We appreciate and respond to Cokelet's thoughtful criticisms of our book. First, he points to deliberative forms of practical wisdom as objectionable to anti-rationalist's. In response, we point to non-conscious (yet complex) forms of deliberation that occur as individuals automatically process and respond to virtue-relevant stimuli. Second,…

In this paper I provide a critical commentary of Elmer Thiessen's "The Ethics of Evangelism". Following an overview of the book's project and strategies, I discuss two stages of the project in detail. The first is Thiessen's analysis of "religious proselytism"; the second is Thiessen's arguments that…

This paper outlines aspects and dimensions of my "relationship" with Richard Peters from 1966 onward. The underlying suggestion is that, while Peters' contribution to philosophy of education was undeniably of major proportions, both that contribution and his legacy are institutional rather than substantive. (Contains 15 notes.)

Over the last 15 years, the book review landscape has changed seismically. Reviewing is no longer centralized, with a few big voices leading the way, but fractured among numerous multifarious voices found mostly on the web. In turn, readers aren't playing the captive audience any more. Undone by economics, many traditional print sources have been…

This essay calls for a fresh critical approach to the topic of censorship, suggesting that anticensorship efforts, while important and necessary, function much like literary prizing. The analysis draws especially on James English's recent study "The Economy of Prestige." There are two central arguments: first, that the librarian ethic of…

In this essay, Hamilton responds to criticisms of his book "The Art of Theater" (Malden, MA: Blackwell, 2007). Acknowledging that he expected that the central proposals in "The Art of Theater" would seem a little strange to philosophers, he reiterates his belief that the three general facts of any theatrical performance are its presentation, its…

In this article, the author analyzes Arthur Efland's "Art and Cognition," which advocates study of the visual arts for its cognitive benefits. The author argues that Efland's cognitive premises are largely sound but that his specific recommendations often belie the general principles he espouses. Efland focuses on the interpretation of baffling…

Discusses elements that are characteristic of good books: (1) impacts society; (2) changes our personal lives; (3) stretches the reader's mind; (4) handles ideas with skill; (5) is reread; (6) refines our sensibilities and intellect; (7) serves as a standard; and (8) adds to our knowledge of the human condition. (24 references) (MES)

This paper seeks to explore issues of immigration and Otherness through a study of the first of Michael Bond's Paddington books. I will argue that this book and those which follow in the series, intended for a readership of young children, deal with the issue of immigration at a more subtle level than more recent books which are largely aimed at…

Discusses the current state of criticism of children's literature and calls for its improvement. (FL)

The views of three prominent figures concerning the current state of the book world are presented in the three separate essays in this booklet. The first essay, by critic and educator Alfred Kazin, addresses the state of literature in the United States, focusing upon financial pressures and the failure of current writers to see beyond today in…

Considers concepts of death and the afterlife presented in children's literature of previous centuries and in several recent books for children, including "The Farthest Shore" by Ursula Le Guin, "The Brothers Lionheart" by Astrid Lindgren, and "Song of the Pearl" by Ruth Nichols. (GT)

Highlights the strengths of the book, "The Secret Garden." (HOD)

Examines the garden in "The Secret Garden" as an image, a metaphor, and a symbol that help readers to appreciate the levels of meaning and the narrative movement of the book. (HOD)

Discusses the appeal to children of Gene Kemp's Tamworth Pig books and "The Turbulent Term of Tyke Tiler," which won the Carnegie Medal in 1978. (HOD)