New Academic and Intellectual Books for June 19

Hanno Sauer's "The Invention of Good and Evil" offers a sweeping "big history" of human morality, exploring its origins and evolution. The book posits that moral sentiments first emerged from the survival needs of early hominids cooperating in groups approximately five million years ago. Sauer argues that morality has since evolved in tandem with human evolution and societal changes, developing into communal cultures and normative values.

"Non-Human," a philosophical essay by the renowned French philosopher Jean-François Lyotard, known for "The Postmodern Condition," examines contemporary thought on time. Lyotard questions how to protect uniquely human attributes such as emotion, contemplation, and imagination from being reshaped by modern technological civilization and capitalism's relentless pursuit of efficiency and performance.

"Social Medicine," authored by physicians from the United States and Latin America, provides an accessible explanation of how health and illness are shaped by societal structures. It highlights factors such as industrial accidents, class, race, and gender inequality, as well as the direction of healthcare policies. The book also presents global case studies where solidarity and mutual aid have formed the foundation for improved health outcomes.

Jonathan Jong, a religious psychologist and Church of England priest, presents "Experimenting with Religion" (subtitle: "Seven Psychological Questions About God, Faith, and the Soul"). The book delves into human religiosity through intriguing experiments spanning psychology, anthropology, and cognitive science. These include studies on prayer for the sick and whether individuals universally turn to God when facing the fear of death.

Finally, "A History of Sino-Korean Phonetic Transcriptions, Volumes 1 and 2," compiled by Korean linguist Hong Yun-pyo, meticulously traces the historical changes in the pronunciation and meaning of Chinese characters used in Korea. It analyzes over 280 types of Chinese character learning materials from the 15th century's Hunminjeongeum to modern times, documenting the evolution of 15,853 characters.