LAS VEGAS, Dec. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Parmenides Publishing, a Las Vegas- based press of philosophy and classics titles, just released SENTIENCE AND SENSIBILITY: A Conversation about Moral Philosophy by Matthew R. Silliman. The book is a lively and thought-provoking fictional conversation between an immigration officer named Harriet Taylor and an immigrating philosopher named Manuel Kant, who is seeking "philosophical asylum" in the United States. Over several days, in the course of Mr. Kant's application the two unlikely interlocutors develop a friendship and a compelling dialogue that ranges from "microbe morality," "cooperation in bats," and "cat-consciousness" to such fundamental and current concerns as "truth," "postmodernism," "political courage," the "pro-life/pro-choice" debate, "vegetarianism," "torture," "education," "animal rights," "moral progress," and "parenting." The conversation aims not only to discover thoughtful answers to such questions, but to do so while being respectful of both philosophical theory and ordinary moral intuitions.

Kay Mathiesen, Senior Lecturer on Ethical, Social and Political Theory, University of Arizona, compares the appeal of SENTIENCE AND SENSIBILITY, which develops original ideas in moral thought, to Jostein Gaarders's bestselling novel Sophie's World, about the history of philosophy. Silliman's account may bridge the gap, or at least split the difference, between those who think everything (or everything living) has intrinsic moral value, and those who would restrict moral importance to humans alone.

Philosophical page-turners are finding an avid readership. This conversation is accessible and engaging and addresses matters of natural human concern with rigor and originality. Additionally, it will serve as an excellent companion text for all courses in Moral Philosophy and Ethics.

Matthew R. Silliman earned his B.A. from Earlham College, and his M.A. and Ph.D. from Purdue University (1986). He is Associate Professor of Philosophy at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts since 1993, specializing in Ancient Greek philosophy as well as Social and Political philosophy. He has served as Editorial Reviewer for the Social Philosophy Book Series, Philosophy Documentation Center, since 1987.

Parmenides Publishing, founded in 2000, is committed to making philosophy and classics accessible to a wider audience, while also serving the academic community. The company is named after the ancient philosopher Parmenides of Elea, a philosophical pioneer, often regarded as the father of logic.

SENTIENCE AND SENSIBILITY: A Conversation About Moral Philosophy

Release: November 2006

Format: Cloth; 5-1/2 x 8

Page Count: 346 pages

Price: $32.00 USD

ISBN-10: 1-930972-07-5

ISBN-13: 978-1-930972-07-0

Media contact: Jacqueline Lefkowitz

media@parmenides.com - http://www.parmenides.com

Phone: (702) 892-3934 - Fax: (702) 892-3939

Parmenides Publishing

3753 Howard Hughes Pkwy, Suite 200, Las Vegas, NV 89169 SOURCE Parmenides Publishing

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