No other phenomenon has shaped human history as decisively as capitalism. It structures how we live and work, how we think about ourselves and others, how we organise our politics. Sven Beckert situates the story of capitalism within the largest conceivable geographical and historical framework in this fascinating new book.

Capitalism, argues Beckert, was born global. Emerging from merchant communities across Asia, Africa and Europe, capitalism’s radical recasting of economic life rooted itself only gradually. Then it burst onto the world scene, as European states and merchants built a powerful alliance that would propel them across the oceans. This epic drama corresponded at no point to an idealised dream of free markets. All along, state-backed institutions and imperial expansions shaped its dynamics.

Capitalism decentres the European perspective, highlighting agency, resistance, innovation and ruthless coercion around the world through to the present with the rise of Asian economies, particularly China. Sven Beckert doesn’t merely add up capitalism’s debits and credits in this monumental book, but allows us to think afresh about the past to help us re-imagine the future.

The notions of the cosmic city and the common law are central to early Stoic political thought. As Vogt shows, together they make up one complex theory. A city is a place governed by the law. Yet on the law pervading the cosmos can be considered a true law, and thus the cosmos is the only real city. A city is also a dwelling-place--in the case of the cosmos, the dwelling-place of all human beings. Further, a city demarcates who belongs together as fellow-citizens. The thought that we should view all other human beings as belonging to us constitutes the core of Stoic cosmopolitanism. All human beings are citizens of the cosmic city in the sense of living in the world. But the demanding task of acquiring wisdom allows a person to become a citizen in the strict sense: someone who lives according to the law, as the gods do. The sage is the only citizen, relative, friend and free person; via these notions, the Stoics explore the political dimensions of the Stoic idea of wisdom. Vogt argues against two widespread interpretations of the common law--that it consists of rules, and that lawful action is what right reason prescribes. While she rejects the rules-interpretation, she argues that the prescriptive reason-interpretation correctly captures key ideas of the Stoics' theory, but misses the substantive side of their conception of the law. The sage fully understands what is valuable for human beings, and this makes her actions lawful. The Stoics emphasize the revisionary nature of their theory; whatever course of action perfect deliberation commands, even if it be cutting off one's limb and eating it, we should act on its command, and not be held back by conventional judgments.

Michael Moran is fascinated by the thinkers he discusses. But unlike most of them, he has no illusion that philosophy can do the work of science and be even a minor source of factual knowledge. Moreover, being highly speculative, it is unlikely that most philosophy will reveal more to us about the `nature of reality' than, say, imaginative literature. Among other things, the author considers both where the usefulness, and indeed the dangers, of philosophy may lie and how, as an academic subject, it might be practised. `I have written this volume not primarily for fellow academics but for anyone who is really interested in modern philosophy and who would like to know what another thoughtful reader has made of it. In other words, I still cling to the hope that there must somewhere exist an intelligent readership outside the routines of academia itself, consisting of individuals who are deeply concerned with ideas, are already reasonably informed, but feel the need for more stimulus. This book is primarily meant for them.' (Introduction, p. 9) Sir Isaiah Berlin, commenting on the author's article on Coleridge: `It seems to me to be one of the most perceptive pieces on Coleridge that I have ever read in English.'

Believing Philosophy introduces Christians to philosophy and the tools it provides believers, helping them understand, articulate, and defend their faith in an age of unbelief. Philosophy has been a part of Christianity since its earliest days, and theistic philosophy predates Christianity by thousands of years. But Christians today often don't realize or are skeptical of all that philosophy can offer them. In Part 1, author Dolores G. Morris explains why Christians should read and study philosophy. She begins with a historical overview of Christian philosophy from the church fathers to contemporary philosophers and then introduces the basic resources of philosophical reasoning: the role and aim of reason, distinctions between truth and reason and provability, and learning to read like a philosopher. These chapters address three foundational questions: What is philosophy? Why should a Christian study philosophy? How should a Christian study philosophy? In Part 2, Morris introduces students to philosophical arguments and questions relevant to Christians. She presents arguments by three key branches of philosophy: metaphysics, epistemology, and practical philosophy. Building on concepts introduced in Part 1, she explains what philosophical arguments are and how they ought to be evaluated from a philosophical and Christian perspective. The following chapters examine specific questions most pressing for Christians today: The problem of evil Rationality and faith Free will Skeptical theism The moral argument for the existence of God Reformed epistemology Each chapter introduces the problem, explains Christian responses, discusses the strengths and weaknesses of each response, and leaves the final verdict to the reader. Finally, each chapter concludes with a list of recommended further readings.

Engage students with the 'Religion and Ethics' content for OCR A Level Religious Studies; build their knowledge, deepen their understanding and develop their skills using this accessible textbook, brought to you by subject specialists with examining experience and the leading A Level Religious Studies publisher and OCR's Publishing Partner. - Confidently cover the content your students need to know in an appropriate level of depth with this component textbook that has been written in light of what has been learned from from the first assessment - Enable students to develop and hone the AO2 skills they need, with Analyse and Evaluate tables in every topic outlining the key evaluation points - Help students of all ability levels to build their subject knowledge with key content explained clearly throughout using accessible language - Engage students with the content; each topic begins with a real-life example which puts the content into context and has discussion points throughout to get students actively thinking about key concepts - Encourage students to critically engage with challenging issues and ideas; core, stretch and challenge activities at the end of every topic help students to develop a comprehensive and nuanced understanding - Provide students with the opportunity to check their knowledge and p

A BOLD NEW VISION FOR A NEW WORLD
Our way of life isn't working anymore. People are losing their jobs, their homes, their neighborhoods--and even their hope for a just society. We urgently need a new story to live by, based on fairness--not simply on the accumulation of wealth and "survival of the fittest."
"The Bond "offers a radical new blueprint for living a more harmonious, prosperous, and connected life. International bestselling author Lynne McTaggart demonstrates with hard science that we are living contrary to our true nature.
In fact, life doesn't have to be "I win, you lose; "we have been designed to succeed and prosper when we work as part of a greater whole. "The Bond "proves that we are weak when we compete, and thrive only when we cooperate and connect deeply with each other.
In this seminal book for our age, McTaggart also offers a complete program of practical tools and exercises to help you enjoy closer relationships--across even the deepest divides--encourage a more connected workplace, rebuild a united neighborhood, and become a powerful, global agent of change.

It is illustrated in a fresh and modern way with a touch of abstract and so should appeal to a wider audience. With hints of social and human psychology, spirituality combinded with creativity - it just scratches each issue on the surface. The book doesn't impose any strong views or lengthy "deep" writing to bore, but is says enough - acting as a catalyst to encourage deeper thought, reflection and discussion. "Themes Of Life.... A simple but Spiritual, Creative and Psychological approach to tackling some key issues which we face, In Human relationships & in Society today"

So long as large segments of humanity are suffering chronic poverty and are dying from treatable diseases, organized giving can save or enhance millions of lives. With the law providing little guidance, ethics has a crucial role to play in ensuring that the philanthropic practices of individuals, foundations, NGOs, governments, and international agencies are morally sound and effective. In Giving Well: The Ethics of Philanthropy, an accomplished trio of editors bring together an international group of distinguished philosophers, social scientists, lawyers and practitioners to identify and address the most urgent moral questions arising today in the practice of philanthropy. The topics discussed include the psychology of giving, the reasons for and against a duty to give, the accountability of NGOs and foundations, the questionable marketing practices of some NGOs, the moral priorities that should inform NGO decisions about how to target and design their projects, the good and bad effects of aid, and the charitable tax deduction along with the water's edge policy now limiting its reach. This ground-breaking volume can help bring our practice of charity closer to meeting the vital needs of the millions worldwide who depend on voluntary contributions for their very lives.

Between every intellect and an understanding of materiality there is a zone of possible meaning. This is the common experience of the human condition. We can call what appears in the zone of meaning - phenomena. These are the closest we ever get to materiality. We either make sense of phenomena or we fail. When we make sense of phenomena we can share our ability to make phenomena in similar ways because we are similar beings. In particular and uniquely on the earth we make linguistic phenomena in a highly diverse and developed manner. This we know. Unfortunately many intellects make their propositional linguistic phenomena and impose them on other intellects. In the UK we executed a despot in order to get at a democratic process in which the only voices governing us were human voices. We are still struggling with propositional linguistic phenomena in that regard and I hope Play will help us with our struggle