What is man? What is the nature of mankind's existence? What is the purpose of existence - the meaning of life? Ask a member of the clergy and you will likely get clear and concise answers to those questions. Ask a medical professional and you will get very different answers. Ask a psychologist. Look it up in the dictionary. Google it. Soon you will realize that, while there are many ideas that seem on first glance make sense, any answers offered will likely be colored by a specific perspective and will be, at best, nothing more than guesses.
Who can definitively answer those questions? Wisdom would dictate that we begin by asking philosophers. Though they too have widely differing opinions, by analyzing their answers and applying common sense, we might at last be able to determine what we are and what our role in the universe might be.
Award winning author Bernard Fleury has done just that in 'What Is Man? Male and Female'. In that book he presents points of view from 5 leading philosophers - Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, Martin Buber, Jean- Paul Sartre, Burrhus F. Skinner and John Dewey.
What Is Man Male And Female' answers three very important questions:
What does it mean to be human? Each of the philosophers presented in this book represents a major view regarding the meaning attached to "Man".
Who or what is it that we are attempting to define, teach, or develop therapies for? Each of these views undergirds educational priorities , concepts of parenting, and therapies for sociologists, psychologists, and psychiatrists.
"What role does the Inner and Outer Light play in each philosopher’s view?" asks Fleury. "If the Inner and Outer Lights are an integral part of our universe as I state in the entire Light Series, then the Philosophers of "Man" that include both the Inner and Outer Light best represent the universe as it is."
The scope of What is Man? Male and Female includes the interests of Parents in their parenting, Sociologists, Psychologists, and Psychiatrists as well as pre and in-service teachers and other education administration personnel. All of these professions have “Man” as their subject so it is critical to their practices how they view the “human.” Who or what is it that they are attempting to define, teach, or develop therapies for?
Readers and reviewers have lauded 'What is Man?':
"Professor Fleury,Ed.D. has done a masterly piece of groundwork. He generously offers the results of his own life’s quest to those who are willing to make the effort to study his work to find meaning for themselves, others, and for our cultural-evolution." - Ruth McGoldrick, SP, MRE Adult Educator and Spiritual Director
"Dr. Fleury has done a great service for educators, parents, and all concerned with raising and educating children in today's world. He has invited those so involved top perform that most elemental and human of efforts, namely to reflect for themselves on what motivates them to journey with young people toward maturity. By sampling the thoughts of five men (deChardin, Buber, Dewey, Sartre, and Skinner) each of whom in his own way has greatly influenced the pedagogical process, Dr. Fleury teases out both the similarities and dramatic differences which inform these schools of thought." - Rev. Richard A Bondi
"Bernard J Fleury is a gifted and knowledgeable thinker whose work will provoke discussion in the areas of psychology, philosophy, and parenting. . . I loved the references to prominent thinkers, theologians and philosophers who have articulated on the meaning of the human person, including Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, Martin Buber,Jean- Paul Sartre, Burrhus F. Skinner, and many more. Here is a book that offers insights and opens portals to powerful truths about being human. In What is Man? Male and Female, the author offers answers and encourages readers to think about their personhood from a completely fresh perspective. It is filled with light and wisdom.” - Divine Zape
"This was a superb work, and the best I have read by this author so far, especially due to its minimal approach of opinion and scholarly presentation of human philosophy. The thinkers which are presented are diverse and well considered for their part in the development of defining what it means to be human, and we can use this to view our place in the world as well as that of others. Genuinely accessible, thanks to Fleury’s clear and concise transcriptions and translations of what each complex theory has to offer, this bite-sized edition of philosophical thinking certainly packs a punch, and could be read, discussed and appreciated again and again." - K.C. Finn
"The book discusses the interpretations of the five major philosophers – Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, Martin Buber, John Dewey, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Burrhus F. Skinner – regarding the meaning to be attached to ‘Man’. The interpretations of these five philosophers have been divided into five sections in the book. Their views are helpful when it comes to deciphering and defining who we actually are, and the nature of human growth and development. The question of what is man is actually a very fundamental one, and the book gives a lot of insights that will enable readers to understand the concept and the people around them in a way so they are helpful to each other and can move forward in dignity and respect." - Mamta Madhavan
Nearly all of Bernard's books center squarely on the theme of Light as a Someone and a Something. He believes we are all Called Into Life By The Light. Life and Light are tied together. Life light describes their relationship best because both our “without” (our physical being) and our “within” (our spirit) are 1b.asically light in two different forms:
Physical energy that occupies space, has weight, can be measured, and
Psychic or spiritual energy which is a force that causes things to happen and thus, real energy, but it does not occupy space have weight, nor can it be measured.
Fleury's 'Light' book series has received numerous 5-star rated reviews. He was chosen as one of ‘50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading’ in the 2017 Book Awards. That honor came as a result of his appearance on The Authors Show. He was chosen from a field of hundreds of authors through a public voting process.
Bernard Fleury is available for media interviews and can be reached using the information below, or by email at bernlida@comcast.net. 'The Unfailing Light Remedy for Alienation, Loneliness and Despair' is available at online retail book outlets. More information is available at his website at http://www.intolifebylight.com.
About Bernard Fleury:
Bernard Fleury is Professor Emeritus at Westfield State University and a Roman Catholic Permanent Deacon. He holds an A.A. degree in Classical Languages, a B.A. in History, a M.S. in Elementary Education with a minor in Philosophy, and an Ed.D. in Administration with a minor in Government. He taught in both the undergraduate and graduate divisions at Westfield State University for thirty years and was a Public School teacher and principal for thirteen years. He also served as Director of School Administration at Westfield State University, and as Director of Teacher Education, Academic Vice President, and President protem at International College of the Cayman Islands over a sixteen-year period. At present he is a corporator in the Westfield State University Foundation. He has also worn a third hat as an ordained Catholic Permanent Deacon for the past thirty seven years.
Contact:
Bernard Fleury
bernlida@comcast.net
http://www.intolifebylight.com
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