The Rocket

Issue date: 2/17/06 Section: Entertainment

Media Credit: Sheryl McGlory Professor Bernard Freydberg with his book.

"Imagination in Kant's Critique of Practical Reason" is the newest book release written by SRU philosophy professor Bernard Freydberg.

In Freydberg's fourth book, he discusses the logic and reasoning behind German philosopher Immanuel Kant.

"The human imagination and creativity live our lives. We live a life of ecstasy," he said. "We provide standards for our moral actions."

Freydberg said the problems encountered by people today are not that different from the problems of people in ancient Greece.

"While studying Greek philosophy, one can see that the problems are virtually identical," Freydberg said. "We tend to seek power in our own. We struggle with moral questions, and sadly, war still afflicts human beings."

Freydberg explained some other human principles, including Kantian ethics, in the book.

"It is a single moral principle. There are several versions of it, as it is a human principle," Freydberg said. "It is mostly about pre-humanity in its own person. There is always an end, but never as a means only. It is the respect for self and others, which is commanded, no exceptions. If we tend to dislike something, it is punished out of respect."

Kantian ethics also has been considered one of the most influential philosophies in the history of Western thinking.

Reviews of the book have been positive. One reviewer from the Indiana University Press commented that it was "exciting and profound" and "both convincing and an important work of scholarship."

In addition to writing, Freydberg also likes to teach German philosophy. He said there is a lot of wonder with German philosophy.

"That is a big question. It has provided a conceptual structure for much thought that philosophers use today, in regards to its structure," Freydberg said. "It has originality and sometimes it is difficult to ask about."

Freydberg also loves to teach logic. If a student were to pursue a course while attending Slippery Rock, he suggested studying reasoning would be essential to "give themselves a 'big leg up' for applying to graduate school and post studies.'"

Freydberg will be using his book to conduct an independent study with SRU philosophy students, as well as students from Boston College and Indiana University. In 2001, he was presented a commendation for his excellence in his publications by the Olympic Center for Philosophy and Culture in Greece. Also, in 2003 and 2004, he received the Charles A. Zuzack Award by the College of Humanities, Fine and Performing Arts.

Freydberg's 152-page book is now available at the SGA Bookstore and at Amazon.com.

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