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Loading... The Philosophy Book: Big Ideas Simply Explained (2011)by Will Buckingham (Editor)
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Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. No current Talk conversations about this book. A compendium of sketches, 1 to 6 pages each, of the work of 108 of the world's philosophers from 700 BCE to the present, plus a "directory" of one-paragraph descriptions of 59 additional philosophers. One striking thing, to my mind, is how "dark" the period from 250 CE to 1500 CE really was, with most Western philosophy being religion-drenched junk -- the Renaissance and Age of Reason arrived not a moment too soon. As far as relatively recent philosophy of science is concerned, there are no parts delving into interpretations of quantum physics or the concept of structural realism. Another shortcoming, I'd say, is the relentless referencing of centuries "ordinalistically" (e.g. "the 18th century" instead of "the 1700s") -- just because a practice is standard and commonplace doesn't mean it isn't also annoying and perverse. See my review of World War II published by DK Publishing for comments about DK books. no reviews | add a review
Belongs to SeriesBig Ideas Simply Explained (2015)
How did the universe begin? What is truth? How can we live good lives? Throughout history, humankind has asked these and other big questions about the nature of life and existence - and big thinkers have offered solutions that continue to shape our world. Written in plain English, The Philosophy Book is packed with short, pithy explanations that cut through the jargon, step-by-step diagrams that untangle knotty theories, classic quotes that make philosophy memorable, and witty illustrations that play with our ideas about ideas. Whether you're a complete beginner, an avid student, or an armchair expert, you'll find plenty of food for thought in this book.--COVER. No library descriptions found. |
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Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)100Philosophy and Psychology Philosophy General PhilosophyLC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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- Christian Platonism: (St. Augustine of Hippo) evil exists because humans are rational and therefore must have freedom of choice. Evil, as described by Plato, is the deficiency of good, and so our evil choices are that which leaves us deficient [this doesn't explain natural disasters, or how evils such as illness are not as much a deficiency but more a very real threat].