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Books > Philosophy > Topics in philosophy
It's a belief that unites the left and right, psychologists and philosophers, writers and historians. It drives the headlines that surround us and the laws that touch our lives. From Machiavelli to Hobbes, Freud to Dawkins, the roots of this belief have sunk deep into Western thought. Human beings, we're taught, are by nature selfish and governed by self-interest.
Humankind makes a new argument: that it is realistic, as well as revolutionary, to assume that people are good. By thinking the worst of others, we bring out the worst in our politics and economics too.
In this major book, internationally bestselling author Rutger Bregman takes some of the world's most famous studies and events and reframes them, providing a new perspective on the last 200,000 years of human history. From the real-life Lord of the Flies to the Blitz, a Siberian fox farm to an infamous New York murder, Stanley Milgram's Yale shock machine to the Stanford prison experiment, Bregman shows how believing in human kindness and altruism can be a new way to think - and act as the foundation for achieving true change in our society.
It is time for a new view of human nature.
Informed by co-author Debby Hutchins' extensive teaching experience
and research on logic education, The Art of Reasoning is the most
effective text for teaching logic today. The Fifth Edition features
a new chapter on cognitive biases, along with a new learning
framework and newly designed problem sets that encourage
incremental learning. Supporting resources are enhanced by
InQuizitive, an award-winning adaptive learning tool that
facilitates mastery of core concepts.
This thought-provoking book develops and elaborates on the artifact
theory of law, covering a wide range of related theoretical and
practical topics. Offering a range of perspectives that flesh out
the artifact theory of law, it also introduces criticisms of
previous formulations of the theory and inquires into its potential
payoffs. Featuring international contributions from both noted and
up-and-coming scholars in law and philosophy, the book is divided
into two parts. The first part further explores and evaluates the
concept of law as an artifact and analyses the background and
theoretical basis of the theory. The second part comprises three
sections on legal ontology, semantics and legal normativity,
specifically in relation to law's artifactual nature. Providing
cutting-edge insights at the intersection of law and philosophy,
this book will appeal to scholars and students in philosophy of
law, empirical legal studies, social ontology and the philosophy of
society.
HarperCollins is proud to present its incredible range of
best-loved, essential classics. Our life is what our thoughts make
it The extraordinary writings of Marcus Aurelius (AD 121-180), the
only Roman emperor to have also been a stoic philosopher, have for
centuries been praised for their wisdom, insight and guidance by
leaders and great thinkers alike. Never intended for publication,
Meditations are the personal notes born from a man who studied his
unique position of power as emperor while trying to uphold inner
balance in the chaotic world around him. Boldly challenging many of
our biggest questions, Aurelius wrestles with the divided self,
considering the complexities of human nature, rationality and moral
virtue, affirming its place as one of the most timeless,
significant works of philosophy to date.
This book examines how ancient myths have developed and still
survive in the collective public imagination in order to answer
fundamental questions concerning the individual, society and
historical heritage: On what basis do we form our opinion and
develop attitudes about key issues? What is, and how should, the
relationship between ourselves and nature be oriented? And what is
the relationship between ourselves and others? Advancing a critical
analysis of myths, Andrea Cerroni reveals the inconsistencies and
consequences of our contemporary imagination, addressing
neoliberalism in particular. The book elaborates a sociological
theology from historical reconstruction, drawing together
analytical concepts such as political theology and sociological
imagination. It brings into focus a cultural matrix comprising
ancient myths about nature, society and knowledge, in opposition to
modern myths built around reductionism, individualism and
relativism. Providing suggestions for deconstructing these myths,
Contemporary Sociological Theology explores concepts of reflexive
complexity, Gramscian democratic politics and a general
relativisation of knowledge. Highly interdisciplinary, this book
will be an insightful read for sociology and social policy
scholars, for students with a particular interest in sociological
theory, cultural sociology and innovation policy and for all those
who seek awareness of the imagination that rules our world.
HarperCollins is proud to present its incredible range of
best-loved, essential classics. No man can live a happy life, or
even a supportable life, without the study of wisdom Lucius Annaeus
Seneca (4 BC-AD 65) is one of the most famous Roman philosophers.
Instrumental in guiding the Roman Empire under emperor Nero, Seneca
influenced him from a young age with his Stoic principles. Later in
life, he wrote Epistulae Morales ad Lucilium, or Letters from a
Stoic, detailing these principles in full. Seneca's letters read
like a diary, or a handbook of philosophical meditations. Often
beginning with observations on daily life, the letters focus on
many traditional themes of Stoic philosophy, such as the contempt
of death, the value of friendship and virtue as the supreme good.
Using Gummere's translation from the early twentieth century, this
selection of Seneca's letters shows his belief in the austere,
ethical ideals of Stoicism - teachings we can still learn from
today.
In the twenty-first century, humanity is reaching new heights of scientific understanding - and at the same time appears to be losing its mind. How can a species that discovered vaccines for Covid-19 in less than a year produce so much fake news, quack cures and conspiracy theorizing?
In Rationality, Pinker rejects the cynical cliché that humans are simply an irrational species - cavemen out of time fatally cursed with biases, fallacies and illusions. After all, we discovered the laws of nature, lengthened and enriched our lives and set the benchmarks for rationality itself. Instead, he explains, we think in ways that suit the low-tech contexts in which we spend most of our lives, but fail to take advantage of the powerful tools of reasoning we have built up over millennia: logic, critical thinking, probability, causal inference, and decision-making under uncertainty. These tools are not a standard part of our educational curricula, and have never been presented clearly and entertainingly in a single book - until now.
Rationality matters. It leads to better choices in our lives and in the public sphere, and is the ultimate driver of social justice and moral progress. Brimming with insight and humour, Rationality will enlighten, inspire and empower.
"A brilliant critique of the Right with very sharp insight on some
of the shortcomings of the Left, this book is a must-read for
anyone looking to understand how dishonest actors spread their
propaganda." Ana Kasparian, Host and Executive Producer of The
Young Turks Michael Brooks takes on the new "Intellectual Dark
Web". As the host of The Michael Brooks Show and co-host of the
Majority Report, he lets his understanding of the new media
environment direct his analysis of the newly risen conservative
rebels who have taken YouTube by storm. Brooks provides a
theoretically rigorous but accessible critique of the most
prominent "renegades"; including Sam Harris, Jordan Peterson, and
Brett Weinstein while also examining the social, political and
media environment that these rebels thrive in.
Recent discussions of Thomas Aquinas's treatment of natural law
have focused upon the ""self-evident"" character of the first
principles, but few attempts have been made to determine in what
manner they are self-evident. On some accounts, a self-evident
precept must have, at most, a tenuous connection with speculative
reason, especially our knowledge of God, and it must be untainted
by the stain of ""deriving"" an ought from an is. Yet Aquinas
himself had a robust account of the good, rooted in human nature.
He saw no fundamental difference between is-statements and
ought-statements, both of which he considered to be descriptive.
Knowing the Natural Law traces the thought of Aquinas from an
understanding of human nature to a knowledge of the human good,
from there to an account of ought-statements, and finally to
choice, which issues in human actions. The much discussed article
on the precepts of the natural law (I-II, 94, 2) provides the
framework for a natural law rooted in human nature and in
speculative knowledge. Practical knowledge is itself threefold:
potentially practical knowledge, virtually practical knowledge, and
fully practical knowledge. This distinction within practical
knowledge, typically overlooked or underutilized, reveals the steps
by which the mind moves from speculative knowledge all the way to
fully practical knowledge. The most significant sections of Knowing
the Natural Law examine the nature of ought-statements, the
imperative force of moral precepts, the special character of per se
nota propositions as found within the natural law, and the final
movement from knowledge to action.
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
In Everything Ancient Was Once New, Emalani Case explores
Indigenous persistence through the concept of Kahiki, a term that
is at once both an ancestral homeland for Kanaka Maoli (Hawaiians)
and the knowledge that there is life to be found beyond Hawai'i's
shores. It is therefore both a symbol of ancestral connection and
the potential that comes with remembering and acting upon that
connection. Tracing physical, historical, intellectual, and
spiritual journeys to and from Kahiki, Emalani frames it as a place
of refuge and sanctuary, a place where ancient knowledge can
constantly be made anew. It is in Kahiki, she argues, and in the
sanctuary it creates, that today's Kanaka Maoli can find safety and
reprieve from the continued onslaught of settler colonial violence,
while also confronting some of the often uncomfortable and
challenging realities of being Indigenous in Hawai'i, in the
Pacific, and in the world. Each chapter of the book engages with
Kahiki as a shifting term, employed by Kanaka Maoli to explain
their lives and experiences to themselves at different points in
history. In doing so, Everything Ancient Was Once New proposes and
argues for reactivated and reinvigorated engagements with Kahiki,
each supporting ongoing work aimed at decolonizing physical and
ideological spaces, and reconnecting Kanaka Maoli to other peoples
and places in the Pacific region and beyond in ways that are both
purposeful and meaningful. In the book, Kahiki is therefore traced
through pivotal moments in history and critical moments in
contemporary times, explaining that while not always mentioned by
name, the idea of Kahiki was, and is, always full of potential. In
writing that is both personal and theoretical, Emalani weaves the
past and the present together, reflecting on ancient concepts and
their continued relevance in movements to protect lands, waters,
and oceans; to fight for social justice; to reexamine our
responsibilities and obligations to each other across the Pacific
region; and to open space for continued dialogue on what it means
to be Indigenous both when at home and when away. Combining
personal narrative and reflection with research and critical
analysis, Everything Ancient Was Once New journeys to and from
Kahiki, the sanctuary for reflection, deep learning, and continued
dreaming with the past, in the present, and far into the future.
The "New York Times"-bestselling author of "God's Politics"
reinvigorates America's hope for the future, offering a roadmap to
rediscover the nation's moral center and providing the inspiration
and a concrete plan to change today's politics.
Projecting a global interdisciplinary vision, this insightful book
develops a peer-to-peer learning methodology to facilitate
reconciling religion and human rights, both in multilateral
contexts and at the national level. Written by leading human rights
practitioners, the book illuminates the tension zones between
religion and rights, exploring how the 'faith' elements in both
disciplines can create synergies for protecting equal human
dignity. Ibrahim Salama and Michael Wiener analyse the place of
religion in multilateral practice, including lessons learned from
the 'Faith for Rights' framework. Based on the jurisprudence of
international human rights mechanisms, the book clarifies
ambiguities of human rights law on religion. It also unpacks the
potential positive role of non-State actors in the religious
sphere, demonstrating that the relationship between religion and
human rights is not a zero-sum game. Ultimately, the book empowers
actors on both sides of the ideological fence between religion and
human rights to deconstruct this artificial, politically
instrumentalized dichotomy. This innovative book will be a vital
resource for faith-based actors, human rights defenders and
policymakers working at the intersection between religion, culture
and human rights. With the co-authors' commentary on the
#Faith4Rights toolkit, it will also be invaluable for peer-to-peer
learning facilitators, scholars and students of human rights law,
public international law and religious studies.
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