Healing the Culture: A Commonsense Philosophy of Happiness, Freedom and the Life Issues

Rating:
Summary: lost in space
Review: An ultramontanist friend gave me a copy of this to read, apparently in the hope that it would quell all the questions I have about the Magisterium's long, dreadful retreat from Vatican II.

It didn't. Frankly, I find it almost impossible to read.

I agree wholeheartedly with the reviewer who says the book shows a clear disconnect with reality.

A much better book, in my opinion, is Philip S. Kaufman's "Why You Can Disagree--And Remain a Faithful Catholic".

Rating:
Summary: Excellent and desperately needed!
Review: Fr. Spitzer uses ancient wisdom of the Greek Philosophers to remind contemporary society what happiness is truly about. Our society has become increasingly shallow and selfish. Please, read this book!

Rating:
Summary: The Pursuit of Happiness
Review: Without a shared philosophy, Father Spitzer argues, debates about the so-called life issues quickly degenerate into point-counterpoint donnybrooks. So the bulk of Healing the Culture is a prolegomenon to the pro-life position, an extended presentation of the classical and Christian argument that human nature and happiness cannot be limited to merely material or pragmatic concerns.

That such a philosophy seems counter-cultural does suggest the need for cultural therapy, and the author's case for unselfish ethics is well-organized and well-reasoned. Particularly strong are his discussions of how true freedom requires moral goodness, how democracy ultimately derives from inalienable rights (not simple majority rule), and the futility of fully defining personhood by sociological categories.

All in all, Healing the Culture is a good introduction to the good life. But can philosophy alone can heal the cultural divisions behind the debates? Changing someone's convictions about subjects as personal and controversial as abortion and euthanasia more require more than rational argument.