20 Best Books About Philosophy (2023 Update)

Discover how our big social, political and ethical ideas are formed with the philosophy book. – part of the fascinating big ideas series, this book tackles tricky topics and themes in a simple and easy to follow format. learn about philosophy in this overview guide to the subject, great for beginners looking to learn and experts wishing to refresh their knowledge alike! the philosophy book brings a fresh and vibrant take on the topic through eye-catching graphics and diagrams to immerse yourself in. – the philosophy book is the perfect introduction to philosophy, aimed at adults with an interest in the subject and students wanting to gain more of an overview. here you’ll discover how key concepts in philosophy have shaped our world, with authoritative articles that explore big ideas. learn about everyone who’s contributed to the flow of world philosophy, from antiquity to the modern age, through superb mind maps explaining the line of thought. your philosophical questions, simply explained – if you thought it was difficult to learn philosophy and its many concepts, the philosophy book presents the key ideas in a clear layout. what is the universe made of? and work your way through the different branches of philosophy such as metaphysics and ethics, from ancient and modern thinkers. – with millions of copies sold worldwide, the philosophy book is part of the award-winning big ideas series from dk. the series uses striking graphics along with engaging writing, making big topics easy to understand.

For readers of e. h. gombrich's a little history of the world, an equally irresistible volume that brings history's greatest philosophers to life "a primer in human existence: philosophy has rarely seemed so lucid, so important, so worth doing and so easy to enter into. . . . these were the concerns of socrates, who spent his days in the ancient athenian marketplace asking awkward questions, disconcerting the people he met by showing them how little they genuinely understood. this engaging book introduces the great thinkers in western philosophy and explores their most compelling ideas about the world and how best to live in it.in forty brief chapters, nigel warburton guides us on a chronological tour of the major ideas in the history of philosophy. he provides interesting and often quirky stories of the lives and deaths of thought-provoking philosophers from socrates, who chose to die by hemlock poisoning rather than live on without the freedom to think for himself, to peter singer, who asks the disquieting philosophical and ethical questions that haunt our own times.warburton not only makes philosophy accessible, he offers inspiration to think, argue, reason, and ask in the tradition of socrates. a little history of philosophy presents the grand sweep of humanity's search for philosophical understanding and invites all to join in the discussion.

This book is a wonderful introduction to one of history's greatest figures: marcus aurelius. his life and this book are a clear guide for those facing adversity, seeking tranquility and pursuing excellence.ryan holiday, bestselling author of the obstacle is the way and the daily stoicthe life changing principles of stoicism taught through the story of its most famous proponent. roman emperor marcus aurelius was the last famous stoic philosopher of the ancient world. the meditations, his personal journal, survives to this day as one of the most loved self-help and spiritual classics of all time. robertson shows how marcus used philosophical doctrines and therapeutic practices to build emotional resilience and endure tremendous adversity, and guides readers through applying the same methods to their own lives.combining remarkable stories from marcus’s life with insights from modern psychology and the enduring wisdom of his philosophy.

One need only read a few pages of philosophy: a text with readings, 13th edition, to appreciate manuel velasquez’s gift for making complex philosophical concepts accessible to today’s students while still exposing them to college-level writing. this book is a perfect choice for first-time philosophy students, as it covers a wide range of topics, including human nature, reality, truth, ethics, the meaning of life, diversity, and social/political philosophy, all supported by nontechnical primary sources. the thirteenth edition includes new features that help students engage with the topics and readings more than ever. like the previous edition, this new edition includes critical-thinking and argument analysis activities carefully woven into the book’s narrative.important notice: media content referenced within the product description or the product text may not be available in the ebook version.

Life's ultimate questions is unique among introductory philosophy textbooks. by synthesizing three distinct approaches — topical, historical, and worldview/conceptual systems — it affords students a breadth and depth of perspective previously unavailable in standard introductory texts. part one, six conceptual systems, explores the philosophies of: naturalism, plato, aristotle, plotinus, augustine, and aquinas. part two, important problems in philosophy, sheds light on: the law of noncontradiction, possible words, epistemology i: whatever happened to truth?, epistemology ii: a tale of two systems, epistemology iii: reformed epistemology, god i: the existence of god, god ii: the nature of god, metaphysics: some questions about indeterminism, ethics i: the downward path, ethics ii: the upward path, human nature: the mind-body problem and survival after death

An innovative and accessible guide to more than 2,000 years of thought to the complete novice learning about philosophy can be daunting � the philosophy book changes all that. with the use of powerful and easy-to-follow images, succinct quotations, and explanations that are easily understandable, this book cuts through any misunderstandings to demystify the subject. each chapter is organised chronologically, and covers not only the big ideas, but the philosophers who first voiced them, as well as cross-referencing with earlier and later ideas and thinkers. the philosophy book untangles knotty theories and sheds light on abstract concepts, and is perfect for anyone with a general interest in how our social, political, and ethical ideas are formed, as well as students of philosophy and politics. covers major and niche topics, from moral ethics to philosophies of religion

Philosophy is a way of thinking about just about anything. it asks big questions from nature of reality to what beauty is. using lively examples and thought experiments, this book provides an accessible introduction to a wide range of philosophical questions and invites the reader think about things in ways they may not have done before. cartoons, comic strips and diagrams offer simple explanations of big ideas. suitable for adults and children alike – a brilliant resource for anyone looking to learn about philosophy.

Now updated and with a fresh new look, the highly successful the story of philosophy traces more than 2,500 years of western philosophy, from plato and aristotle in ancient greece to saint augustine and medieval philosophy, the golden century of german philosophy, bertrand russell and albert camus of the modern era, and much more. world-renowned philosopher and professor bryan magee expertly guides your exploration through the major philosophical issues, the important questions, and the key contributions of the great philosophers in this illustrated, accessible guide.discover the great thinkers in their historical contexts and learn the influences that shaped their lives and work. in the story of philosophy, revised and updated, each philosophical movement includes profiles of key philosophers and their important works, historical contexts and influences, important quotes, and other related people and ideas.

In the "critique of pure reason", immanuel kant laid out a framework upon which the whole of modern philosophy is based. this "penguin classics" edition is translated from the german and edited with an introduction by marcus weigelt, based on the translation by max muller. kant's "critique of pure reason". it presents a profound and challenging investigation into the nature of human reason, its knowledge and illusions. the critique brings together the two opposing schools of philosophy: rationalism, which grounds all our knowledge in reason, and empiricism, which traces all our knowledge to experience. kant's transcendental idealism indicates a third way that goes far beyond these alternatives. marcus weigelt's lucid re-working of max muller's classic translation makes the critique accessible to a new generation of readers. his informative introduction places the work in context and elucidates kant's main arguments. this edition also contains a bibliography and explanatory notes. immanuel kant (1724-1804), born in konigsberg, east prussia, was the most prominent thinker of the german enlightenment, and one of the most influential philosophers of all time. his comprehensive and profound thinking on aesthetics, ethics and knowledge has had an immense impact on all subsequent philosophy. if you enjoyed the "critique of pure reason", you might enjoy benedict spinoza's "ethics", also available in "penguin classics".

A deluxe special edition of the ancient classic written by the roman emperor known as “the philosopher” meditations is a series of personal journals written by marcus aurelius, emperor of rome from 169 to 180 ad. marcus was one of the leaders of stoicism, a philosophy of personal ethics which sought resilience and virtue through personal action and responsibility. stoicism, viewed as a foundation of modern self-help, has inspired many personal development and psychotherapy approaches through to the present day. meditations is perhaps the most important source of our modern understanding of stoic philosophy. its twelve books chronicle different stages of marcus aurelius’ life and ideas. although he ruled during the pax romana, the age of relative peace and stability throughout the empire, his reign was marked by near-constant military conflict and a devastating plague which killed upwards of five million people. aurelius’ writings give modern readers an unprecedented look into the “spiritual exercises” which helped him through his tumultuous life and strengthened his patience, empathy, generosity, self-knowledge and emotional health. the private reflections recorded in the meditations were never meant to be published, rather they were a source for marcus’ own guidance and self-improvement, and jotted down by campfires or in military tents on the roman front. the lessons, insights and perspectives contained within this remarkable work are just as relevant today as they were two millennia ago. this volume: presents the timeless wisdom of emperor marcus aurelius and his stoic philosophy, with new research on his life and times contains valuable insights on topics such as resilience, moderation and emotional control discusses how to live “in agreement with nature” and abide by strong ethical principles part of the bestselling capstone classics series edited by tom butler-bowdon, this attractive, high-quality hardcover volume includes: an original introduction by marcus aurelius authority and stoicism expert donald robertson, author of how to think like a roman emperor. a modernised, up to date version of the classic george long translation. meditations: the philosophy classic is a volume which will occupy a prominent place in any library for years to come.

Richard popkin has assembled 63 leading scholars to forge a highly approachable chronological account of the development of western philosophical traditions. from plato to wittgenstein and from aquinas to heidegger, this volume provides lively, in-depth, and up-to-date historical analysis of all the key figures, schools, and movements of western philosophy. the columbia history significantly broadens the scope of western philosophy to reveal the influence of middle eastern and asian thought, the vital contributions of jewish and islamic philosophers, and the role of women within the tradition. along with a wealth of new scholarship, recently discovered works in 17th- and 18th-century philosophy are considered, such as previously unpublished works by locke that inspire a new assessment of the evolution of his ideas. popkin also emphasizes schools and developments that have traditionally been overlooked. sections on aristotle and plato are followed by a detailed presentation on hellenic philosophy and its influence on the modern developments of materialism and scepticism. a chapter has been dedicated to jewish and moslem philosophical development during the middle ages, focusing on the critical role of figures such as averroës and moses maimonides in introducing christian thinkers to classical philosophy. another chapter considers renaissance philosophy and its seminal influence on the development of modern humanism and science. turning to the modern era, contributors consider the importance of the kaballah to spinoza, leibniz, and newton and the influence of popular philosophers like moses mendelssohn upon the work of kant. this volume gives equal attention to both sides of the current rift in philosophy between continental and analytic schools, charting the development of each right up to the end of the 20th century. each chapter includes an introductory essay, and popkin provides notes that draw connections among the separate articles. the rich bibliographic information and the indexes of names and terms make the volume a valuable resource. combining a broad scope and penetrating analysis with a keen sense of what is relevant for the modern reader, the columbia history of western philosophy will prove an accessible introduction for students and an informative overview for general readers.

Filled with beautiful full color diagrams and illustrated throughout, degree in a book: philosophy is a perfect introduction for students and laypeople alike.with flow charts for each chapter, definition boxes, easily digestible features on the history of philosophy and suggestions for further reading, it provides you with everything you need to understand the fundamental issues. learning philosophy has never been easier. including ideas from aristotle and zeno to descartes and wittgenstein, it covers the whole range of western thought. by the time you finish reading this book, you will be able to answer questions like: – what is truth?- what can i really know?- how can i live a moral life?- do i have free will? about the series: get the knowledge of a degree for the price of a book with arcturus publishing's a degree in a book series. written by experts in their fields, these highly visual guides feature flow charts, infographics, handy timelines, information boxes, feature spreads and margin annotations, allowing readers to get to grips with complex subjects in no time.

Classical philosophy is the first of a series of books in which peter adamson aims ultimately to present a complete history of philosophy, more thoroughly but also more enjoyably than ever before. in short, lively chapters, based on the popular history of philosophy podcast, he offers an accessible, humorous, and detailed look at the emergence of philosophy with the presocratics, the probing questions of socrates, and the first full flowering of philosophy with the dialogues of plato and the treatises of aristotle. the story is told "without any gaps," discussing not only such major figures but also less commonly discussed topics like the hippocratic corpus, the platonic academy, and the role of women in ancient philosophy. within the thought of plato and aristotle, the reader will find in-depth introductions to major works, such as the republic and the nicomachean ethics, which are treated in detail that is unusual in an introduction to ancient philosophy. adamson looks atfascinating but less frequently read platonic dialogues like the charmides and cratylus, and aristotle's ideas in zoology and poetics. this full coverage allows him to tackle ancient discussions in all areas of philosophy, including epistemology, metaphysics, philosophy of language, philosophy of science, ethics and politics. attention is also given to the historical and literary context of classical philosophy, with exploration of how early greek cosmology responded to the poets homer and hesiod, how socrates was presented by the comic playwright aristophanes and the historian xenophon, and how events in greek history may have influenced plato's thought. this is a new kind of history which will bring philosophy to life for all readers, including those coming to the subject for the first time.

More than two thousand years ago, aristotle established unique standards of philosophic inquiry, observation, and judgment. this book offers a contemporary reevaluation of the philosophy of the master of western thought, and shows his vital, continuing influence in our modern world.

Boethius was an eminent public figure under the gothic emperor theodoric, and an exceptional greek scholar. when he became involved in a conspiracy and was imprisoned in pavia, it was to the greek philosophers that he turned. the consolation was written in the period leading up to his brutal execution. it is a dialogue of alternating prose and verse between the ailing prisoner and his 'nurse' philosophy. her instruction on the nature of fortune and happiness, good and evil, fate and free will, restore his health and bring him to enlightenment. the consolation was extremely popular throughout medieval europe and his ideas were influential on the thought of chaucer and dante.for more than seventy years, penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the english-speaking world. with more than 1,700 titles, penguin classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

Philosophy, 100 essential thinkers tells the story of philosophic thought, from the ancient greeks to w.v.o. quine, america's greatest living philosopher up until his death on christmas day, 2000. while covering all of the greats of philosophy (plato, socrates, spinoza, hobbes, rousseau, kierkegaard, nietzsche, wittgenstein, de beauvoir and camus, to name just a few), this book also includes many who are not seen primarily as philosophers, such as darwin, freud, adam smith, william james, and einstein. taking up the fundamental questions asked by philosophers, such as-what does it mean to live a good life? what is justice? full of thought-provoking quotations, biographical detail, and clear explanations, philosophy is food for the intellectually curious. who am i? this engaging and accessible book invites the reader to explore the questions and arguments of philosophy through the work of one hundred of the greatest thinkers within the western intellectual tradition. covering philosophical, scientific, political and religious thought over a period of 2500 years, philosophy will serve as an excellent guide for those interested in knowing about individual thinkers-such as plato, aristotle, rousseau and nietzsche, to name just a few-and the questions and observations that inspired them to write. by presenting individual thinkers, details of their lives and the concerns and circumstances that motivated them, this book makes philosophy come to life as a relevant and meaningful approach to thinking about the contemporary world. a lucid and engaging book full of thought-provoking quotations, as well as clear explanations and definitions, philosophy is sure to encourage students and laymen alike to investigate further. philosophy includes a 10-page glossary that defines 69 terms including aesthetics, concept, essence, materialism, natural law, theism and verifiability.

Philosophers certainly like to make life sound awfully complicated, whether they're wondering if a falling tree still makes a sound if there's nobody around to hear it (berkeley) or declaring that everything in the universe is in a state of flux (heraclitus). but is philosophy really so complicated? and is it really as irrelevant as it sometimes seems?

Philosophers certainly like to make life sound awfully complicated, whether they're wondering if a falling tree still makes a sound if there's nobody around to hear it (berkeley) or declaring that everything in the universe is in a state of flux (heraclitus). but is philosophy really so complicated? and is it really as irrelevant as it sometimes seems?

Where can you find joy? what's the true measure of success? find meaning? conquer grief? the answers to these questions and more lie at the heart of stoic philosophy. the daily stoic is a compelling, accessible guide to living a good life, offering daily doses of this classic wisdom.

Is there a god, should i eat meat, where does the universe come from, could i live for ever as a robot? these are the big questions readers will be wrestling with in this book.