Philosophical Perspectives on Ruins, Monuments, and Memorials

This lavishly illustrated, fascinating collection brings together original essays by philosophers, archaeologists, architects, cultural scholars, and art historians. All aspects and functions of ruins, monuments, and memorials are covered, including the ethical dilemmas they can pose, the loss of cultural heritage they often represent, the issues surrounding their restoration and preservation, and their aesthetic value. In these times, when memorials valorize people and events that are now regarded with moral suspicion and war and conflict see the widespread destruction of remnants of ancient civilizations, this book could not be more topical. - Stephen Davies, former President of the American Society for Aesthetics and Distinguished Professor, University of Auckland, New Zealand This stunning collection of 23 new essays by philosophers, art historians, architects, and archaeologists is called Philosophical Perspectives on Ruins, Monuments, and Memorials. But this rather academic sounding title gives little indication of the fascinating and exciting contents of the volume. The titles of some of its essays give a better idea, for example, Churches as Memory Machines, Rust Belt Ruins, From Haunted Ruin to Touristified City: An Aesthetic History of Venice, The Reconstruction of Damaged or Destroyed Heritage, Reflections on the Atomic Bomb Ruin in Hiroshima, and The Ruins of War . These are not simply academic studies; they are meditations on the interaction of human experiences and values-aesthetic, moral, religious, cultural, historical-as embodied in ruins, monuments, and memorials. Moreover, the 45 illustrations are alone worth the price of the volume. - Allen Carlson, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, University of Alberta, Canada