Since the beginning of time mankind has struggled with the big questions surrounding our existence. Whilst most people have heard of Socrates, Machiavelli and Nietzsche, many are less clear on their theories and key concepts. In The Great Philosophers, bestselling author Stephen Law condenses and deciphers their fundamental ideas. Avoiding the technical jargon and complex logic associated with most books on philosophy, Law brings the thoughts of these great thinkers, from Confucius and Buddha to Wittgenstein and Sartre, to life.

Presents profiles of one hundred philosophers, from ancient times to the present day.

Who am I? What is justice? What does it mean to live a good life? Fully illustrated throughout, this engaging and accessible hardback book invites readers to contemplate the ideas of 100 key philosophers within the Western intellectual tradition. Covering philosophical, scientific, political and religious thought over a period of 2500 years, 100 Great Philosophers Who Changed the World serves as an excellent guide to this history of philosophy and the progress that has been made in interpreting the world around us. These figures include: • Aristotle • Jean-Jacques Rousseau • Karl Marx • Simone de Beauvoir • Noam Chomsky • W.V.O Quine By presenting details of their lives and the concerns and circumstances that motivated them, this book makes philosophy come to life as a relevant and meaningful approach to thinking about the contemporary world.

'It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.' - Aristotle This illustrated guide showcases the major philosophers of the western tradition. Concise and informative, it provides an ideal introduction to their lives, ideas and the effect those ideas have had on the wider world. Both easy-to-use and a stimulating read, this book is an ideal reference for anybody interested in philosophy, and especially for those who want a clear, entertaining exposition of the ideas that shape the way we think. Key features: • A-Z format, covering the ideas of many of history's most influential thinkers, from Aristotle and Cicero to controversial contemporary philosophers such as Peter Singer and Jacques Derrida • At-a-glance summaries of the major works of each philosopher featured • Fully illustrated

The Great Thinkers is a collection of some of the most important ideas of Eastern and Western culture - drawn from the works of those philosophers, political theorists, sociologists, artists and novelists whom we believe have the most to offer to us today. We've worked hard to make the thinkers in this book clear, relevant and charming, mining the history of knowledge to bring you the ideas we think have the greatest importance to our times. This 480-page book contains the canon of The School of Life, the gallery of individuals across the millennia who help to frame our intellectual project - and we have succeeded if, in the days and years ahead, you find yourself turning to our thinkers to illuminate the multiple dilemmas, joys and griefs of daily life.

'It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.' - Aristotle This illustrated guide showcases the major philosophers of the western tradition. Concise and informative, it provides an ideal introduction to their lives, ideas and the effect those ideas have had on the wider world. Both easy-to-use and a stimulating read, this book is an ideal reference for anybody interested in philosophy, and especially for those who want a clear, entertaining exposition of the ideas that shape the way we think. Key features: • A-Z format, covering the ideas of many of history's most influential thinkers, from Aristotle and Cicero to controversial contemporary philosophers such as Peter Singer and Jacques Derrida • At-a-glance summaries of the major works of each philosopher featured • Fully illustrated

A wise and witty compendium of the greatest thoughts, greatest minds, and greatest books of all time—listed in accessible and succinct form—by one of the world's greatest scholars. From the “Hundred Best Books” to the “Ten Greatest Thinkers” to the “Ten Greatest Poets,” here is a concise collection of the world’s most significant knowledge. For the better part of a century, Will Durant dwelled upon—and wrote about—the most significant eras, individuals, and achievements of human history. His selections have finally been brought together in a single, compact volume. Durant eloquently defends his choices of the greatest minds and ideas, but he also stimulates readers into forming their own opinions, encouraging them to shed their surroundings and biases and enter “The Country of the Mind,” a timeless realm where the heroes of our species dwell. From a thinker who always chose to exalt the positive in the human species, The Greatest Minds and Ideas of All Time stays true to Durant's optimism. This is a book containing the absolute best of our heritage, passed on for the benefit of future generations. Filled with Durant's renowned wit, knowledge, and unique ability to explain events and ideas in simple and exciting terms, this is a pocket-size liberal arts and humanist curriculum in one volume.