Peter Byrne is the editor of the prestigious journal RELIGIOUS STUDIES. His book, THE PHILOSOPHICAL AND THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS OF ETHICS, is simply an outstanding introductory text on the relationship between religion and morality. I have learned much from this book, and I highly recommend it to others.

As an atheist, I was particularly interested in Byrne's chapter on "Morality without Religion." Byrne considers a number of issues related to this subject, including: (i) naturalistic ethics, motivation, and evil; and (ii) the metaphysics and epistemology of secular ethics. Concerning (i), Byrne considers "the objection to secular ethics ... that it can offer the individual who respects morality no guarantee of anything other than a life of disappointment and self-sacrifice." However, he notes that the secular moralist can offer three points to mitigate this objection. First, virtuous living remains a partial good even if it exists in isolation from the ideal whole. Second, the social dimension of morality shows that the best chance for attaining the complete good will be in a morally ordered community where moral rules are well-respected. Third, concern for moral considerations is not wholly derived from desire to attain an ultimate good. Byrne concludes, "We can see from this discussion of moral motivation that what is and is not a proper and sufficient motive for moral action is a complex matter--much more complex than neat proofs of the unsatisfactoriness of this or that moral outlook allow."

As for (ii), Byrne considers arguments which attempt to show that if we are doubtful of theism, we must be doubtful of the truth of moral principles. Here Byrne notes that if the secular moralist is allowed use of the notions of truth and reason in general, then objections about the source and nature of secular morality collapse. (Byrne lists personal choice, social custom, and evolution as examples of sources of secular moral standards.) He writes, "So long as the secular thinker can point to good reasons which back a judgement such as 'Do not steal', the question of whence this moral standard arises is of no more philosophical interest than the question 'Where do the principles of arithmetic come from?'"

The book is written at an intermediate level, so that it is useful to scholars and students alike. I highly recommend it.

well, not quite a needle....actually a national park in Nepal, but the tracking of the largest Asian elephant ( 11 feet at the shoulder, 22 " foot diameter ) in order to document its existence, and in so doing hopefully ensure its safety by giving it a 'national identity' did not prove an easy task ! An excellent read .. couldn't put the book down !

Feminist fans of Dorothy L. Sayers's Vane-Wimsey novels will find LOVE ALL a delightful change of pace. The companion play to the dramatic version of the novel BUSMAN'S HONEYMOON in this edition, LOVE ALL takes a very different approach to male-female relations. While she creates for Harriet Vane and Lord Peter Wimsey a fulfilling personal and professional relationship in BUSMAN'S HONEYMOON, Sayers suggests in LOVE ALL that women can find emotional fulfillment, financial security, and artistic challenges on their own. Written in 1937-38 and staged in 1940 and 1941, LOVE ALL focuses on a love triangle that almost becomes a love "square," composed of the narcissistic romance novelist Godfrey Daybrook; his wife Edith, who writes hit plays under the pseudonym Janet Reed; his mistress, the temperamental actress Lydia Hillington; and his secretary Mary Birch. Unlike Lord Peter Wimsey, Godfrey Daybrook is incapable of respecting women or their work, nor does he have a sense of humor. And while he is, of course, only one character in the play, Sayers suggests that he is a typical male. Alzina Stone Dale points out in her introduction to the play that "with the exception of the worldly and wily theatrical producer, all the male characters are patronizing, homosexual, or childish. Sayers's women, on the other hand, quickly establish a mutual aid society and adamantly refuse to pander any longer to the demands of the moderately charming novelist, Godfrey Daybrook" (xxix).

While Godfrey has set up housekeeping in Venice with his mistress Lydia and his secretary, Edith has temporarily entrusted their son to his grandmother, taken a flat in London, and launched a play-writing career as "Janet Reed." Godfrey may have described Edith to Lydia as "a good wife, a good mother, a painfully good woman, sensible, cultivated. . . . with a college education--only not the smallest, faintest touch of charm or glamour," but he returns to London to find his cast-off wife dashing to opening night parties, flirting with actors, and wearing the latest fashions (136-7). Instantly aware of his wife's new desirability, Godfrey becomes jealous and suspects her of having taken a lover. He concludes that Edith's failure to divorce him as she promised must result from her preoccupation with a new male love-interest.

Much to his surprise, Godfrey learns that Edith's delay in divorcing him results not from her having been caught up in a whirlwind romance but from having launched a whirlwind career. "Three days after you went off," she tells him, "I got a wire from the management saying they'd take the play. . . . and rushed up to Town and put in a strenuous month getting the contract signed, and then there was casting--you've seen what's that like--and rehearsals--" (168, 170). When he rages, "Great heavens, Edith, have you no sense of proportion? Surely our married life is of more importance than a few rehearsals!", she replies, "But it wasn't our married life. It was your unmarried life. And when my life got all exciting and interesting, everything else seemed to get so far off and unreal" (170).

Edith's life as the playwright Janet Reed is interesting, and she credits her new-found satisfaction to work. Eventually, she ends up collaborating with Lydia, her former romantic rival, on a new play. Godfrey finds himself out in the cold. While some readers may object to her having made Godfrey such an unappealing character, Sayers offers funny and smart depictions of Edith and Lydia. The dialogue is sharp--Sayers at her best. This play is too well-kept a secret--and the play version of BUSMAN'S HONEYMOON is worth reading, too.

I have just returned(well a few hours ago) from a staged reading of Love All. This is a beautiful play, and it is a great tragedy it was never filmed. Thsi would have made a wonderful movie with say Cary Grant as Godfrey and Katherine Hepburn as Janet. The play is in some ways similar to the works of Ayn Rand. Unlike Ms. Rand's work the play is extremely funny, but the overall theme that one's work is all that matters. That it comes first, and that it is impossible to be a fulfilled, happy human being without it is paramount. If you ever get a chance to read or see this play, do so at all costs.

From Stan Lee and Jack Kirby to Peter David, this is a total of several Hulk stories done by various writers and artists on how the Hulk's different personalities have surfaced over the years. From being very intelligent to being very savage. It;s very good work and it shows how shallow the Hulk stories by Paul Jenkins really are.

Never before has the HULK been more visually striking and the story riveting. Never before has the HULK struck our awe and asked us to reconsider his predictament and his incredible plight for fitting in. This graphic novel captures the TRUE essence of the HULK and warrants frequent readings that constantly entertains. This is the definative HULK. Oh yeah, did I mention the fantastic artwork?? Go for it.

This book is an excellent collection of important documents on the Iran-Contra affair. There is nothing like reading the documents for yourself, and not counting on someone else to interpret them for you

This 584-page book deals with some 269 species covering 55 genera. These are fully described with accompanying line drawings and over 130 of them are illustrated in colour.

The introductory chapters deal with the geography, climate and vegetation of Papua New Guinea as well as the conservation and classification of New Guinean orchids. This book, a massive undertaking in itself, is a bold start in making known to the orchid world the unusual and spectacular orchid flora of Papua New Guinea.

The island of New Guinea boast more than ten percent of all known orchid species. Although the author limited himself to species found only in the lowlands this book is a most valueable addition.

This is an interesting book by respected philosopher Peter Byrne (editor of the prestigious academic journal, RELIGIOUS STUDIES). Byrne discusses 'the moral interpretation of religion," the view that "morality provides the anchor for belief in transcendent, sacred reality and, consequently, provides the means for interpreting belief in a religious ultimate." This book is not sympathetic to the view that morality needs a personal God as its foundation, though Byrne is equally willing to criticize secular ethics when appropriate. Byrne argues (1) that if the foundation of morality is a personal God, then the autonomy of morality is undermined. (2) When theists appeal to moral arguments for theism, they are open to the counterargument that the problem of evil is a reason for favoring atheism over theism. According to Byrne, the argument from evil is stronger evidence for atheism than the moral argument is for theism.

Of special interest to me was the book's second chapter, which focuses exclusively on an oft-neglected topic: the various moral arguments for theism. In that chapter, Byrne states a number of objections to moral arguments for God's existence. (Ironically, most of those objections have NOT appeared in atheistic literature in the philosophy of religion!) Along the way, Byrne manages to discuss the following topics:

* the Euthyphro dilemma,
* Robert Adams' modified divine command theory,
* Linda Zagzebski's claim that without God we must become moral skeptics,
* the suggestion that secular morality is deficient because it lacks a proper motivational background to pursue the moral good

In short, I would say that chapter 2 alone justifies purchasing the book. If you have an interest in moral arguments for the existence of God, then you will definitely want to add this book to your library.

This volume was published in the mid 1970's. At the time it was written, Mr. Byrne was investigating the Bigfoot mystery under a grant from the Academy of Applied Science. A former Big Game Hunter, he was initially involved in the search for the Himalyan Yeti in the 1950's in the Slick expedition. Mr. Byrne operated the Bigfoot Information Center in the Dalles, Oregon for several years. He investigated and interviewed many witnesses. He discusses some of these sightings at length in this book. The Information Center was a clearing house in the 1970's for reports of sightings and footprints. This is a good edition to the library of anyone interested in this area of cryptozoology for the sighting reports. For a more in depth review of this subject, Dr Grover Krantz's Bigfoot Sasquatch Evidence, Dr John Bindernagel's North America's Great Ape, The Sasquatch, or any of John Green's books, especially, Sasquatch, The Apes Among Us would be recommended. Byrne's writing style is interesting and sometimes quite humorous. This book is out of print, however it is not difficult to locate and is definetly worth the effort to obtain.

This book was written in the mid 1970's by Peter Byrne a former big game hunter in Nepal. Mr Byrne was actively involved in investigating the Himalyan Yeti in the 1950's in the expeditions supported by oilman Tom Slick. After he retired from big game hunting and became a conservationist he again became interested in the reports of Bigfoot in the American Northwest and under a grant from the Academy of Applied Science began a full time investigation. He has reported and investigated numerous sightings that are presented in this volume. At the time this book was written, there was a base in The Dalles, Oregon that Mr Bryne worked out of pursuing his investigation. There was an information center and a newsletter published also at that time. This book is written from the viewpoint of an experienced animal tracker/hunter and the sightings are detailed. Mr Byrne was one of the few full time investigators who had some private financing to search full time. This book is a good edition to the library of anyone interested in this subject. This book is out of print, however it was a massed produced paperback and is obtainable.