Essential Philosophy

Discover the world's greatest thinkers and their groundbreaking notions! Too often, textbooks turn the noteworthy theories, principles, and figures of philosophy into tedious discourse that even Plato would reject. Philosophy 101 cuts out the boring details and exhausting philosophical...

This classic explains American philosopher George Stuary Fullerton's realistic views on philosophy. Fullerton, born in India, spent time at the University of Pennsylvania, Yale Divinity School, Columbia University, and the University of Vienna. He was president of the American Psychological Association in 1896.

Penguin presents the audiobook edition of The History of Philosophy written by A.C. Grayling, read by Neil Gardner. The story of philosophy is an epic tale: an exploration of the ideas, views and teachings of some of the most creative minds known to humanity. But since the long-popular classic...

The Philosophy opens with the most human of questions—“What’s the point?”—and dares to follow it wherever it leads. This isn’t just another thought experiment or self-help book. It’s a rallying cry for those who feel the systems around us are broken, yet refuse to believe we are powerless to change them.

Discover the Essential Ideas of Karl Popper—The Philosopher Who Revolutionized How We Think About Science, Reason, and FreedomKarl Popper (1902–1994) stands as one of the most influential philosophers of the twentieth century. His radical rethinking of the scientific method—replacing...

If you've ever pondered your existence over your morning coffee or considered the nature of crime and punishment, you're an amateur philosopher. In Philosophy For Dummies, Dr. Tom Morris delivers a refreshing and engaging exploration of the fundamentals of philosophy and shows you that philosophy can be fascinating and fun at the same time. You'll be introduced to topics like the meaning of life, religious belief, and ways to live in the most satisfying ways. You'll also learn about the insights of some of history's greatest philosophers.

An essential introduction to the history, concepts, and thinking behind philosophy that demystifies what can often be daunting subject matter, laid out in DK's signature style. Are the ideas of René Descartes, Mary Wollstonecraft, John Locke, and Thomas Hobbes still relevant today? The...

This engaging and accessible book invites the listener to explore the questions and arguments of philosophy through the work of 100 of the greatest thinkers within the Western intellectual tradition - covering philosophical, scientific, political, and religious thought over a period of 2500 years.

Combing through 70 years of comic books, television shows, and movies, Batman and Philosophy explores how the Dark Knight grapples with ethical conundrums, moral responsibility, his identity crisis, the moral weight he carries to avenge his murdered parents, and much more. How does this caped crusader measure up against the teachings of Plato, Aristotle, Kant, Kierkegaard, and Lao Tzu? 

David Hume (1711-1776) was the most important philosopher ever to write in English as well as a master stylist. This volume contains his major philosophical works. A Treatise of Human Nature (1739–1740), published while Hume was still in his twenties, consists of three books on the understanding, the passions, and morals.

In this enlightening Very Short Introduction, Simon Critchley shows us that Continental philosophy encompasses a distinct set of philosophical traditions and practices, with a compelling range of problems all too often ignored by the analytic tradition. He discusses the ideas and approaches of philosophers such as Kant, Hegel, Nietzsche, Husserl, Heidegger, Sartre, Habermas, Foucault, and Derrida. He also introduces key concepts such as existentialism, nihilism, and phenomonology, by explaining their place in the Continental tradition. 

Discover all the essential wisdom of the stoics with this engaging, informative, and easy-to-understand guide to all the key philosophers, concepts, and principles of the stoic philosophy. You’ve seen the memes and quotes everywhere—from Reddit to TikTok—but what is stoicism really about?...

Pay attention. As politics slides toward impulsivity, and outrage bests rationality, how can philosophy help us critically engage with real world problems? Question everything. Drawing on decades of work in philosophy including a huge range of interviews with contemporary philosophers, Julian...

Are you interested in philosophy? Do the greatest thinkers from the past influence the way you think and act? Philosophers have been shaping the world for centuries. Their ideas have shaped the way we act as individuals and groups for as long as we can remember, and their deep thought processes have been marveled at and replicated by millions across the world.

Spanning eighty captivating hours, Durant Masterworks curates four of Will Durant's most celebrated works into a single, thematically rich portrait of Western thought from its origins to the modern age. This anthology traces the evolution of Western thought from ancient philosophy through medieval faith, early modern conflict, and the rise of England as a global power. Durant's storytelling is vivid, engaging, and deeply human, bringing history's greatest ideas and personalities to life with unmatched clarity.

What if the hidden forces shaping your dreams, relationships, conflicts, and choices spoke a language you could learn to understand?Carl Gustav Jung gave the modern world some of its most powerful ideas about the human mind—but his vast body of work can be difficult to navigate.JUNG DICTIONARY...

Classic ideas and ancient concepts broken down for the modern age. A non-academic approach to better living and greater happiness. Philosophy doesn’t have to be pointless and boring. If we can cut through the difficult language and roundabout reasoning, we’ll find a treasure trove of knowledge and enlightenment. But don’t worry, this is no textbook.  

Understand one of the most influential philosophers of modern democracy, communication, and critical theory.HABERMAS DICTIONARY: A Study of His Most Frequent Words and Phrases is a clear, structured, and accessible guide to the essential concepts of Jürgen Habermas, one of the most important...

Open this book at any entry, follow along, and discover the essential ideas, people, principles, and practices behind Marcus Aurelius and the timeless philosophy of Stoicism.Marcus Aurelius never intended the Meditations to become a philosophical textbook. He wrote it as a private guide—a way...

The Essential Paul Gottfried, Essays from 1984-2024 collects four decades of essays from one of America's most insightful and provocative political thinkers. This collection is a testament to his intellectual rigor and courage, and showcases his remarkable ability to bring clarity to the many issues that mainstream liberals and establishment conservatives have persistently misunderstood. Wherever public discourse finds itself at an impasse to make sense of our political environment, Gottfried stands, again and again, as a rare point of light.