A Community of Individuals

Drawing on the spirit of classical American Philosophy,A Community of Individualsis an original, highly engaging, and important philosophical exploration of pressing personal and social problems. With clear, compelling, spirited writing, Lachs tackles a wide range of topics from the responsibility of educators and the role of education to the problems of aging and the desire for immortality, from genetic engineering and biomedical research to genocide and moral progress. The work also includes new, significant discussion of major American thinkers. The common theme running through the book is the complex relationships between individuality and community, and how we might think through their competing demands to live better lives.

John Lachs is Centennial Professor of Philosophy at Vanderbilt University. He has written numerous books on a wide range of philosophical topics, including recently In Love with Life: Reflections on the Joy of Living and Why We Hate to Die.