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Books

A Philosophy of Fear by Lars Svendsen

Mark Frankel thinks fearfully.

We can philosophise about anything, even fear. Actually, that’s not so surprising, as from earliest times philosophers have thought about fear, anger and the other emotions. This book by a Norwegian professor looks at the classic ethical conflict of the emotions and reason, but it is also a piece of contemporary polemics about the politics of fear.

These polemics are the result of the author’s increasing irritation at the colonisation of our lives by fear. Professor Svendsen aims some crisply expressed criticisms at those politicians who exaggerate the threat of terrorism to erode our human rights, and at the scare-mongering media which corrupt our understanding with sensationalised half-truths.

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