Ethics and moral philosophy Books

Book SynopsisFrom the small stuff like single-use plastics to major decisions like whether to have children, Rieder defines exactly how we can change our thinking and lead a decent, meaningful life in a scary, complicated world.

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Book SynopsisPhilosophy for AS and A Level is an accessible textbook for the new 2017 AQA Philosophy syllabus. Structured closely around the AQA specification this textbook covers the two units shared by the AS and A Level, Epistemology and Moral Philosophy, in an engaging and student-friendly way. With chapters on ''How to do philosophy'', exam preparation providing students with the philosophical skills they need to succeed, and an extensive glossary to support understanding, this book is ideal for students studying philosophy.Each chapter includes: argument maps that help to develop student's analytical and critical skills comprehension questions to test understanding discussion questions to generate evaluative argument explanation and commentary on the AQA set texts Thinking harder' sections cross-references to help students make connections <Trade Review'Michael Lacewing writes in an engaging way and really brings the A-Level philosophy syllabus to life; he focuses not only on the content but on the philosophical method itself. An essential read for any A-Level philosophy student'. Cressida Tweed, teacher of philosophy at Woodhouse College and Lead philosophy tutor at the National Extension college, UK. Table of ContentsContents Permissions Introduction How to use this book How to do philosophy Following the syllabus Additional features Using the anthology Glossary Companion website and further resources Acknowledgements 1 How to do philosophy Philosophical argument Deductive argument Inductive argument Hypothetical reasoning Understanding arguments and argument maps Evaluating arguments Evaluating claims An aside: why reason? Fallacies Reading philosophy Approaching the text Engaging with the text Beyond the text Writing philosophy What you need to know Planning an essay Writing an essay A standard essay structure General advice 2 Epistemology I. What is knowledge? A. Knowledge and its definition Types of knowledge Propositional knowledge The definition of knowledge The purpose and nature of definition Can propositional knowledge be defined? Key points: knowledge and its definition B. The tripartite view The tripartite definition of knowledge Why justified true belief? Thinking harder: A note on certainty Are the conditions individually necessary? Justification is not a necessary condition of knowledge Truth is not a necessary condition of knowledge Belief is not a necessary condition of knowledge Gettier’s objection: are the conditions jointly sufficient? Key points: the tripartite view C. Responses Add a ‘no false lemmas’ condition (J+T+B+N) Infallibilism Thinking harder: rejecting the argument for infallibilism Reliabilism (R+T+B) Truth and the third condition Virtue epistemology (V+T+B) Zagzebski’s analysis of knowledge Key points: Responses Summary: What is knowledge? II. Perception as a source of knowledge A. Direct realism The argument from perceptual variation Responses The argument from illusion Thinking harder: the argument from hallucination The disjunctive theory of perception The time-lag argument Thinking harder: direct realism and openness Key points: direct realism B. Indirect realism What are sense-data? Why indirect realism? Locke’s distinction between primary and secondary qualities Scepticism about the existence of mind-independent objects The existence of the external world is the best hypothesis Two supporting arguments Thinking harder: the existence of mind-independent objects is not a hypothesis Representation, resemblance and the nature of physical objects Berkeley’s argument that mind-dependent ideas cannot be like mind-independent objects Key points: indirect realism C. Berkeley’s idealism Berkeley on primary and secondary qualities Berkeley on secondary qualities Berkeley’s attack on the primary/secondary quality distinction The immediate objects of perception are mind-dependent objects Three arguments against mind-independent objects Berkeley’s ‘master’ argument Idealism and God Thinking harder: idealism and the cause of our perceptions Issues with Berkeley’s idealism Problems with the role played by God in Berkeley’s idealism Arguments from illusion and hallucination Idealism leads to solipsism Key points: Berkeley’s idealism Summary: perception as a source of knowledge III. Reason as a source of knowledge Rationalism, empiricism and innatism A priori/a posteriori knowledge Analytic/synthetic propositions Necessary/contingent truth Defining rationalism, empiricism and innatism Key points: rationalism, empiricism and innatism A. Innatism Two arguments for innate knowledge Plato’s slave boy argument Leibniz on knowledge of necessary truths Locke’s arguments against innate knowledge Leibniz’s response to Locke Thinking harder: experience triggers innate knowledge Alternative empiricist accounts Locke’s argument against innate concepts Rejecting Locke’s definition of ‘innate concept’ Leibniz’s defence of innate concepts The mind as a ‘tabula rasa’ Locke’s two sources of concepts Hume on impressions and ideas Simple and complex concepts Issues with the empiricist theory of concepts Thinking harder: challenging the copy principle Leibniz on ‘intellectual ideas’ Thinking harder: the concept of substance Discussion Key points: innatism B. The intuition and deduction thesis Rationalism and empiricism revisited The meaning of ‘intuition’ and ‘deduction’ Empiricist alternatives Hume’s fork Descartes’ theory of rational intuition The cogito Clear and distinct ideas Empiricist responses to the cogito Clear and distinct ideas and God Descartes’ Trademark argument Thinking harder: degrees of reality Empiricist responses to the Trademark argument Descartes’ cosmological argument Empiricist responses to Descartes’ cosmological argument Descartes’ ontological argument Empiricist responses to Descartes’ ontological argument Descartes’ proof of the external world The concept of a physical object Thinking harder: The existence of physical objects Empiricist responses to Descartes’ proof of the external world Key points: the intuition and deduction thesis Summary: reason as a source of knowledge IV. The limits of knowledge A. Philosophical scepticism The particular nature of philosophical scepticism Am I a brain in a vat? The distinction between philosophical scepticism and normal incredulity Local and global scepticism Descartes’ sceptical arguments Key points: philosophical scepticism B. Responses to scepticism Descartes’ own response Empiricist responses Thinking harder: Direct realism Thinking harder: Reliabilism Key points: responses to scepticism Summary: the limits of knowledge 3 Moral Philosophy I. Normative ethical theories A. Utilitarianism Bentham’s quantitative hedonistic utilitarianism ‘The Principle of Utility’ ‘Measuring Pleasure and Pain’ Mill on utilitarianism Mill’s qualitative hedonistic utilitarianism Is pleasure the only good? Smart on hedonistic and non-hedonistic utilitarianism Nozick’s experience machine Preference utilitarianism Mill’s ‘proof’ of utilitarianism Stage 1: Happiness is good Stage 2: Only happiness is good Issues for (act) utilitarianism Problems with calculation Fairness, individual liberty and rights Partiality Moral integrity and the individual’s intentions Rule utilitarianism Smart on rule utilitarianism Rule utilitarianism developed Objections Key points: utilitarianism B. Kantian deontological ethics Deontology Kant’s account of the good will and duty The good will The distinction between acting in accordance with duty and acting out of duty Thinking harder: The good will again The categorical imperative Hypothetical and categorical imperatives Thinking harder: Contradiction in conception and contradiction in will The second formulation of the Categorical Imperative Issues for Kantian deontological ethics Universalisability and morality Conflicts between duties The view that consequences of actions determine their moral value Morality is a system of hypothetical imperatives The value of certain motives Key points: Kantian deontological ethics C. Aristotelian virtue ethics The good for human beings Eudaimonia Final ends The function argument Testing the analysis Thinking harder: the rational ‘soul’ Aristotle’s account of virtues Virtues as character traits Virtues, the doctrine of the mean and the importance of feelings The role of education in the development of a moral character Practical wisdom The role of practical wisdom The relation between practical wisdom, virtue and action Key points: Aristotelian virtue ethics (I) Eudaimonia, pleasure and philosophy Eudaimonia and pleasure Eudaimonia and philosophy Voluntary action, choice and moral responsibility Voluntary and involuntary actions Choice and deliberation Thinking harder: moral responsibility Justice Issues for Aristotelian virtue ethics Guidance on how to act Conflicts between virtues The possibility of circularity involved in defining virtuous acts andvirtuous people in terms of each other Thinking harder: Virtue and eudaimonia Key points: Aristotelian virtue ethics (II) Summary: normative ethical theories II. Applied ethics Stealing Utilitarianism Kantian deontology Aristotelian virtue ethics Eating animals Utilitarianism Kantian deontology Aristotle, Diamond and virtue ethics Simulated killing Playing the killer An audience’s perspective Telling lies Utilitarianism Kantian deontology Aristotelian virtue ethics Key points: applied ethics Summary: applied ethics III. Metaethics What is metaethics? The origins of moral principles: reason, emotion/attitudes, or society The distinction between cognitivism and non-cognitivism Key points: The distinction between cognitivism and non-cognitivism A. Moral realism From cognitivism to moral realism Moral naturalism Utilitarianism as naturalism Thinking harder: naturalism in virtue ethics Moral non-naturalism: Moore’s intuitionism The naturalistic fallacy The open question argument Thinking harder: is the ‘naturalistic fallacy’ a real fallacy? Intuitionism Objections Issues for moral realism A J Ayer’s verification principle The argument from Hume’s fork Hume’s argument from motivation Hume’s is-ought gap Mackie’s argument from relativity Mackie’s arguments from queerness Key points: moral realism B. Moral anti-realism Error theory Non-cognitivism and moral anti-realism Emotivism Emotivism and subjectivism Ayer’s defence Emotivism after Ayer Prescriptivism Prescriptive meaning Good Moral language Issues for moral anti-realism Can moral anti-realism account for how we use moral language? Thinking harder: disagreement and moral argument Whether moral anti-realism becomes moral nihilism Moral progress Key points: moral anti-realism Metaethics and applied ethics Summary: metaethics 4 Preparing for the exam The examination The structure of the exam Assessment objectives Understanding the question: giving the examiners what they are looking for Short-answer questions Nine-mark questions Fifteen-mark questions Revision: it’s more than memory Exam technique: getting the best result you can Revision tips Exam tips Glossary (with Joanne Lovesey) Index by syllabus content Subject index

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Book SynopsisAddresses the question of how to live well, and originates the concept of cultivating a virtuous character as the basis of his ethical system. In this title, the author sets out to examine the nature of happiness. It discusses the nature of practical reasoning, the value and the objects of pleasure, and the different forms of friendship.Table of ContentsThe Nicomachean EthicsPrefaceChronologyIntroductionFurther ReadingA Note on the TextSynopsisThe Nicomachean EthicsBook I: The Object of LifeBook II: Moral GoodnessBook III: Moral Responsibility: Two VirtuesBook IV: Other Moral VirtuesBook V: JusticeBook VI: Intellectual VirtuesBook VII: Continence and Incontinence: THe Nature of PleasureBook VIII: The Kinds of FriendshipBook IX: The Grounds of FriendshipBook X: Pleasure and the Life of HappinessAppendix 1: Table of Virtues and VicesAppendix 2: PythagoreanismAppendix 3: The Sophists and SocratesAppendix 4: Plato's Theory of FormsAppendix 5: The CatagoriesAppendix 6: Substance and ChangeAppendix 7: Nature and TheologyAppendix 8: The Practical SyllogismAppendix 9: Pleasure and ProcessAppendix 10: LiturgiesAppendix 11: Aristotle in the Middle AgesGlossary of Greek WordsIndex of NamesSubject Index

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Book SynopsisThe Times Biography of the YearWinner of the Hawthornden Prize 2019Shortlisted for the HWA Non-Fiction Prize 2019Longlisted for the Rathbones Folio Prize 2019Longlisted for the Cundhill History Prize 2019Outstanding.' The Sunday Times A revelation.' Guardian Wonderful.' The Times Riveting.' New StatesmanFriedrich Nietzsche's work rocked the foundation of Western thinking and continues to permeate our culture, high and low yet he is one of history's most misunderstood philosophers. Sue Prideaux's myth-shattering book brings readers into the world of a brilliant, eccentric and deeply troubled man, illuminating the events and people that shaped his life and work. I Am Dynamite! is the essential biography for anyone seeking to understand Nietzsche, the philosopher who foresaw and sought solutions to our own troubled times.

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Book SynopsisVery Short Introductions: Brilliant, Sharp, InspiringOur self-image as moral, well-behaved creatures is dogged by scepticism, relativism, hypocrisy, and nihilism, and by the fear that in a Godless world science has unmasked us as creatures fated by our genes to be selfish and tribalistic, or competitive and aggressive. Here, Simon Blackburn tackles the major moral questions surrounding birth, death, happiness, desire, and freedom, showing us how we should think about the meaning of life, and why we should mistrust the soundbite-sized absolutes that often dominate moral debates.This second edition of the Very Short Introduction on Ethics has revised and updated aspects of the original to reflect changing times and mores. It highlights the importance of an understanding of approaches to ethics and its foundations, confronted as we are with a fluid and uncertain world of eroding trust, swirling conspiracy theories, and a dismaying loss of respect in public discourse.ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Table of ContentsPreface to second edition Introduction 1: Seven threats to thinking about ethics 2: Foundations 3: Some ethical ideas References Further Reading Index

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Book SynopsisKant is arguably the most influential modern philosopher, but also one of the most difficult. Roger Scruton tackles his exceptionally complex subject with a strong hand, exploring the background to Kant''s work and showing why the Critique of Pure Reason has proved so enduring.ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Trade ReviewReview from previous edition Roger Scruton faced perhaps the most intractable task of all in giving an elementary account of Kant's philosophy ... but he does it extremely elegantly and neatly. * Listener *Table of Contents1. Life, works and character ; 2. The background of Kant's thougt ; 3. The transcendental deduction ; 4. The logic of illusion ; 5. The categorical imperative ; 6. Beauty and design ; 7. Transcendental philosophy ; Further reading, Index

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Book SynopsisThe Sunday Times bestselling manifesto for a twenty-first century understanding of human evolution and variation - and a weapon against scientific racismTrade ReviewA fascinating and timely refutation of the casual racism on the rise around the world. The ultimate anti-racism guide for data-lovers everywhere -- CAROLINE CRIADO PEREZFor centuries science has been used and abused by racists. This book wrests it from their grubby hands by showing that race is biologically meaningless and that modern genetic science is a racist's worst enemy. Along the way Adam Rutherford reveals that you are related to royalty, that every Nazi had Jewish ancestors and that you share no DNA with half your ancestors. A critical book on a critical issue -- DAVID OLUSOGANobody deals with challenging subjects more interestingly and compellingly than Adam Rutherford, and this may be his best book yet. This is a seriously important work -- BILL BRYSONA book that could save lives -- Kathryn Paige Harden * SPECTATOR *A fascinating debunking of racial pseudoscience . . . engaging and enlightening . . . equip[s] the reader with the scientific tools necessary to tackle questions concerning race, genes and ancestry -- Manjit Kumar * GUARDIAN *Characteristically far-reaching, insightful and brilliant, Adam Rutherford casts his net wide in a book that is as timely as it is invigorating and important -- PETER FRANKOPANRutherford, a geneticist, debunks racist pseudoscience, showing that everyone's ancestry is cosmopolitan in a stylish, punchy, myth-busting study * DAILY TELEGRAPH *[An] enthralling, illuminating book -- Francis Wheen * MAIL ON SUNDAY *A counter-blast to those who would use science to justify prejudice * NEW STATESMAN *Adam Rutherford is the perfect writer to arm you with evidence -- CLAUDIA HAMMONDThis fascinating, illuminating and original book on human evolution and development is essential reading in an age of false science, resurgent racism and conspiracy theory - and the perfect antidote to racial bigotryOne of the most pleasing observations offered by Adam Rutherford, a great communicator who knows how to simplify difficult concepts, is that the racist you are arguing with will themself be far from racially pure -- Julian Cole * I NEWSPAPER *Elucidating, enabling, and powerful in its simplicity, everyone should have a copy of this book * SUNDAY POST *Stylish and punchy -- Steven Poole * DAILY TELEGRAPH, Books of the Year *HOW TO ARGUE WITH A RACIST smashes race myths that plague society -- Layal Liverpool * NEW SCIENTIST *Poignant . . . A timely weapon against the misuse of science to justify bigotry and casual racism * COSMOPOLITAN *Brilliant, succinct genetics for the uninitiatedAdam Rutherford is a master storytellerEnlightening and entertaining -- David Crawford * RADIO TIMES *Vital -- Ben East * OBSERVER *If teaching is what makes humans special, then Adam Rutherford is superhuman - a truly gifted transmitter of knowledge: lucid, enlightening, witty and delightfulDr Adam Rutherford has a gift for making complicated concepts simple -- Hannah Shaddock * RADIO TIMES *Admirable . . . The reader will be similarly enriched by the quick blood of this book * THE GLASGOW HERALD *Timely and accessible * THE BOOKSELLER, Editor's Choice *Not only shows what science really says about race, ancestry and genetics, but also helps us argue against the idea that certain people are biologically inferior and encourages informed conversations about race . . . This book's gift is to use science to talk about a pseudoscience -- Layal Liverpool * NEW SCIENTIST, Best Books of 2020 *How to Argue with a Racist is doubtlessly one of the most important reads of the year. But it's arguably the most interesting too . . . Engaging and thought-provoking throughout -- Thomas Ling * BBC SCIENCE FOCUS, Best Books of the Year *A remarkable telling of the shared ancestry of the human race. The book is a treasure trove filled with gems of knowledge from the field of genetics and what it knows about skin colour, intelligence, ancestry, athletic ability and racial superiority. The reader is provided the fascinating scientific weaponry to confidently take on questions about race, genes, ancestry. Ultimately, Rutherford's book is a challenge against the manipulation, misrepresentation, and abuse of science to justify hatred and prejudice * Big Think *

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Book SynopsisTerence Irwin’s edition of the Nicomachean Ethics offers more aids to the reader than are found in any modern English translation. It includes an Introduction, headings to help the reader follow the argument, explanatory notes on difficult or important passages, and a full glossary explaining Aristotle’s technical terms. The Third Edition offers additional revisions of the translation as well as revised and expanded versions of the notes, glossary, and Introduction. Also new is an appendix featuring translated selections from related texts of Aristotle.Trade Review"The translation is absolutely reliable and is supplemented with notes that highlight any and all possible problems. Rich and easy to use. I love that 40 pages of supplementary texts from Aristotle are included. . . . Sometimes new editions seem pointless. This is worth it!" —James C. Klagge, Virginia Tech"I will certainly be using this third edition in the fall semester and subsequent semester. The second edition was already very good. This new edition makes it even better with its improved translation, expanded notes, and invaluable glossary." —Peter Tumulty, St. Michael's College, VT

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Book SynopsisShould our priorities change when we consider allthe lives yet to come?Trade Review'I was captivated by MacAskill’s rolling out of the possibilities of a longtermist approach to the now. It is vital to do as he does, to take ethics out of the safety of lecture-hall thought experiments, paradoxes and what-ifs and into the turbulent real world, where the dynamic winds of history blow and where is massing on the horizon that monstrous, swelling tsunami that we call the future. This is a book of great daring, clarity, insight and imagination. To be simultaneously so realistic and so optimistic, and always so damn readable… well that is a miracle for which he should be greatly applauded.' —Stephen Fry'MacAskill is probably one of the most influential thinkers in the world.' —The Times, Best Books of 2022‘A brilliant book that makes clear both how much is at stake when it comes to the long term, and the incredible opportunities we have to shape it. It has changed how I think about my time on earth.’ —Max Roser‘This book is a monumental event. William MacAskill is one of the most important philosophers alive today, and this is his magnum opus.’ —Rutger Bregman, author of Humankind'No living philosopher has had a greater impact upon my ethics than Will MacAskill. And much of the good I now do is the direct result of his influence. In What We Owe The Future, MacAskill has transformed my thinking once again, by patiently dismantling the lazy intuitions that rendered me morally blind to the interests of future generations. This is an altogether thrilling and necessary book.' —Sam Harris'MacAskill’s case for “longtermism” – “the idea that positively influencing the longterm future is a key moral priority of our time” – is overwhelmingly persuasive. But it’s also unapologetically optimistic and bracingly realistic: this is by some distance the most inspiring book on “ethical living” I’ve ever read… a powerful argument in favour of freedom of speech and viewpoint diversity… The overall promise of this thrilling book is of a life both less burdened by ethical guilt – by beating yourself up over every choice of groceries or transportation – and much more effective at actually helping humanity.' —Guardian'An optimistic look at the future that moved me to tears.' —Joseph Gordon-Levitt'A profoundly optimistic exploration of the opportunities our descendants might enjoy, and the steps we might take to help them… there are plenty of insights and surprises along the way… MacAskill has thrust an important and neglected argument into the spotlight, while making it vivid and fun to read. He hopes that this book will change the world, and it might.' —Financial Times'Remarkable… MacAskill’s command of factual detail is admirable. So are his lightness of prose and facility in explaining tricky arguments… Is our world better off for containing William MacAskill?... I say yes… MacAskill is a worthy heir to Derek Parfit’s philosophical legacy, adding deep factual research and accessible writing to a provocative line of thought.' —TLS

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Book Synopsis One of the world''s most famous and influential books, Meditations, by the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius (A.D. 121?180), incorporates the stoic precepts he used to cope with his life as a warrior and administrator of an empire. Ascending to the imperial throne in A.D. 161, Aurelius found his reign beset by natural disasters and war. In the wake of these challenges, he set down a series of private reflections, outlining a philosophy of commitment to virtue above pleasure and tranquility above happiness.Reflecting the emperor''s own noble and self-sacrificing code of conduct, this eloquent and moving work draws and enriches the tradition of Stoicism, which stressed the search for inner peace and ethical certainty in an apparently chaotic world. Serenity was to be achieved by emulating in one''s personal conduct the underlying orderliness and lawfulness of nature. And in the face of inevitable pain, loss, and death ? the suffering at the core of life ? Aurelius counsels stoic detachment from the things that are beyond one''s control and a focus on one''s own will and perception. Presented here in a specially modernized version of the classic George Long translation, this updated and revised edition is easily accessible to contemporary readers. It not only provides a fascinating glimpse into the mind and personality of a highly principled Roman of the second century but also offers today''s readers a practical and inspirational guide to the challenges of everyday life.

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Book SynopsisThis is a primer on the Capabilities Approach, Martha Nussbaum’s innovative model for assessing human progress. She argues that much humanitarian policy today violates basic human values; instead, she offers a unique means of redirecting government and development policy toward helping each of us lead a full and creative life.Trade ReviewA remarkably lucid and scintillating account of the the human development approach seen from the perspective of one of its major architects. -- Amartya Sen, winner of the 1998 Nobel Prize in EconomicsNussbaum, who has done more than anyone to develop the authoritative and ground-breaking capabilities approach, offers a major restatement that will be required reading for all those interested in economic development that truly enhances how people live. -- Henry Richardson, Georgetown UniversityA marvelous achievement: beautifully written and accessible. With Amartya Sen, Martha Nussbaum is one of the founders of the 'capability approach' to justice; the most innovative and influential development in political philosophy since the work of John Rawls. This book, for the first time, puts in one place all the central elements of Nussbaum's systematic account of the approach, together with its sources and implications. -- Jonathan Wolff, University College LondonThe very best way to be introduced to the capability approach to international development. It is also a wonderfully lucid account of the origins, justification, structure, and practical implications of her version of this powerful approach to ethically-based change in poor and rich countries. -- David Alan Crocker, The University of Maryland School of Public PolicyOffering a forceful and persuasive account of the failings of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as an accurate reflection of human welfare, the distinguished philosopher Nussbaum provides a framework for a new account of global development based on the concept of capabilities...The author argues that human development is best measured in terms of specific opportunities available to individuals rather than economic growth figures...This small book provides a strong foundation for beginning to think about how economic growth and individual flourishing might coincide. * Publishers Weekly *Nussbaum looks at what it really means for a country to experience prosperity. Traditionally, a country's economic well-being was measured by its gross domestic product. Nussbaum takes a more personal approach by focusing on how economic prosperity plays out in ordinary citizens' lives. She analyzes the life of a woman in India by taking a close look at her situation to see what capabilities and opportunities she--and women like her--might have. The key is not to look simply at the hand they've been dealt, but whether their particular society affords them opportunities to win with it. Nussbaum calls this the "capabilities approach," and it offers a novel way to measure prosperity on a national level by seeing how well a country can provide life-changing prospects for all its citizens...By demonstrating the philosophical underpinnings of this approach and how the theory plays out in the real world, Nussbaum makes a compelling case. Not only is this a more realistic measure of wealth, but it is also a far more compassionate one. For readers who enjoy economics laced with humanity. -- Carol J. Elsen * Library Journal *In her new book, Creating Capabilities, the philosopher and legal scholar Martha Nussbaum argues that we need to refocus our ideas about development on the scale of individuals: on concrete human lives and the way they actually unfold. Quantitative measures like per capita GDP, she writes, are poor measures of development; they can't capture the shape and texture of individual lives, even though individual lives are what matter. Development isn't about how rich your nation is, on average--it's about whether people can live in a way "worthy of human dignity."...Nussbaum's book comes at an interesting time, just as growth in the rich world is slowing. That slowdown makes her ideas relevant for rich people, too. Dignified life in the rich world isn't only about being "well-fed," either...Even amid a slowdown, there are other dimensions in which life can keep improving. -- Josh Rothman * Boston Globe online *Renowned philosopher Nussbaum concisely captures the essential ideas of a new paradigm of social and political thought, the "human development and capabilities" approach to global social justice, founded on the work of Nobel Prize-winning economist Amartya Sen, and now used by the World Bank, the IMF, the Arab Human Development Report, and the United Nations Development Programme. -- S. A. Mason * Choice *

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Book SynopsisIn this witty and mischievous book, philosopher Peter Cave dissects the most controversial disputes today and uses philosophical argument to reveal that many issues are less straightforward than we'd like to believe. Leaving no sacred cow standing, Cave uses ingenious stories and examples to challenge our most strongly held assumptions. Is democracy inherently a good thing? What is the basis of so-called human rights? Is discrimination always bad? Are we morally obliged to accept refugees?In an age of identity politics and so-called 'fake news', this book is an essential resource for reinvigorating genuine public debate - and an entertaining challenge to accepted wisdom.Trade ReviewLively... Cave forces his readers to interrogate cherished beliefs and see how many of the principles enshrined in public life are not only inconsistent but incoherent, even paradoxical. * The Herald *An elegant and erudite expose of the hypocrisies and evasions that infect the social and political thinking of our times. * John Cottingham, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, Reading University *Britain's wittiest philosopher * Raymond Tallis, bestselling author of The Kingdom of Infinite Space *Highly entertaining, informative and challenging... If you want to check whether your beliefs about democracy, human rights and free speech aren't just prejudices - mere myths you happen to have signed up to - this is a great place to start. * Stephen Law, author of The Complete Philosophy Files *With characteristic wit, philosopher Peter Cave takes readers on a journey of discovery through a maze of perplexities. This is a profound book. * Dan Cohn-Sherbok, Professor Emeritus, University of Wales *At its best, The Myths We Live By resembles a lively tutorial, with the genial Professor Cave challenging readers' prejudices... Useful and educational. * Sydney Morning Herald *Table of Contents0: Prologue: On hiding what we know 1: What's so good about democracy? 2: How democracy lies 3: Freedom and discrimination: burqas, bikinis and Anonymous 4: Should we want what we want? 5: Lives and luck: can Miss Fortuna be tamed? 6: The Land of Justice 7: Plucking the goose: what's so bad about taxation? 8: 'This land is our land' 9: Community identity: nationalism and cosmopolitanism 10: What's so good about equal representation? 11: Human duties - oops - human rights 12: Free speech: the Tower of Babel; the Serpent of Silence 13: Regrets, apologies and past abuses 14: 'Because I'm a woman': trans identities 15: Happy Land 16: Epilogue: In denial 17: Notes and References 18: Acknowledgements 19: Index

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Book SynopsisWhat is the secret to humanity's evolutionary success? Could it be our strength, our intellector something much nicer?Trade Review‘Brilliant, eye-opening, and absolutely inspiring – and a riveting read. Hare and Woods have written the perfect book for our time.’ -- Cass Sunstein, author of How Change Happens and co-author of Nudge‘An utterly persuasive explanation for why the human psyche has evolved to be dangerous – and what to do about it. It should be read by every politician and every school-child.’ -- Richard Wrangham, author of The Goodness Paradox: The Strange Relationship Between Virtue and Violence in Human Evolution‘Very few books even attempt to do what this book succeeds in doing. It begins in basic behavioural science, proceeds to an analysis of cooperation (or lack thereof) in contemporary society, and ends with implications for public policy. Everyone should read this book.’ -- Michael Tomasello, author of Origins of Human Communication and Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at Duke University‘Please read this beautiful, riveting, and uplifting book. You will learn the astonishing story of how and why humans evolved a deep impulse to help total strangers but also sometimes act with unspeakable cruelty. Just as importantly, you’ll learn how these insights can help all of us become more compassionate and more cooperative.’ -- Daniel E. Lieberman, author of The Story of the Human Body: Evolution, Health and Disease and Exercised: Why Something We Never Evolved to Do is Healthy and Rewarding‘Survival of the Friendliest is a fascinating counterpoint to the popular [mis]conception of Darwin’s ‘survival of the fittest.’ Brian Hare and Vanessa Woods offer a convincing case that it was not brute strength, raw intelligence, or ruthlessness that allowed modern humans to thrive while our hominin relatives died out. Instead, they argue that friendliness was the key to our flourishing – and that the same kind of cooperative communication is the key to freeing us from the tribalism currently threatening democratic governance around the world. Powerful, insightful, accessible – this book gives me hope.’ -- Megan Phelps-Roper, author of Unfollow‘How can a top predator like the wolf have evolved to become “man’s best friend”? Finally a book that explains in the clearest terms how friendliness and cooperation shaped dogs and humans. This book left me with a happy and optimistic view of nature.’ -- Isabella Rossellini, actress and activist

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Book Synopsis'This book will open your eyes, mind and heart to a way of being in the world that will make our world a better and more caring one.' ARCHBISHOP DESMOND TUTU, author of The Book of JoyUbuntu is an ancient Southern African philosophy about how to live life well, together. It is a belief in a universal human bond, which says: I am only because you are. It means that if you can see everyone as fully human, connected to you by their humanity, you will never be able to treat others as disposable or without worth. By embracing the philosophy of ubuntu it's possible to overcome division and be stronger together in a world where the wise build bridges and the foolish build walls.These 14 beautifully illustrated lessons from the Rainbow Nation are an essential toolkit to helping us all to live better, together. In stories, practical lessons and applications that recognise our common humanity, our connectedness and interdependence, Everyday Ubuntu helps us to make sense of the world and our place in it.Exploring ideas of kindness and forgiveness, tolerance and the power of listening, this definitive guide offers practical tips on how we can all benefit from embracing others and living a more fulfilling life as part of the large family to which we all belong.__________What readers are saying about Everyday Ubuntu:***** 'A concept we should all live by.'***** 'Lots of little gems to help with everyday life.'***** 'Must read... Very inspiring and thought-provoking.'

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Book SynopsisOn the Genealogy of Morals (1887) is a book about the history of ethics and about interpretation. Nietzsche rewrites the former as a history of cruelty, exposing the 4entral values of the Judaeo-Christian and liberal traditions - compassion, equality, justice - as the product of a brutal process of conditioning designed to domesticate the animal vitality of earlier cultures. The result is a book which raises profoundly disquieting issues about the violenceof both ethics and interpretation. Nietzsche questions moral certainties by showing that religion and science have no claim to absolute truth, before turning on his own arguments in order to call their very presuppositions into question. The Genealogy is the most sustained of Nietzsche's later works and offers one of the fullest expressions of his characteristic concerns. This edition places his ideas within the cultural context of his own time and stresses the relevance of his work for a contemporary audience.

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Book Synopsis'You cannot get far in these essays without sensing yourself in the presence of a writer of immense intellectual power and fierce independence of mind.' - Janet Soskice, from the Introduction to the Routledge Classics editionSimone Weil (1909â1943) is one of the most brilliant and unorthodox religious and philosophical thinkers of the twentieth century. She was also a political activist who worked in the Renault car factory in France in the 1930s and fought briefly as an anarchist in the Spanish Civil War. Hailed by Albert Camus as 'the only great spirit of our times,' her work spans an astonishing variety of subjects, from ancient Greek philosophy and Christianity to oppression, political freedom and French national identity. Waiting for God is one of her most remarkable books, full of piercing spiritual and moral insight. The first part comprises letters she wrote in 1942 to Jean-Marie Perrin, a Dominican priest, and demonstrate the intense inner conflict Weil experienced as she wrestled with the demands of Christian belief and commitment. She then explores the 'just balance' of the world, arguing that we should regard God as providing two forms of guidance: our ability as human beings to think for ourselves; and our need for both physical and emotional 'matter.' She also argues for the concept of a 'sacred longing'; that humanity's search for beauty, both in the world and within each other, is driven by our underlying desire for a tangible god. Eloquent and inspiring, Waiting for God asks profound questions about the nature of faith, doubt and morality that continue to resonate today.This Routledge Classics edition includes a new Introduction by Janet Soskice and retains the Foreword to the 1979 edition by Malcolm Muggeridge.Table of ContentsIntroduction to the Routledge Classics Edition Janet Soskice Foreword to the 1979 Edition Malcolm Muggeridge Part 1: Letters 1. Hesitations Concerning Baptism 2. Same Subject 3. About Her Departure Part 2: Letters of Farewell 4. Her Spiritual Autobiography 5. Her Intellectual Vocation 6. Last Thoughts Part 2: Essays 7. Reflections on the Right Use of School Studies with a View to the Love of God 8. The Love of God and Affliction 9. Forms of the Implicit Love of God 10. Concerning the 'Our Father' 11. The Three Sons of Noah and the History of Mediterranean Civilization. Index

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Book SynopsisThe University of Hard Knocks by means of Ralph Parlette is a timeless piece of inspiring writing that tells readers to look the difficult matters that happen in their lives as training with a purpose to assist them discover happiness. Ralph Parlette is an American lecturer and stand-up comedian who makes use of a friendly and humorous style to share deep thoughts on private growth. The suitable metaphor of the University of Hard Knocks suggests that screw ups and problems are like difficult education which could cause boom, resilience, and self-discovery. Parlette says that going through difficult occasions head-on and studying from them is an important a part of reaching one's full capability. Parlette talks approximately the commonplace human revel in of getting beyond troubles the use of a combination of stories, witty notes, and beneficial facts. He talks plenty approximately how persistence can exchange matters and how you can learn treasured lessons from existence's problems. People who study the book are instructed to technique problems with a superb mind-set and notice them as necessary elements of the adventure to achievement and personal pleasure. The University of Hard Knocks remains considered a traditional within the field of self-help literature. It offers lasting advice and ideas to people who are trying to figure out a way to cope with the problems of life and flip hard conditions into possibilities for private and professional increase.

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Book SynopsisEnvironmental ethics is a relatively new branch of philosophy, which studies the values and principles involved in combatting environmental problems such as pollution, loss of species and habitats, and climate change. As our environment faces evermore threats from human activities these core issues are becoming increasingly important.In this Very Short Introduction Robin Attfield traces the origins of environmental ethics as a discipline, and considers how it defends the independent value of living creatures, and the need to make decisions informed by the needs and interests of future generations. Exploring the diverse approaches to ethical decisions and judgements, he highlights the importance of making processes of production and consumption sustainable and of addressing human population levels, together with policies for preserving species, sub-species, and their habitats. Along the way Attfield discusses different movements such as Deep Ecology, Social Ecology, the Environmental Justice movement and the Green movement, and also considers the attitudes to the environment of the world''s religions, including the approach from the major religions and the contributions of the indigenous religions of Asia, Africa and North America. Analysing the current threat of climate change, and proposals for climate engineering, he demonstrates how responsibility for the environment ultimately lies with us all, from states and corporations to individuals, and emphasises how concerted action is required to manage our environment ethically and sustainably.ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Trade ReviewAs a primer for academic environmental ethics, Robin Attfield's Very Short Introduction offers a succinct tour through its history and many of its arguments... Attfield also includes at the end a helpful list of further reading which provides additional resources to supplement each chapter. * Caleb Gordon, University of Manchester, Modern Believing *This book is an engaging, accessible book, one that both academics from various disciplines and environmental ethicists will appreciate and benefit from; it offers something of value for everyone who hopes to contribute to a socially and environmentally sustainable and peaceful world. * Robin Attfield, The Philosophical Quarterly *Environmental Ethics offers an entertaining, concise, and genuinely enlightening means to commence one's engagement with the subject. * Nicole Souter, The Philosopher *This short introduction is particularly timely and I would recommend it to anyone not yet familiar with environmental ethics and even to those more knowledgeable of the field. It is truly impressive how Attfield manages to so succinctly condense such large issues into such a short book. * Linnea Luuppala, Ethical Perspectives *This very readable book is a survey of the wide range of questions that faces anyone who thinks seriously about our environment and the future of our planet... Everyone interested in the environment and the possibility of impending catastrophe should read [it]. * Alan York, The Friend *The great achievement of Attfield's Attfields book is to demonstrate that there is a coherent, intuitively plausible, and useful conception of inclusive environmental protection... The book will be of interest to students taking courses in environmental ethics, but also to students who are taking philosophy and geography, and to people of other professions engaged with the environment. * Wilson J. Simon, UTAFITI *Attfield's new book confirms him as one of the most eloquent voices in present-day environmental ethics. It combines philosophical depth with extreme readability and makes a suggestive case for an ethics that pays tribute to the value of non-human nature. * Dieter Birnbacher *Surprise! Attfield can write a very concise introduction to environmental ethics with all the precision already shown in his dozen full length works. * Holmes Rolston III, Colorado State University *This is a timely addition to Oxfords series of Very Short Introductions. As befits an introduction, the material is presented in a manner designed to help the reader to gain an overview of issues and debates in the field. * The Heythrop Journal *Environmental Ethics: A Very Short Introduction ...constitutes a timely intervention and provides a broad platform to inform and stimulate further debate and research. * The Philosophical Quarterly *This short introduction is particularly timely and I would recommend it to anyone not yet familiar with environmental ethics and even to those more knowledgeable of the field, who simply wish to have a recap of the main issues. * Ethical Perspectives, Linnea Luuppala *Table of Contents1: Origins2: Some key concepts3: Future generations4: Principles for right action5: Sustainability and preservation6: Social and political movements7: Environmental ethics and religion8: The ethics of climate changeReferencesFurther ReadingIndex

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Book SynopsisFrom Larry Siedentop, acclaimed author of Democracy in Europe, Inventing the Individual is a highly original rethinking of how our moral beliefs were formed and their impact on western society today''Magisterial, timeless, beautifully written ... Siedentop has achieved something quite extraordinary. He has explained us to ourselves'' SpectatorThis ambitious and stimulating book describes how a moral revolution in the first centuries AD - the discovery of human freedom and its universal potential - led to a social revolution in the west. The invention of a new, equal social role, the individual, gradually displaced the claims of family, tribe and caste as the basis of social organisation. Larry Siedentop asks us to rethink the evolution of the ideas on which modern societies and government are built, and argues that the core of what is now our system of beliefs emerged much earlier than we think. The roots of liberalism - belief in individTrade ReviewMagisterial, timeless, beautifully written ... Siedentop has achieved something quite extraordinary. He has explained us to ourselves * Spectator *One of the most stimulating books of political theory to have appeared in many years ... a refreshingly unorthodox account of the roots of modern liberalism in medieval Christian thinking -- John Gray * Literary Review *A brave, brilliant and beautifully written defence of the western tradition -- Paul Lay * History Today *Thoroughly interesting and fundamentally convincing ... admirably nuanced ... formidable ... Inventing the Individual is written with effortless lucidity -- Jeffrey Collins * TLS *An engrossing book of ideas ... illuminating, beautifully written and rigorously argued -- Kenan Malik * Independent *A most impressive work of philosophical history -- Robert Skidelsky

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Book SynopsisInvestigating the flip side of economic self-interest, this title advances ideas about conscience, moral judgement and virtue that have taken on the importance in business and politics.Trade Review"One of the truly outstanding books in the intellectual history of the world . . . A global manifesto of profound significance to the interdependent world in which we live. It is indeed a book of amazing reach and contemporary relevance." ―Amartya Sen, from the Introduction

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Book SynopsisEthical dilemmas and decision-making are a persistent feature of the everyday operations of animal shelters and animal protection organizations. These organizations frequently face difficult decisions about how to treat the animals in their care, decisions that are made all the more difficult by limited funding, material resources, and human labor. Moreover, animal protection organizations must also determine how to act within and toward the wider social and institutional environment in which non-human animals are routinely exploited. The first section of The Ethics of Animal Shelters contains practical recommendations developed by ethicists in response to the ethical challenges identified by employees of the Montreal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. These challenges arise across the organization''s activities, including its internal structure; shelter operations; public campaigns and advocacy work; dealing with the public, animal agriculture and governmental agencies; and their work with feral animals. The second section offers philosophical analyses of the ethical challenges unique to animal shelters. Issues explored include the killing of shelter animals; shelter animals'' diets; medical decision-making procedures; adoption policies; and the role shelters might play in transforming social attitudes and norms.Table of ContentsNotes on contributors Acknowledgements Exploring the ethics of animal shelters: An introduction Part I The Ethics of Animal Shelters: Guidelines and Recommendations Valéry Giroux, Angie Pepper, Kristin Voigt, Frédéric Côté-Boudreau, Nicolas Delon, Sue Donaldson, François Jaquet, Will Kymlicka, Angela Martin and Agnes Tam Part II 1. The value of death for animals: an overview Nicolas Delon 2. Caring in Non-Ideal Conditions: Animal Rescue Organizations and Morally Justified Killing Angie Pepper 3. Decision-making under non-ideal circumstances: Establishing triage protocols for animal shelters Angela Martin 4. What If They Were Humans? Non-Ideal Theory in the Shelter François Jaquet 5. Being Popular and Being Just: How Animal Protection Organizations Can Be Both Agnes Tam and Will Kymlicka 6. Companion Animal Adoption in Shelters: How "Open" Should It Be? Valéry Giroux and Kristin Voigt 7. Transformative Animal Protection Sue Donaldson and Will Kymlicka Afterword Élise Desaulniers

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Book SynopsisA Defence of Our Intergalactic Common InterestsAs the world''s superpowers and corporations jostle for control in space, A. C. Grayling asks: who really owns our planet? ''Grayling brings satisfying order to daunting subjects.'' STEVEN PINKER Silicon for microchips; manganese for batteries; titanium for missiles. The moon contains a wealth of natural resources. So, as the Earth’s supplies have begun to dwindle, it is no surprise that the world’s superpowers and wealthiest corporations have turned their eyes to the stars. As this new Space Race begins, A.C. Grayling asks: who, if anyone, owns the moon? Or Mars? Or other bodies in near space? And what do those superpowers and corporations owe to Planet Earth and its inhabitants as a whole? From feudal common land, through the rules of the sea, to the vast, nationless expanse of Antarctica, Grayling explores the history of the places which no one, and therefore everyone, owns. Examining the many ways this so-called terra nullius has fallen victim to ‘the tragedy of the commons’ - the tendency for communal resources to be exploited by a few individuals for personal gain at the expense of everyone else - Who Owns the Moon? puts forward a compelling argument for a bold new global consensus, one which recognises and defends the rights of everyone who lives on this planet.

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Book Synopsis''Brilliant. Searching and profound'' E.H. Carr, Times Literary Supplement''When reading Isaiah Berlin we breathe an altogether different air'' New York Review of Books''Beautifully written'' W. H. Auden, New Yorker''Ingenious. Exactly what good critical writing should be'' Max Beloff, GuardianThe fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing.For Isaiah Berlin, there is a fundamental distinction in mankind: those who are fascinated by the infinite variety of things - foxes - and those who relate everything to a central all-embracing system - hedgehogs. It can be applied to the greatest creative minds: Dante, Ibsen and Proust are hedgehogs, while Shakespeare, Aristotle and Joyce are foxes.Yet when Berlin reaches the case of Tolstoy, he finds a fox by nature, but a hedgehog by conviction; a duality which holds the key to understanding Tolstoy''s Trade ReviewBrilliant ... searching and profound * TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT *This little book is so entertaining, as well as acute, that the reader hardly notices that it is learned too * OBSERVER *Very readable, with a lively honed down style * SUNDAY MERCURY *The most important study of Tolstoy's thought written in English for a long time * THE LISTENER *Delightful to read * SUNDAY TIMES *[Berlin] has a deep and subtle feeling for the puzzle of Tolstoy's personality, and he writes throughout ... with a wonderful eloquence * NEW YORK TIMES *Beautifully written and suggestive -- W H Auden * NEW YORKER *Berlin's stunning command of the resources of scholarship, his sensitivity to literature and to character, and his eloquence as a writer give this essay the lustre of a virtuoso performance * ATLANTIC *The argument is ingenious and subtle, full of overtones - exactly what good critical writing should be * GUARDIAN *very readable, with a lively honed down style * SUNDAY MERCURY *

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Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE HWA NON-FICTION CROWNAN IRISH TIMES BOOK OF THE YEARA NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW NOTABLE BOOKA FINALIST FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE AWARDElizabeth Anscombe: defiantly brilliant, chain-smoking, trouser-wearing Catholic and (eventual) mother of seven.Philippa Foot: pathalogically discreet, quietly rebellious granddaughter of a US president.Mary Midgley: witty scholar and careful observer of humans and animals alike.Iris Murdoch: aspiring novelist and Francophile with the power to seduce (almost) anyone.Written with expertise and flair, Metaphysical Animals is a vivid portrait of the endeavours and achievements of these four remarkable women. As undergraduates at Oxford during the Second World War, they shared ideas (as well as shoes, sofas and lovers). From the disorder and despair of war, they went on to breathe new life into philosophy, creating a radically fresh way of thinking about freedom, reality and human goodness that is there for us today.'Evocative and sparkling' New York Times'A triumph' Mail on SundayTrade ReviewExcellent -- Bonnie Garmus * Guardian *Lively ... This fascinating work of historico-logico-feminism shows... how women fought their way on to the world stage of philosophy and turned its spotlight away from an analytical desert on to what was really important - moral clarity, wisdom and truth -- John Walsh * Sunday Times *The narrative is of four brilliant women finding their voices, opposing received wisdom, and developing an alternative picture of human beings and their place in the world... To read this story is to be reminded...that the life of the mind can be as intense and eventful as friendship itself -- Anil Gomes * Guardian *Joyful... These four are enlivening companions... four glorious heroines, confident and curious, focused on the world and not on themselves * Spectator *Irresistible... Highly evocative... Bring[s] to life an important episode in intellectual history, and [has] made me again grateful that I was for a time a contemporary of these unforgettable women -- Thomas Nagel * London Review of Books *

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Book SynopsisFor young children, learning to forgive when they ve been let down or had their feelings are hurt can take time. Help children develop their forgiveness skills and learn how to accept an apology and move on without holding grudges. At the same time, encourage children to let go of disappointment and to accept when things don t go the way they hope. Back matter includes advice for teaching forgiveness at home, at school, and in childcare.Being the Best Me! Series From the author of the popular Learning to Get Along books comes a one-of-a-kind character-development series. Each of the first six books in the Being the Best Me! series helps children learn, understand, and develop attitudes and positive character traits that strengthen self-confidence and a sense of purpose. Each book focuses on a specific attitude or character trait optimism, self-esteem, assertiveness, resilience, integrity, and forgiveness. Also included are discussion questions, games, activities, and additional information for adults. Filled with diversity, these social story books will be welcome in school, home, and childcare settings.Trade ReviewPraise for the series: More than ever before, children today need a foundation of strong emotional skills to guide their choices in life. These books focus on positive thinking and assertive, kind behavior that can bolster children s mental health, their relationships, and their performance in school. An exciting tool for empowering children to live their best lives. Sean Covey, best-selling author of "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens" and "The 7 Habits of Happy Kids"

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Book SynopsisShould we believe in God? In this new book, written for a new generation, the brilliant science writer and author of The God Delusion, explains why we shouldn't.Should we believe in God? Do we need God in order to explain the existence of the universe? Do we need God in order to be good? In twelve chapters that address some of the most profound questions human beings confront, Dawkins marshals science, philosophy and comparative religion to interrogate the hypocrisies of all the religious systems and explain to readers of all ages how life emerged without a Creator, how evolution works and how our world came into being.For anyone hoping to grapple with the meaning of life and what to believe, Outgrowing God is a challenging, thrilling and revelatory read.--------------------------------Trade ReviewOutgrowing God is another sally against his oldest foe, the Almighty * The Times *Books of 2019: The scientist and controversial commentator on religious and cultural questions presents an accessible, "junior" version of The God Delusion (2006). * Guardian *His contagious enthusiasm renders the basics of natural selection newly astonishing. * The Guardian *Books of 2019: Richard Dawkins has always had it in for the almighty and he's back to take another pop at the poor bloke. Here he outlines what he believes is the real meaning of life. * The Times *Dawkins new book is special in the terrain of atheists’ pleas for humanism and rationalism precisely since it speaks to those most vulnerable to the coercive tactics of religion. As Dawkins himself says in the dedication, this book is for “all young people when they’re old enough to decide for themselves.” It is also, I must add, for their parents. * Professor Janna Levin, Claire Tow Professor of Physics & Astronoy at Barnard College of Columbia University *

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Book SynopsisIn Preface to Paradise Lost, C. S. Lewis presents an illuminating reflection on John Milton''s Paradise Lost, the seminal classic that profoundly influenced Christian thought as well as Lewis''s own work.Lewis a revered scholar and professor of literature closely examines the style, content, structure, and themes of Milton''s masterpiece, a retelling of the biblical story from the Fall of Humankind, Satan''s temptation, and the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden. Considering this story within the context of the Western literary tradition, Lewis offers invaluable insights into Paradise Lost and the nature of literature itself, unveiling the poem''s beauty and its wisdom.With a clarity of thought and a style that are the trademarks of Lewis's writing, he provides answers with a lucidity and lightness that deepens our understanding of Milton's immortal work. Also inspiring new readers to revisit Paradise Lost, Lewis reminds us of why elements including ritual, splendour andTrade Review‘Lewis, more than any other critic now writing, adds wit, learning and enthusiasm to that ability to discuss rather than destroy, which is the prerequisite of the critic's true function.’ The Dublin Review

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Book SynopsisTHE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER* From the writer and executive producer of the award-winning Netflix series The Good Place that made moral philosophy fun: a foolproof guide to making the correct moral decision in every situation you ever encounter, anywhere on earth, forever *'An absolute breeze to read; funny and enlightening and revealing' - Guardian'Enormously enjoyable, useful and readable' - The TimesHow can we live a more ethical life?This question has plagued people for thousands of years, but it's never been tougher to answer than it is now, thanks to challenges great and small that flood our day-to-day lives and threaten to overwhelm us with impossible decisions and complicated results with unintended consequences.Plus, being anything close to an 'ethical person' requires daily thought and introspection and hard work; we have to think about how we can be good not, you know, once a month, but literally all the time.To make it a little less overwhelming, this fascinating, accessible and funny book by one of our generation's best writers and adept minds in television comedy, Michael Schur, boils down the whole confusing morass with real life dilemmas (from 'should I punch my friend in the face for no reason?' to 'can I still enjoy great art if it was created by terrible people?'), so that we know how to deal with ethical dilemmas. Much as Chidi used humour and philosophy to make Eleanor a less selfish person, Schur takes us on a journey through the 2,500-year discussion of ethics, sketching a roadmap for how we ought to act along the way.By the time the book is done, we'll know exactly how to act in every conceivable situation, so as to produce a verifiably maximal amount of moral good. We will be perfect, and all our friends will be jealous. OK, not quite. Instead, we'll gain fresh, funny, inspiring wisdom on the toughest issues we face every dayWith contributions from Professor Todd May of Clemson University, who served as an advisor on The Good Place, this is a brilliant, clever and hugely entertaining book about one of the most important topics in the world.'The problem is, if all you care about in the world is the velvet rope, you will always be unhappy, no matter which side you're on.' - Tahani Al-Jamil, The Good PlaceTrade ReviewWhen I was asked to write a blurb about Mike Schur's book on ethics, I thought: no sweat, I'll just skim a few chapters, make something up, and then lie about having read it. After reading a chapter or two, I realized I had missed the point of the book. So I read the whole thing, and I can honestly say it's brilliant. How to be Perfect takes the delightful, funny lessons of The Good Place, and applies them to everyday life * Ted Danson *As someone who worries that a deep dive into morality will ruin my fun and problematic life, I was certain this book wouldn't be for me. Boy, was I wrong! It's so brilliant and funny and warmly written you don't realize you're becoming a better person just by reading it * Mindy Kaling *Have you ever wanted a friend to explain ethics so that you could understand the subject completely with minimal effort on your part? Well, meet your friend Mike Schur. This book will help guide you through the thorniest moral conundrums with clarity and hilarity, and it will greatly up your chances of ending up in...the Good Place * Kristen Bell *How to be Perfect is a kind, thoughtful, incredibly funny reflection on what it is to be a good human being. As a human being myself, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I am certain that other human beings will enjoy it as well * Steve Carell *Read How to Be Perfect and laugh while you learn how to be a better person. And imagine what a great passive-aggressive gift this book would make! Hand it to someone and say 'I saw this and thought of you.' Then they say 'Oh, did you read this?' and you smile and say 'I don't need to' * Amy Poehler *Hilarious, thought-provoking, and ridiculously silly, How to be Perfect is a great read for anyone who loved The Good Place - or anyone who wants to be a good person. And as a bonus, once you've read the book, you become perfect * Jake Tapper, CNN Anchor *An enjoyably boisterous guide to the moral life. If you want to become morally better and don't mind being entertained in the process, you've picked up the right book * Jeff McMahan, Philosophy Professor, Oxford *An absolute breeze to read; funny and enlightening and revealing * Guardian *It's not only very funny [...] but there is real meat to the work too * Irish Times *Enormously enjoyable, useful and readable * The Times *

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Book SynopsisTHE TOP TEN SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER''Bristles with pure, crystalline intelligence, deep knowledge and human sympathy'' Richard Dawkins Is modernity really failing? Or have we failed to appreciate progress and the ideals that make it possible?If you follow the headlines, the world in the 21st century appears to be sinking into chaos, hatred, and irrationality. Yet Steven Pinker shows that this is an illusion - a symptom of historical amnesia and statistical fallacies. If you follow the trendlines rather than the headlines, you discover that our lives have become longer, healthier, safer, happier, more peaceful, more stimulating and more prosperous - not just in the West, but worldwide. Such progress is no accident: it''s the gift of a coherent and inspiring value system that many of us embrace without even realizing it. These are the values of the Enlightenment: of reason, science, humanism and progress.The challTrade ReviewMy new favourite book of all time -- Bill GatesExhilarating, magnificent, uplifting * Economist *This is the biggest story of our time. It's about the many ways in which the world is improving, and why we don't believe it -- Fraser Nelson * Spectator *Pinker is right. Not just a bit right, but completely, utterly, incontrovertibly right ... for most people, life is better, even if they don't realise it -- Dominic Sandbrook * Daily Mail *Awesome. The confidence with which Pinker tears through the issues that cause such deep anxiety today is compelling -- William Davies * Guardian *A characteristically fluent, decisive and data-rich demonstration of why, given the chance to live at any point in human history, only a stone-cold idiot would choose any time other than the present -- Sam Leith * Spectator *A new, optimistic view of the world ... Things are not as bad as your Facebook news feed makes them seem ... a cheerful, contrarian tract for dark times -- Niall Ferguson * Sunday Times *A goldmine of startling graphs and killer facts about the way we live now. Everyone should read this book and, just for once, be enthralled by what humankind has achieved -- Iain Macwhirter * Herald *Brimming with surprising data and entertaining anecdotes ... a genuinely enlightening book -- Jan-Werner Müller * Financial Times *Today we are living healthier, wealthier lives - and it's thanks to the values of the Enlightenment ... a passionate book in praise of Enlightenment values -- David Aaronovitch * The Times *In Enlightenment Now, Steven Pinker extols the amazing achievements of modernity, and demonstrates that humankind has never been so peaceful, healthy and prosperous. There is of course much to argue about, but that's what makes this book so interesting. -- Yuval Noah HarariA salutary reminder of the material progress modern science and commerce have delivered * The New York Times *Words can hardly do justice to the superlative range and liveliness of Pinker's investigations * Independent *Pinker is a paragon of exactly the kind of intellectual honesty and courage we need -- David Brooks * The New York Times *If 2017 was a rough year for you, look no further than Steven Pinker's engaging new book, Enlightenment Now, to cheer you up. Conceived before Donald Trump even announced his candidacy, it could not have been better timed to clarify - and, for some, refute - the habits of mind that brought Trump and the GOP to power ... Pinker's gift is to challenge us not only to update the Enlightenment, but to think beyond it * Washington Post *A valuable book ... Enlightenment Now can hardly be bettered * Boston Globe *Persuasive... Pinker's book focuses on the Enlightenment as a philosophical perspective, as a distinctive way of looking at the position of individuals within modern society. Enlightenment Now is a spirited defence of the enduring ideals of this tradition * Times Higher Education *A careful and deeply researched piece of work ... Pinker is bravely prepared to be the bearer of good news * Guardian *The most uplifting work of science I've ever read * Science *A highly topical and much-needed book * New Statesman *Pinker is ahead of his critics... [he] is in no way complacent. To accuse him of smugly sipping cocktails at the End of History café is simply to ignore his repeated calls to work for the better future that is there for the taking, but also for the losing -- Julian Baggini * Literary Review *In his new book, Enlightenment Now, cognitive scientist Steven Pinker makes a more convincing case for the sciences benefiting the arts * New Scientist *An excellent book, lucidly written, timely, rich in data and eloquent in its championing of a rational humanism that is - it turns out - really quite cool. * New York Times Book Review *It's easy to feel dour about the future of mankind. But constant, widespread doomsday prophecies are not going to help - it's only going to make matters worse. If every doomsday scenario feels possible, then people are actually disincentivized to take action, says Steven Pinker ... Things like nuclear war and climate change can, with careful and diligent work, be mitigated * CNBC *Pinker has a coherent theory of progress. * Washington Post *Shock therapy for pessimists. * Seattle Times *[Steven Pinker has] become a deep and important critic of the visceral hostility to nature and science now so sadly prevalent on the left and right, a defender of reason and the Enlightenment against the 'social justice' movements on campus, and his new book is a near-relentless defense of modernity. * New York Magazine *[ENLIGHTENMENT NOW] proves that much of the handwringing and doom-saying promulgated in the popular press, academia, and politics can't be justified on the facts. . . it's both a manifesto of ideas that [Bill] Gates himself has espoused through the years, as well as a paean to individuals, like Gates, who have committed their time and money to changing the world for the better. * Inc. *A forceful defense of the democratic, humanist institutions that [Pinker] says brought about these changes, and a declaration that reason, science and humanism can solve the problems to come. * Atlanta Journal-Constitution *Vindication has arrived in the form of Steven Pinker's latest book. ENLIGHTENMENT NOW: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress is remarkable, heart-warming, and long overdue. * Christian Science Monitor *Pinker offers numbers to show that the world has, on the whole, become safer, healthier and wealthier. These benefits are more pronounced in the West, but even in developing countries conditions have improved ... His optimism is resilient * The New York Times *Extremely hopeful... Steven Pinker argues that people are happier, healthier, wealthier, and safer than they've ever been ... we're living in the best moments humans have experienced yet * Business Insider *Pinker is a deep and important critic of the visceral hostility to nature and science now so sadly prevalent on the left and right, a defender of reason and the Enlightenment ... Pinker is right -- Andrew Sullivan * New York Magazine *An erudite defence * Salon *Modern life has gotten much better despite ever-present complaints. Technology has reduced the need for physical labor. Mortality rates are down. IQ scores are on the rise. Wars are less frequent and less deadly ... the Enlightenment's championing of reason, science, humanism and moral progress is a model for our own times * Washington Post *Pinker is right ... Much good news today tends to be underreported, even unreported. Human beings today lead longer, safer, healthier, wealthier and indeed happier lives than at any point in recorded history ... Pinker surveys the stupendous advancements that the human race has made in modern times according to a dizzying range of metrics * Nation *An engaging, compelling set of reasons to be cheerful ... it is a welcome antidote * Nature *The world is better than ever before. And Steven Pinker can prove it. * Vox *A substantial and wide-ranging book on the state of our world today ... In forensic detail, Pinker enumerates the myriad ways in which life is getting better ... The book is packed with statistics vaunting the gifts of progress * Irish Times *After devouring all 453 pages and 75 graphs of psychologist Steven Pinker's Enlightenment Now, I admit defeat. The defeat of defeatism. This man has done the math. Since the 18th century things have been getting better in pretty much every dimension of human wellbeing. * Big Think *Steven Pinker has a cure for your despair ... life is better than it has ever been. Pinker's case is compelling * Prospect *Useful and exciting ... Pinker doesn't declaim, he demonstrates - with dozens of graphs and charts - that humankind has spent two centuries winning the battle against entropy in all fields: from health to peace, the environment to democracy, wealth to happiness, to equality between men and women. He asks us crucial questions ... Steven Pinker is right * El Mundo (Spain) *Enlightenment Now seeks to undo, with facts and figures, the pessimism that has paralysed the world ... We must read this book and absorb its message * El Pais (Colombia) *Guys, it's really not that bad. In fact, it's the best it's ever been ... Pinker urges people to look at the bigger picture and dive into the data * New York Post *Things are not as bad as your Facebook news feed makes them seem ... a cheerful, contrarian tract for dark times -- Niall Ferguson * Boston Globe *Compelling ... At a moment when liberal Enlightenment values are under attack, from the right and the left, this is a very important contribution ... An impressive and useful accomplishment * Atlantic *

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Book SynopsisA heartfelt, humane, and even hilarious account of why rule-obsessed veganism fails and how a focus on flourishing can bring about an abundant future for all In Hungry Beautiful Animals, philosopher Matthew C. Halteman shows us how—despite all the forces arrayed against going vegan—we can create an abundant life for everyone without using animals for food. Going vegan must be about flourishing, not shaming and blaming ourselves.  Hungry Beautiful Animals is a book of action, of forgiveness, and love. 'This timely exploration of the profound impact of our dietary choices on both individual and collective flourishing is essential reading for anyone who eats.'—Bryant Terry, James Beard award-winning author of Vegetable Kingdom  “This is a book of sacred truths, the kind of thing you read and your soul forever registers.'—Kathy Freston, New York Times best-sell

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Book SynopsisHoly Motherforking Shirtballs! The madly popular sitcom The Good Place, has propelled ethics and moral philosophy into the 21st century mainstream. The story of Eleanor Shellstrop, who has accidentally been sent to the Good Place after her death, continually challenges us to ask what makes for a ‘good person’? Taking inspiration from the show, this is a guide to ‘doing the right thing’. Using thought experiments, from the trolley problem to the balloon debate, as well as modern dilemmas like the etiquette of texting and ‘selfie’ culture (you’re going to the Bad Place), here is (nearly) everything you need to know about being in your own ‘good place’ in life.

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Book SynopsisThe "Nicomachean Ethics" is one of Aristotle's most widely read and influential works. Drawing on their intimate knowledge of Aristotle's thought, the authors have produced an English-language translation of the "Ethics" that is as faithful to the original as it is graceful in its rendering.Trade Review"[This volume] is much more than a translation. The translators, Robert C. Bartlett... and Susan D. Collins... have provided helpful aids.... [They have] supplied an informative introduction, as well as 'A Note on the Translation,' a bibliography and an outline of the work. All this precedes the main text. Afterward comes a brief 'Overview of the Moral Virtues and Vices,' a very extensive and invaluable glossary, a list of 'Key Greek Terms,' an index of proper names and at last a detailed 'general index.' Together these bring the original text within the compass of every intelligent reader.... Brilliant and readable." (New York Times Book Review)"

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Book Synopsis''many men compete in digging and kicking but no one at all in the pursuit of human excellence.''Diogenes the Cynic is best remembered today for having lived in a storage-jar, and walking the streets with a lamp in daylight, looking for an honest man. Such stories formed part of a rich tradition of sayings and anecdotes; his biting wit and eccentric behaviour were legendary, and it was by means of these oft-repeated and embellished aphorisms that his moral teachings were transmitted. He scorned the conventions of civilized life, and his ascetic lifestyle and caustic opinions gave expression to the Cynic philosophy that in turn influenced Stoicism. This unique edition also covers Diogenes'' immediate successors, such as Crates, his wife Hipparchia, and the witty moral preacher Bion. The contrasting teachings of the Cyrenaic school, founded by Aristippos, a pleasure-loving friend of Socrates, complete the volume, together with a selection of apocryphal letters. An ideal compendium of SocTable of ContentsDIOGENES AND THE EARLY CYNICS; ARISTIPPOS AND THE CYRENAICS; APOCRYPHAL LETTERS

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Book Synopsis“A fascinating, thoughtful, and thoroughly enjoyable exploration of a major dimension of human experience.”— Steven Pinker, author of How the Mind Works A maverick scientist reveals the inconsistent and often paradoxical ways humans think, feel, and behave toward animals in this engaging, informative, and though-provoking book, now newly revised.Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat is a highly entertaining and illuminating journey through the full spectrum of human-animal relations. Drawing on his groundbreaking research in the field of anthrozoology, Dr. Hal Herzog tries to make sense of our complex relationships with animals and the challenging moral conundrums we face regarding these creatures who share our world—and some, our homes. A blend of anthropology, behavioral economics, evolutionary psychology, and philosophy, updated to reflect evolving attitudes and the most recent findings, Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat  is a poignant, often challenging, and frequently laugh-out-loud funny trip through a world of animal rights activists, cockfighters, professional dog-show handlers, veterinary students, biomedical researchers, and more. It will forever change the way we think about other living creatures and, ultimately, how we see ourselves.Trade Review“A wonderful book—wildly readable, funny, scientifically sound, and with surprising moments of deep, challenging thoughts. I loved it.” — Robert M. Sapolsky, Neuroscientist, Stanford University, and author of Monkeyluv and A Primate's Memoir “Everybody who is interested in the ethics of our relationship between humans and animals should read this book.” — Temple Grandin, author of Animals Make Us Human “Hal Herzog does for our relationships with animals what Michael Pollan’s Omnivore’s Dilemma did for our relationships with food. . . . The book is a joy to read, and no matter what your beliefs are now, it will change how you think.” — Sam Gosling, Professor of Psychology, University of Texas, Austin, author of Snoop: What Your Stuff Says About You “Reminiscent of Freakonomics. . . . An agreeable guide to popular avenues of inquiry in the field of anthrozoology.” — The New Yorker “Wonderful. . . . An engagingly written book that only seems to be about animals. Herzog’s deepest questions are about men, women and children.” — Cleveland Plain Dealer “A fun read. . . . What buoys this book is Herzog’s voice. He’s an assured, knowledgeable and friendly guide.” — Lisa Ko, author of The Leavers “A fascinating, thoughtful, and thoroughly enjoyable exploration of a major dimension of human experience.” — Steven Pinker, Harvard College Professor of Psychology, Harvard University, and author of How the Mind Works and The Stuff of Thought “An instant classic. . . . Written so accessibly and personally, while simultaneously satisfying the scholar in all of us.” — Arnold Arluke, Anthrozoös “An intelligent and amusing book that invites us to think deeply about how we define-and where we limit-our empathy for animals.” — Publishers Weekly “Herzog argues that moral absolutes are not readily available in a complex world—one that exists in shades of grey, rather than the black and white of animal rights activists and their opponents. . . . Herzog has a clear eye for the essence of a scientific study, but he leavens his narrative with illuminating personal stories and self-deprecating humor.” — Nature “Both educational and enjoyable, a page-turner that I dare say puts Herzog in the same class as Malcolm Gladwell and Michael Lewis. Read this book. You’ll learn some, you’ll laugh some, you’ll love some.” — BookPage “Herzog writes about big ideas with a light touch. . . . Insightful, compassionate and humorous.” — Kirkus Reviews “Fascinating. . . Herzog looks at the wild, tortured paradoxes in our relationship with the weaker, if sometimes more adorable, species.” — Salon “In his quest to make sense of our complex relationships with animals, psychologist Hal Herzog explores the ethics of E.T. and explains why guys with cute dogs get more dates.” — Parade “Professor Hal Herzog writes lucidly and sometimes with a good touch of humor about the ethics of the relationships between humans and animals. . . . No matter which side of the question you find yourself on, this book is illuminating, and dare I say quite entertaining.” — Biloxi Sun Herald “Engaging and pleasantly cerebral. . . . When [Herzog is] talking to people about their views, the book is fascinating.” — Time Out Chicago “Hal Herzog deftly blends anecdote with scientific research to show how almost any moral or ethical position regarding our relationship with animals can lead to absurd consequences. In an utterly appealing narrative, he reveals the quirky…ways we humans try to make sense of these absurdities.” — ARTnews “One of a kind. I don’t know when I’ve read anything more comprehensive about our highly involved, highly contradictory relationships with animals, relationships which we mindlessly, placidly continue no matter how irrational they may be. . . . This page-turning book is quite something—you won’t forget it any time soon.” — Elizabeth Marshall Thomas, author of The Hidden Life of Deer “Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat is one of a kind. I don’t know when I’ve read anything more comprehensive about our highly involved, highly contradictory relationships with animals, relationships which we mindlessly, placidly continue no matter how irrational they may be. Readers will welcome Herzog’s eye opening discussions, presented with compassion and humor. This page-turning book is quite something—you won’t forget it any time soon.” — Elizabeth Marshall Thomas, author of The Hidden Life of Deer: Lessons from the Natural World

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Book SynopsisSuicide is everywhere. It haunts history and current events. It haunts our own networks of friends and family. The spectre of suicide looms large, but the topic is taboo because any meaningful discussion must at the very least consider that the answer to the question – ‘is life worth living?’ – might not be an emphatic yes; it might even be a stern no. Through a sweeping historical overview of suicide, a moving literary survey of famous suicide notes, and a psychological analysis of himself, Simon Critchley offers us an insight into what it means to possess the all too human gift and curse of being of being able to choose life or death. Five years after its initial publication, this revised edition of Notes on Suicide includes a new preface by the author adressing shifts in the discourse surrounding suicide, particularly in relation to social media.Trade Review‘An elegant, erudite, and provocative book that asks us to reflect on suicide without moral judgment and panicked response. For Critchley, many reasons have been given for suicide, but what remains less remarked is how suicide distinguishes human creatures who grapple with melancholy in the face of losses that are too huge or enigmatic to fathom. Though there may be many reasons given within philosophy or popular culture, there are also some simple, insistent truths that do forestall such an action. In his view, “suicide saddens the past and abolishes the future,” establishing a problematic framework for grasping the whole of a life. This text gestures toward what makes us forgetful about suicide: wondrous and recurring moments when we find ourselves “enduring in the here and now.”’ — Judith Butler, author of Gender Trouble ‘No one ever lacks a good reason for suicide, wrote Cesare Pavese. With passionate lucidity and philosophical intelligence, Simon Critchley explores what these reasons might be, bracketing simple moral judgement and trying to fight his way past the social, psychical and existential blockages that inhibit us whenever we try to think about this ever-baffling issue.’ — Lars Iyer, author of Wittgenstein Jr‘For most arguments about suicide, there's a counter argument, and Critchley makes us think anew about old questions. Is suicide selfish? I believed not until a member of my family killed themselves and the pain it caused persuaded me that it's both selfish and stupid. But Critchley reminds us that our responses to suicide are distorted by anger, prejudice and inarticulacy. We must, he argues, stop looking for life's great meaning and instead savour “little daily miracles, matches struck in the darkness”. And we must talk about suicide without shame or sanctimony. This book is a good place to start.’ — Max Liu, Independent

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Book SynopsisThe Passions of the Soul is Descartes's greatest contribution to the understanding of the union of mind and body. It discusses the emotions and their place in human life. This volume also includes both sides of the correspondence with Princess Elisabeth of Bohemia, crucial to the genesis of the work, and Part I of The Principles of Philosophy.Table of ContentsIntroduction ; Note on the Text and Translation ; Select Bibliography ; A Chronology of Descartes ; Correspondence with Princess Elisabeth of Bohemia, 1643-9 ; Principles of Philosophy, Part I (1644, 1647) ; Letters to Fr Denis Mesland, SJ, 2 May 1644 and 9 February 1645 ; Letter to the Marquess of Newcastle, 23 November 1646 ; Letter to Pierre Chanut, 6 June 1647 ; Letter to Antoine Arnauld, 29 July 1648 ; The Passions of the Soul (1649) ; Explanatory Notes

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Book SynopsisSam Harris is a neuroscientist and the author of the New York Times bestsellers The End of Faith and Letter to a Christian Nation. His writing has appeared in Newsweek, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Times, Nature and in many other journals. He holds a degree in philosophy from Stanford University and a Ph.D. in neuroscience from UCLA. He is a co-founder of Project Reason.www.samharris.orgTrade ReviewI was one of those who had unthinkingly bought into the hectoring myth that science can say nothing about morals. To my surprise, The Moral Landscape has changed all that for me... As for religion, and the preposterous idea that we need God to be good, nobody wields a sharper bayonet than Sam Harris -- Richard DawkinsSam Harris breathes intellectual fire into an ancient debate. Reading this thrilling, audacious book, you feel the ground shifting beneath your feet. Reason has never had a more passionate advocate -- Ian McEwanA tremendously appealing vision, and one that no thinking person can afford to ignore -- Steven Pinker, Harvard College Professor of PsychologyReaders are bound to come away with previously firm convictions about the world challenged, and a vital new awareness about the nature and value of science and reason in our lives -- Lawrence M. Krauss, Professor at Arizona State UniversityThis is an inspiring book -- John Lloyd * The Financial Times *

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Book SynopsisAristotle's Art of Rhetoric is a treatise concerning the theory and practice of the most dynamic form of discourse in Classical Greece. The Rhetoric was a touchstone for all later ancient writers on the subject, from the Stoics to Cicero.Trade ReviewIn short, this translation from Waterfield builds on a series of readable and affordable translations from Oxford World's Classics and will no doubt prove valuable to both students and academics. Waterfield has given Aristotle his own colourful voice, if not an even more doddery one, which will prove both entertaining as well as informative to Oxford World's Classics' intended audience. * Will Coles, University of London, Bryn Mawr Classical Review *

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Book SynopsisThis book is not a conventional reader in moral philosophy. To capture the essentials of what we know about the origins and nature of ethics, Peter Singer has drawn on anthropology, history, observation of non-human animals, the theory of evolution, game theory, and works of fiction, in addition to moral philosophy. By choosing some of the finest pieces of writing, old and new, in and about ethics, he conveys the intellectual excitement of the search for basic questions about how we ought to live.Table of ContentsINTRODUCTION PART 1: THE NATURE OF ETHICS: ITS ORIGINS,VARIATIONS, AND BASIS; A. THE LONG SEARCH FOR THE ORIGINS OF ETHICS; B. COMMON THEMES IN PRIMATE ETHICS; C. THE ROLE OF REASON; PART II: THE CONTENT OF ETHICS: JUDGING GOOD OUTCOMES AND RIGHTS ACTS; A. ULTIMATE GOD; B. DECIDING WHAT IS RIGHT

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewProbably no European writer of his time left so deep a mark on the imagination -- Conor Cruise O'BrienCamus helps you become "the one you are". And the revolt he incites, an assertion of individual freedom, brings you into a recognition of common human suffering and of the common need to lessen it and to enliven the lives of all -- David Constantine

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Book SynopsisFriedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) was one of the most influential German philosophers. The youngest man ever to hold the Chair of Classical Philosophy at the University of Basel, his work has inspired generations of philosophy by providing radical challenges to the received wisdom of earlier generations.

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