Fashionable Philosophy, and Other Sketches

"Fashionable Philosophy, and Other Sketches" by Laurence Oliphant is a compilation of witty essays from the late 1800s that uses satire to poke fun at intellectual circles. The book starts inside a fancy London room with well-to-do people chatting about religion and new philosophies. The author uses funny conversations and character quirks to make fun of what people believed back then. The stories show how silly it was for people to look for new moral ideas while ignoring the wisdom of old traditions. For example, Lady Fritterly hosts a tea party with strange guests who debate the future of religion and morality. Characters like Mr. Germsell, who uses science to understand religion, and Mr. Rollestone, who wants deeper moral thinking, add to the humor. Through their talks about things like esoteric Buddhism and personal beliefs, Oliphant shows a critical view of fashionable intellectuals and their search for meaning. The book combines humor and smart observations about people and society, making the reader both laugh and think.