much useful, authentic discussion here, of the kind rarely found in today's main stream media. Partisans can find something to chew on that may freshen a long-held perspective, even if they ultimately are unlikely to be swayed. Kreeft's humorous approach softens some of the potential offense that might be taken from a forthright exchange of ideas.
"A Refutation of Moral Relativism" is highly recomemnded to those with an open mind and an interest in the subject.
An exercise in absolutist apologetics July 6, 2009
Bojan Tunguz (Greencastle, IN USA)
3 out of 5 found this review helpful
Peter John Kreeft is a professor of philosophy at Boston College, a prolific writer and an engaging educator and public speaker. My first exposure to his writings came through his book A Shorter Summa: The Essential Philosophical Passages of Saint Thomas Aquinas' Summa Theologica, which was first systematic introduction to the writings of Saint Thomas Aquinas. Kreeft is definitely strongly influenced by Thomistic thought, and this "Refutation" reflects some of that, as the dedication too strongly implies.
The book is structured as a series of dialogues between Libby Rawls, a prototypical modern liberal relativist, and `Isa Ben Adam, a stand-in for a philosophically well versed moral absolutist. Both of them are figments of Kreeft's imagination, and maybe even parts of his own divided personality. The dialogues are deliberately fashioned after Socratic dialogues, and they serve as a vehicle through which Kreeft crafts his arguments in favor of moral absolutism.
I have had a chance to listen Kreeft give a lecture on this very topic, and based on that it would make sense to write the arguments in a form of dialogues. Kreeft is a very good public speaker and great at interacting with audience and thinking on his feet about even the most arcane topic. This is clearly reflected in the book as well, as some of potential intellectual minefields are avoided with masterful grace. Furthermore, it is quite unusual nowadays to come across a book written in a form of dialogue. The academic writing tends to be very technical and impersonal, and that sometimes detracts from otherwise a very interesting topic. However, reading a page after page of interpersonal argumentation can get overbearing after a while, especially if the give-and-take can be rather confrontational on an occasion. However, this is easily compensated by lucidity of the prose and cogency of arguments. If you have ever had to argue with a moral relativist, this would be an ideal book that can be used to refute most of their arguments. It is an exercise in absolutist apologetics.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 33
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