FROM THE PUBLISHER

Original essays explore the thought and influence of philosopher, educator, social critic, and theologian Ivan Illich. BACKCOVER: This unique collection examines the man Utne Reader has called the greatest social critic of the twentieth century. The essays-all but one written by people who knew Illich personally-discuss how his life and thought have affected conceptualization, study, and practice of psychotherapy, notions about education, ideas concerning the historical developments of texts, perceptions of technology, as well as other topics. All of Illich's books are discussed and his ideas on education, theology, technology, anarchism, and society are examined in relationship to those of René Girard, Karl Polanyi, Emmanuel Levinas, and Jacques Ellul. Illich's previously unpublished paper offering a new view of conspiracy in European history is included.

Author Biography: Lee Hoinacki teaches in the STS Program at Penn State University Park and is the author of El Camino: Walking to Santiago de Compostela and Stumbling Toward Justice: Stories of Place. Carl Mitcham is Professor of Liberal Arts and International Studies at the Colorado School of Mines and has published many books, including Thinking through Technology: The Path between Engineering and Philosophy; Philosophy and Technology: Readings in the Philosophical Problems of Technology (coedited with Robert Mackey); and Visions of STS: Counterpoints in Science, Technology, and Society Studies, (coedited with Stephen H. Cutcliffe), also published by SUNY Press.

SYNOPSIS

Twenty contributions from his contemporaries consider the work of social critic Ivan Illich. They examine how his thought has affected fields such as psychotherapy and education and influenced ideas concerning the historical development of the text. All of Illich's books are discussed, and his ideas are compared with those of Ren￯﾿ﾽ Girard, Karl Polanyi, Emmanuel Levinas, and Jacques Ellul. The volume concludes with Illich's previously unpublished paper on conspiracy in European history. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

FROM THE CRITICS

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