Ideas in Conflict

Book excerpt: IDEAS IN CONFLICT is a humanities reader with rhetorical coverage that looks at the great issues pondered by many cultures for centuries. Winchell and Winchell examine "the great controversies of civilization"-dilemmas plaguing humanity from ancient times to the present, topics where no one answer exists and debate will continue to go on for centuries. The authors take you on a fascinating journey from the beginning of the written word on through to present day, and encourage you to view all perspectives of these enduring issues. Then, you'll be asked to write about your own views. The reader strikes a balance between an emphasis on humanities and an emphasis on composition, writing, and rhetorical devices. Learning about the great issues of civilization can only be fully understood when coupled with critical thinking and writing skills. With discussion questions and suggested paper topics, IDEAS IN CONFLICT invites you to enter into the conversations that have been going on for centuries.