Simon Blackburn Libri

Plato is perhaps the most significant philosopher who has ever lived and The Republic , composed in Athens in about 375 BC, is widely regarded as his most famous dialogue. Its discussion of the perfect city and the perfect mind laid the foundations for Western culture and, for over two thousand years, has been the cornerstone of Western philosophy. As the distinguished Cambridge professor Simon Blackburn points out, it has probably sustained more commentary, and been subject to more radical and impassioned disagreement, than almost any other of the great founding texts of the modern world. In Plato's Republic , Blackburn explains the judicial, moral and political ideas in the Republic with dazzling insight and clarity. Blackburn also examines Republic 's remarkable influence and unquestioned staying power, and shows why, from St. Augustine to twentieth century philosophers such as Ludwig Wittgenstein and Henri Bergson, Western thought is still conditioned by this most important, and contemporary, of books.

Engaging with philosophical concepts from 1995 to 2010, Simon Blackburn examines the complexities of representation, truth, reason, and assertion within practical thought. He delves into how our understanding of values and norms shapes our expressions and commitments, emphasizing the interplay between propositions and actions. Expanding his analysis beyond semantics, Blackburn addresses broader themes such as pluralism, pragmatism, the philosophy of mind, and the essence of practical reasoning, offering a comprehensive exploration of these interconnected ideas.

From Aristotle to Zen, this is the most comprehensive, authoritative, and up-to-date dictionary of philosophy available. Ideal for students or a general readership, it provides lively and accessible coverage of not only the Western philosophical tradition but also important themes fromChinese, Indian, Islamic, and Jewish philosophy. * 2,500 entries including the most recent terms and concepts * Biographical entries for nearly 500 philosophers * Terms relevant to philosophy from neighbouring disciplines Chronology of philosophical events

David Hume is generally recognized as the United Kingdom's greatest philosopher, as well as a notable historian and essayist, and a central figure of the Enlightenment. This book describes how Hume can be placed as one of the earliest, and most successful, evolutionary psychologists.

Drawing on philosophy, psychology, literature, history, and popular culture, this book looks at the good and bad aspects of vanity and self-love, from the myth of Narcissus and the Christian story of the Fall to today's self-esteem industry.

Exploring the interplay between moral emotions and human motivation, Simon Blackburn presents a unique philosophy that addresses why we behave as we do and how we might improve. He develops a naturalistic ethics that harmonizes moral understanding with broader human experiences, challenging the notions of scepticism and relativism. By asserting that ethics can retain its authority while being grounded in our passions, Blackburn offers a fresh perspective on the relationship between morality and human nature.

Based on a lecture series in the humanities hosted by the New York Public Library.

An illuminating celebration of more than 80 of the world's most important thinkers, this book explores the fascinating stories of their lives, their loves, and their pioneering ideas. Introduced with a stunning portrait of each featured philosopher, entries trace the ideas and beliefs, and the relationships and rivalries that inspired the great thinkers and influenced their work, providing revealing insights into what drove them to question the meaning of life and come up with new ways of understanding the world. Lavishly illustrated with photographs and paintings of philosophers, their homes, friends, studies, and their personal belongings, together with pages from original manuscripts, first editions, and correspondence, this book introduces the key ideas, themes, and working methods of each featured individual, setting their ideas within a wider historical and cultural context. Charting the development of ideas across the centuries in both the East and West, from ancient Chinese philosophy to the work of contemporary thinkers, Philosophers provides a compelling glimpse into the personal lives, loves, and influences of the great philosophers as they probed into life's "big ideas".

The world's leading thinker on truth explains what it is and why it matters in every important aspect of life

This is a book about the big questions in life: knowledge, consciousness, fate, God, truth, goodness, justice. It is for anyone who thinks there are big questions lurking out there, but does not know how to approach them. Written by the author of the bestselling Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, Think sets out to explain what they are and why they are important.