Men of Ideas

About the Book

MEN OF IDEAS

The lives and ideas of some of the world's best-known philosophers are presented. Why read philosohy? Because, says the author, all of our most cherished beliefs are born in it. Our goverment, our relgions, our freedoms, our science, our system of justice, all come form philosophy. The daily newspapers are teaming with phlosophical speculations: civil rights, the rights of poor and underprivileged, poltical freedoms, the enviroment.

Philosophy is an attempt to understand what life means, it is a look for a reason for living, it is a search for reasonsfor why we live as we do or why we want to change life as we know it. It is an attempt to place ourselves in the world and in the universe and then find out what that world and universe are.

Since veryearly times men have pondered the questions that philosophy raises. many questions and answers that people talk about today were first discussed long ago. This book is an attempt to show what people ver aperiod of 2,500 years and from many parts of the world have said about ideas that are as important now as they ever were.

The author has condensed the biographies and thoughts of men like Aristotle, Augustine, Confucius and Kierkegaard into easy-to-read, concise and thuought-provoking chapters.

About the Author

John Loeper was born in Pennsylvania. He is an educator by profession and has been a teacher, counselor, and schol administrator. He was the recipient of the American Educator's Medal given by Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge.

Mr. Loeper spent time in europe writingand doig research. In 1974, he lectured in Germany as a guest of the Berghische University at Wuppertal.

Mr. Loeper has contributed articles and stories to newspapers, journals, and national magiznes. He is also an artist and has exhibited his work in galleries throughout the United States. He is the author of twenty-four books and one of his titles, GOING TO SCHOOL IN 1776, is celebrating its twenty-eighth year in print.

Mr. Loeper has had a lifelong interest in philosophy and taught a course based on his book for the Emeritus program of Aquinas College, Grand Rapids.

Mr. Loeper and his wife make their home in Florida.