Quest for Meaning: Values, Ethics, and the Modern Experience

By: The Great Courses, Robert H. Kane

Narrated by: Robert H. Kane

Length: 12 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's Summary

Is there an ethics that we can all agree on without stifling pluralism and freedom? What would such an ethics look like? Most important, how should you, as a thoughtful person, find your way among the moral puzzles of the modern world and its cacophony of voices and opinions? These are just some of the engaging and perplexing questions you'll tackle as you join Professor Kane for this thought-provoking, 24-lecture examination of the problems surrounding ethics in the modern world.

The contemporary issues you'll consider include conflicts between public and private morality, the degree to which the law should enforce morality, the teaching of values in the schools, the role of religion in public life, the limits of liberty and privacy, individualism versus community, and the loss of shared values and the resulting discontent about politics and public discourse. Professor Kane's approach is as searching and comprehensive as any you could ask for. His lectures range over a rich array of literary, religious, and philosophical sources representing thousands of years of civilization. Most intriguingly, they spur you to ponder the possibility of recovering the ancient quest for wisdom and virtue in a way that respects the insights of modern thought and the achievements of modern pluralism. Whatever your thinking on such questions, whatever your own personal question for true meaning, you can rest assured that it will be immeasurably enriched by the harvest of reflection you glean from these compelling lectures.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©1999 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)1999 The Great Courses

Yes, Virginia, there is an objective truth.

The title of this course could have been "The Quest for Objective Values". The professor does an excellent job in the first part of the course of surveying the great philosophers and their positions on relative vs objective values and morals. To each great thinker's position, he offers the opposing view of another great thinker, effectively presenting relativism vs objectivism as an engaging debate that spans all of history.

He then spends the rest of the course defining his own position, which is that yes, there is an objective truth, and that humanity is on the cusp of discovering it. Or at least of discovering how to perceive it, which, in his view, seems to have something to do with recognizing that "aspirational" goals are just as real as achievable goals.

This latter part of the course seems outdated; it is set in a time when we (Americans) had more faith in government, less faith in torture, and more openness to working across party lines and religious divides than we do now. Some of the examples and thought experiments fall flat, given the changes in our culture that have come about since then. I would love to hear an updated version of the same material from the same professor. (His lecturing style, by the way, was excellent.)

The most memorable topic in the lectures, to me, was Plato's view of democracy. If Plato could see us now he would be entirely vindicated.

Times They are a Changing

We live in a time where cultures clash. It is no longer suitable to adopt a universal value system and suggest that everyone should follow this. If we try, which system do we choose? This dilemma has led to relativism, which suggests that every ethical/value system is as good as the next. However, this undermines what we know about the world. This course tackles relativism and provides a lot of insight and wisdom.

Lectures in Part 1 (the first 12 lectures) were a little slow for me because they tended to review different philosophical theories from history. I found this section remote and sometimes boring. Lectures in Part 2, however, were much more lively. They focused on what do we do once we know why were are in this situation, i.e., what is our modern approach to pluralism and relativism. I found Part 2 much more practical, thought provoking, and interesting.

The teacher is great and adds a lot of color to the lectures. My only gripe is that he goes from very loud to very soft. On headphones it was a pain to find the right volume setting.

Lectures 1-12 much stronger than 13-24

The first half of the course contains a thorough review of the history of moral philosophy. The arguments put forth by famous philosophers over the centuries are simple, logical, and powerful, yet often outdone by even stronger counterarguments by other philosophers. Kane summarizes, categorizes, and clarifies this history in a very understandable way.

The 2nd half of the course shifts to being more about Kane's personal ideas on morality, which IMO stand out by their relative weakness, complexity, and lack of critique as compared to the earlier arguments. Kane's ideas are not without their critics, though unlike the arguments in the first half, the most powerful counterarguments do not get their time. Furthermore, the winding and unfocused nature of lectures 13-24, which include thoughts on public vs private morality, problems and solutions to democratic governments, and Kane's personal suggestions on how we should view religion nowadays, left me underwhelmed by the latter portion of the course.

An absolute delight

If you could sum up Quest for Meaning: Values, Ethics, and the Modern Experience in three words, what would they be?

Engaging, fascinating, fun

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Loved the chapter on social contracts - a pretty juicy subject in the hands of Dr. Kane!

Any additional comments?

This is a must-listen for anyone interested in ethics and morality, or in philosophy in general. Never a dull moment - provides genuine pleasure from start to finish. And it appeals to our values impulses at every level - the sentimental (it feels so good), rational (it makes perfect sense), utilitarian (such useful ideas!), and the contractual (you show up to listen, and Dr. Kane shows up with the goods!). I just wish I'd had Dr. Kane for Philo 101 -- way, way back when I was an undergrad.

one of my best serial lectures

listening to these lectures has led to ask about and question my values. big like.

The Problems of a Pluralistic Society

I rather enjoyed this course. It was a fun investigation of the problem of ethics and the rule of law in a pluralistic society. I found some of his arguments to be lacking but even then informative. Finally, I enjoyed learning where this modern push for "virtue ethics" that is appealing to many today, but lacking a reality check, is coming from. He at least exposes the problems, this does not say he solves them by any means.

Brilliant and erudite

I learned heaps and my mind was opened. I will do more of the great courses. They are just a cut above every other course.

Excellent Philosophical Engagement

Professor Kane is very insightful in his review of the theoretical problems that pertain to human meaning and wellbeing. He conceptualizes a third way beyond absolutism and relativism toward a more successful cooperation of democratic pluralist values.

Phenomenal!

One of the best lectures I've heard on any subject! Easy to listen to and covers some deep questions.

Pay Attention

A thorough, clear, and systematic examination of the ideas of values, which confront humanity today.

Christian conservatism disguised as ethics.

I gave this audiobook several chances but it kwpt disappointing me with Christian morals and browbeating. I would not recommend this to anyone who is not a Christian conservative.

Quest for Meaning

I absolutely enjoyed listening to the philosophical sessions: they are informative, fascinating, provocative and funny.

A real gem!

I never knew philosophy could be so insightful. I assumed this would just be a stereotypical boring lectures, but I was engaged the whole way through! I thought it was quite balanced and comprehensive as well. Thank you for your work!

Brilliant and prescient

I loved this lecture series. Robert H Kane is a wonderful lecturer - with both a superb knowledge of his subject and an equally impressive ability to convey complex ideas to people like me with no prior philosophical training.

I thought that the final lecture was especially brilliant. In half an hour the prof masterfully drew together the key ideas of the series - and left us with a number of very prescient questions that go to the heart of what it is to be human in an interconnected world. I found the course ultimately uplifting - and I loved the lecturer's usage and elaboration of the words 'quest' and 'aspiration'.

I think these lectures were recorded at the end of the twentieth century - but if anything the content is even more relevant now 20 years on. THANK YOU.

Great teacher, easy to follow

Hard to compare with equivalent courses, without listening to them but I found the teacher very engaging, clear and full of character. And I got a lot out of the arguments, which were easy to follow, despite my lack of philosophy education.

Crystallised my vague thinking

I found this course challenging and rewarding. It's far from the first philosophy that I've read, so what I needed was a framework from which to hang it. This course was brilliant for contextualising some existing knowledge and creating new lines of thought.

Better than expected

I was expecting an overview of ethical ideas, and whilst this does include that, it also goes beyond.

It provides an ethical framework of it's own which stands up to scrutiny, or at least mine.

I don't agree with all of the claims made in this lecture series, but The Moral Sphere is a wonderful proposition that can provide a meaningful guide to living.

Brilliant and inspiring.

I loved this course and found, while sometimes in disagreement with the ideas being presented, I was challenged to review my own ideas. Totally enjoyable.