Philosophy

"Perfect. I wish this book had been my introduction to philosophy. It raises all the essential philosophical questions, issues, and problems in a lively, engaging, and accessible way." William Irwin - Professor of Philosophy, King's College Pennsylvania and Editor of The Blackwell "There is no better introduction to the subject than this. It covers a wide range of issues with clarity, with wit, but also with profundity." Paul Snowdon - Emeritus Professor of Philosophy, UCL "Lucid and finely crafted. Engagingly presented, and admirably concise, it can be relied on to engage the interest of beginning students and general readers alike." John Cottingham - President of the British Society for the Philosophy of Religion and Professor Emer "An excellent introduction. Careful, reflective, clear, and entertaining." Timothy Chappell - Professor of Philosophy, The Open University

The most engaging introduction to the subject by one of Britain's best loved philosophers

Philosophy, the “love of wisdom”, is the product of our endless fascination and curiosity about the world – the child of wonder. Through it, we seek to answer the most fundamental of questions: How do we know what we know? Does God exist? What is beauty? How should we live our lives? What am I?

In this exhilarating tour, Peter Cave navigates all the main topics of philosophy with verve and clarity. Using witty and whimsical examples, including stoical sofas and Reg, the “regular” human, who just happens to carry his brain in a rucksack, Cave provides a welcome antidote to the dry textbook while covering everything from political philosophy to points of logic. Interspersed with helpful textboxes and underlining the enduring relevance of philosophy to us all, there is no better introduction for the aspiring sage.