E-Book Overview
How ought we to live? What really exists? How do we know? This lively and engaging book is the ideal introduction for anyone who has ever been puzzled by what philosophy is or what it is for. Edward Craig argues that philosophy is not an activity born from another planet: learning about it is just a matter of broadening and deepening what most of us do already. He shows that philosophy is no mere intellectual pastime: thinkers such as Plato, Buddhist writers, Descartes, Hobbes, Hume, Hegel, Mill and de Beauvoir were responding to real needs and events - much of their work shapes our lives today and many of their concerns are still ours.
E-Book Content
Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction ‘This is a lively and interesting introduction to philosophy. Despite its brevity Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction addresses many of the central philosophical questions in an engaging and thought-provoking style. At the same time it gives readers a flavour of some of the greatest works of philosophy and provides expert guidance for those who want to read the original works themselves. Edward Craig is already famous as the editor of the best long work on philosophy (the Routledge Encyclopedia); now he deserves to become even better known as the author of one of the best short ones.’ Nigel Warburton, The Open University
Very Short Introductions are for anyone wanting a stimulating and accessible way in to a new subject. They are written by experts, and have been published in more than 25 languages worldwide. The series began in 1995, and now represents a wide variety of topics in history, philosophy, religion, science, and the humanities. Over the next few years it will grow to a library of around 200 volumes – a Very Short Introduction to everything from ancient Egypt and Indian philosophy to conceptual art and cosmology.
Very Short Introductions available now: ANCIENT