Bøger af Michael Barber

This book extends Alfred Schutz's "On Multiple Realities" by describing the provinces of meaning of play, music, religious ritual, and African-American folkloric humor. Throughout these provinces, the author traces two themes: resilience and responsiveness. In resilience, individuals or communities run up against obstacles, imposed relevances, which they come to terms with, or give meaning to (in phenomenological parlance), by modifying, evading, overcoming, or accepting them. Responsiveness emerges from Schutz's idea of making music together, which the author takes further by analyzing the mimetic encounter with the other and the asymmetries in listening to music, and, especially, by showing how the features of the cognitive style of music as a province of meaning affect sociality, disposing us to be more vulnerable and attentive to each other's non-conceptual, musical meanings. This text appeals to upper-level undergraduate students and graduate students as well as to faculty in philosophy.

This is a story of unfailing tenacity and courage in the face of impossible odds. It tells the tale of an unlikely group of friends who live in a post-war world of amazing technology, untold wealth, and apparent beneficence.But there is a problem with this world. Somehow none of its inhabitants seems to be aware that they live under a protective shield in a vast area of the open terrain of a once beautiful earth.Nick West begins to see images, waking dreams, of places and events he has never witnessed in his life. His view of the authorities, of his environment, of his life, begins to change. The ruling Administration that built the shield starts to appear threatening. Its citizens are unaware of the nature of their existence, and of their government; they passively indulge in every government program and activity. Nick assembles a team of Resistance fighters who develop their unique abilities. Together they work to uncover the terrible truth about the powerful government that labors so hard to keep its subjects imprisoned under the shield...

Schutz, then, being a philosopher with extensive experience with social scientists, economists, theorists of law-whom he encountered in his studies at the University of Vienna in the early twentieth century, worked in two areas: philosophical and social scientific theory. His investigations can be studied and more deeply appreciated in their own right, and also for the contributions they might make to an analysis of social problems (e.g. intercultural, interracial understanding) or of problems in the social sciences, including how social science itself can proceed in its different areas, such as sociology of knowledge, sociology in general, or the theory of society.The contributors to this volume will examine topics in Schutz's philosophical-phenomenological theory of the social world, such as the second person, the face-to-face relationship, the meaning of human action, signs, symbols, and relevance (or interests). Since Schutz sought to provide philosophical foundations for the social sciences, his work opens up a series of epistemological questions, such as those about traditional knowledge and the opacity of knowledge and theory, that is, the neglected or unseen questions that accompany any knowing or theorizing. Also, authors from within the Schutzian framework will address issues IN the social sciences, such as the Durkheimian aspects of Schutz's thought, the sociology of knowledge, and the theory of sociology. The book will also explore how Schutzian theory, which is often viewed as a micro-sociology, can be extended to give an account of a macro-sociological reality like modern society.

"What does the Bible really say about the birth of Jesus? How did the celebration of Christmas become associated with things like Santa Claus and decorated trees? In The True Meaning of Christmas: The Birth of Jesus and the Origins of the Season, biblical scholar Michael Patrick Barber offers an inspiring look at the Bible's accounts of Jesus' birth and the development of the Christmas season. Along the way, he answers numerous questions, including: How is the Christmas story related to ancient Jewish expectations? Why is Jesus said to be laid in a 'manger?' Who are the Magi? What is the mysterious Christmas star? How did December 25th become the date of Christmas? How did Saint Nicholas become 'Santa Claus?' As Dr. Barber will show, to find our way "home" at Christmas, we need to first return to Christmas's home in the story of the Bible. Only by carefully reflecting on the stories of Jesus' birth can we hope to celebrate Christmas in the way it is meant to be celebrated and discover the real joy it promises!" -- Amazon.

Billions of citizens around the world are frustrated with their governments. Why is this? And what can we do about it? In this groundbreaking book Michael Barber draws on his wealth of international experience advising political leaders, to show how those in power can make good on their promises. 'Refreshingly ruthless ... has an uplifting brio to it' Economist'Michael Barber is a source of inspiration and wisdom' Andrew Adonis, New Statesman'Excellent ... there is a lot of common sense and practical wisdom ... a breath of fresh air' David Willetts,Standpoint'Barber is the global overlord of public policy ... a record around the world of actually achieving change' Philip Collins, Prospect

The road to acceptance for the theory of Darwin's Evolution has been a rocky one. But today it is under attack more than ever before. These attacks are no longer just from the religious arena, they are coming from the scientific community, and from highly respected individuals. This work postulates a new scientific theory, 'Dynamic Evolution', the ideas of which are demonstrated to be superior to the precepts of Darwin's theories. This is not a religious or philosophical approach. You will find within these pages a sound, scientifically based theory that will have no less an effect than to put the final nail in the coffin of Darwinian Evolution! This book offers a comprehensive challenge to the Darwinian premise that the diversity of life is explained solely by the natural selection and survival of the fittest. It will become apparent from a complete study of this work that the principles of Darwinian Evolution fall under the shadow of the complete picture provided by Dynamic Evolution.

*Joan Bocher was burned to death in England in 1550 AD. Her crime? The Encyclopædia Britannica (1964) says: "She was condemned for open blasphemy in denying the Trinity, the one offence which all the church had regarded as unforgivable ever since the struggle with Arianism." *On October 27th, 1553, Michael Servetus, a medical practitioner, was burned at the stake at Geneva, Switzerland, for denying the doctrine of the Trinity. *In 1693, a pamphlet attacking the Trinity was burned by order of the House of Lords, and the following year its printer and author were prosecuted. The finest scholarship on biblical manuscripts and on Hebrew and Greek language syntax and word morphology is introduced and quoted throughout this work, demonstrating effectively that the linguistic and contextual considerations for each passage of scripture are in agreement in their refutation of the Trinitarian view.

The 1944 Education Act provided the framework for the post-war education service, which remained intact until the legislative changes of 1988 to 1993. Barber evaluates and pays tribute to the skill and vision for the future that went into the creation of this durable piece of legislation.

Develop a delivery "skillset" with expert Michael Barber's proven insights into the essential elements of results-driven policy implementations. Includes practical solutions for reviving stalled efforts.

Michael Barber, former chief advisor on delivery to British Prime Minister Tony Blair, provides steps to achieving public education reform in this practical field guide.