Charles Darwin's "Historical Sketch" has appeared as a preface to nearly every authorized edition of Darwin's Origin of Species since the second English edition was published in 1860. The "Historical Sketch" provides a brief history of opinion about the species question as a prelude to Darwin's own independent contribution to the subject, but its provenance is somewhat obscure. While some previous thinkers anticipated portions of Darwin's theory long before he did, none of them saw the complete picture as clearly as Darwin. As such, he was able to claim originality and priority for the idea that has transformed our understanding of nature. His "Historical Sketch" was written as an attempt to address these issues. Some things are known about its production, such as when it first appeared and what changes were made to it between its first appearance in 1860 and its final form in 1866. Other questions remain unanswered. How did it evolve in Darwin's mind? Why did he write it at all? What did he think he was accomplishing by prefacing it to Origin of Species? Curtis Johnson approaches these questions, offering some clarity on the originality of Darwin's work. Darwin's "Historical Sketch" is the first comprehensive study of Darwin's "Preface" to Origin of Species. Johnson conveys the pressure Darwin felt from friends and other correspondents to showcase the originality of his theory, and he tackles questions of originality by carefully examining the 35 authors Darwin referenced in this monumental text.

Socrates' life, as revealed in Plato's dialogues, is defined by a twofold ambition. On one hand, he scrutinizes people's beliefs, including his own, with the aim of exposing inconsistencies and learning about the human excellences. On the other hand, Socrates attempts to persuade particular individuals that the life of virtue and justice is far superior to the life of injustice. Curtis A. Johnson, by focusing specifically on the dialogues with the "immoralists" Polus, Callicles, and Thrasymachus, illuminates the complexities of Socrates' thought, showing the complicated interplay of the seemingly contradictory parts of Socrates' ambition, ultimately vindicating the overall coherence of the views. Socrates and the Immoralists assembles an in-depth exploration of Socrates' argument for the just life, important for scholars of Socrates, Plato, and Greek philosophy in general.

Johnson argues that Aristotle's Politics needs to be understood as a 'two-layered' treatise - the first being Aristotle's political theory, and the second as a set of questions for statesmen and politicians. Employing this model, the book sets about to provide a reconceptualization of Politics as a multi-layered, canonical work.

Socrates' life, as revealed in Plato's dialogues, is defined by a twofold ambition. On one hand, he scrutinizes people's beliefs, including his own, with the aim of exposing inconsistencies and learning about the human excellences. On the other hand, Socrates attempts to persuade particular individuals that the life of virtue and justice is far superior to the life of injustice. Curtis A. Johnson, by focusing specifically on the dialogues with the 'immoralists' Polus, Callicles, and Thrasymachus, illuminates the complexities of Socrates' thought, showing the complicated interplay of the seemingly contradictory parts of Socrates' ambition, ultimately vindicating the overall coherence of the views. Socrates and the Immoralists assembles an in-depth exploration of Socrates' argument for the just life, important for scholars of Socrates, Plato, and Greek philosophy in general.