Little Book of Big Ideas: Philosophy

Overview

A critical examination of fundamental beliefs from ethics to aesthetics

This smart handbook gathers a wealth of insight and information on 50 of the greatest philosophical thinkers and 10 of the greatest theories ever conceived in a concise and accessible format. Readers will come to grips with the key concepts that are the backbone of philosophical thought, including metaphysics, psychoanalysis, libertarianism, and feminism. The most influential figures are presented, from the classical voices of Socrates, Aristotle, and Plato to the revolutionary polemics of Marx and the educational lessons of Piaget and Chomsky. This book is for an aspiring intellectual, a deep thinker, or anyone who wants to brush up on what they forgot from college. Everything one needs to know about the groundbreaking, complex world of philosophy is expertly packed into this pocketful of knowledge.

Reviews

"Thought-provoking, yet objective contents . . . excellent resources." —School Library Journal

"These books are fun, educational, concise and pretty entertaining." —Post and Courier

“This is a wonderful introduction to the philosophers ranging from Pythagoras and Augustine to the metaphysics of Descartes and Spinoza, the psychological insights of Freud and Skinner, social thought of Voltaire and Michel Foucault, political ruminations of Machiavelli and Hayek, educational deliberations of John Dewey and Noam Chomsky, critical speculation of Santayana and Jacques Derrida, and of course the feminine perceptions of Simone de Beauvoir and Kate Millet.” —15 Minutes Magazine

Author Biography

Dr. Jeremy Stangroom is a philosopher and social theorist. He has a PhD from the London School of Economics and has taught both psychology and sociology. In 1997, he launched the Philosophers’ Magazine, and he now publishes a new journal, Think, on behalf of The Royal Institute of Philosophy.