9. Starting over
Simon Glendinning
in Derrida: A Very Short Introduction
‘Starting over’ quotes Derrida on his fears — and implied hopes — for his readers: ‘Because I still like him, I can foresee the impatience of the bad reader: this is the way I name or ...
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10. What is metaphysics?
Stephen Mumford
in Metaphysics: A Very Short Introduction
‘What is metaphysics?’ attempts to explain the discipline as trying to understand the fundamental nature of reality. Metaphysics seeks to organize and systematize all these specific truths ...
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1. Life
John Dunn
in Locke: A Very Short Introduction
‘Life’ provides an overview of how Locke's experiences shaped his philosophy. Locke studied medicine at Oxford, and was later able to bring his scientific background to bear on the ...
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8. Freedom and its place in nature
Thomas Pink
in Free Will: A Very Short Introduction
‘Freedom and its place in nature’ assesses the randomness problem. According to scepticism, there is no middle ground between predeterminism and uncontrollable randomness. Libertarianism ...
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10. Nature and grace
Henry Chadwick
in Augustine: A Very Short Introduction
In reaction against Manicheism, Augustine in his thirties stressed both church authority and individual freedom. Without God's grace to rescue the fallen man, the right path could not be ...
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1. Geography: the world is our stage
John A. Matthews and David T. Herbert
in Geography: A Very Short Introduction
‘Geography: the world is our stage’ asks: What is geography? Geography has been important throughout history, and has often been politically or spiritually motivated. The art of mapping is ...
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3. Biological robotics
Alan Winfield
in Robotics: A Very Short Introduction
Since the late 1980s, there has been a major shift in the approach of intelligent robots towards what are termed ‘biological inspiration’, or bio-inspired, robots. Bio-inspired means two ...
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1. The nature of humour
Noël Carroll
in Humour: A Very Short Introduction
Humour is the object of comic amusement. ‘The nature of humour’ reviews the leading theories of that which engenders comic amusement – the superiority theory, the incongruity theory, the ...
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8. The Ethics of Information
Luciano Floridi
in Information: A Very Short Introduction
‘The ethics of information’ explores the ethical implications of the information revolution. The RPT model states that information can be treated as a resource, a product, or a target. All ...
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3. German Idealism
Andrew Bowie
in German Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction
How does nature in itself relate to human freedom? ‘German Idealism’ examines how Kant sought to sustain the idea of self-determination by locating freedom in a domain which was not subject ...
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2. Atomic worlds
Catherine Wilson
in Epicureanism: A Very Short Introduction
In Epicureanism, the ‘atom’ is the fundamental element of reality. There is a finite number of different atom shapes, but an infinite number of each shape, which move and congregate in a ...
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4. The calendar and festivals
Norman Solomon
in Judaism: A Very Short Introduction (2nd edn)
The key to the Jewish calendar is Nature and the pattern of sunrise and sunset. Temple procedures were scheduled into a day that began at dawn and for other purposes the day began at ...
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1. Introduction
Catherine Wilson
in Epicureanism: A Very Short Introduction
The ‘Introduction’ outlines the philosophy of Epicureanism and its founder, Epicurus (341–270 bce), and considers why it was so divisive and controversial. It explains how Epicureanism ...
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5. Theatres of the body
John Phillips
in The Marquis de Sade: A Very Short Introduction
Sade was fascinated with the theatre. Throughout his adult life, he put much enthusiasm into putting on plays and even playing the leading roles himself. Sade wrote more than twenty plays, ...
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Locke: A Very Short Introduction
John Dunn
Locke: A Very Short Introduction unravels the meaning of John Locke's political thought and his contribution to English ideology. One of the greatest English philosophers of ...
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2. The politics of trust
John Dunn
in Locke: A Very Short Introduction
‘The Politics of Trust’ considers the nature of political authority. Locke initially feared any challenge to the authority of a monarch, because of the danger of disorder, but eventually ...
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1. Foundations: ethics, parables, and fish
Sabina Knight
in Chinese Literature: A Very Short Introduction
‘Foundations: ethics, parables, and fish’ explores ethical teachings in Chinese literature. The main theme of Chinese literature was the transience of human nature. Writing was seen as a ...
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2. Poetry and poetics: landscapes, allusions, and alcohol
Sabina Knight
in Chinese Literature: A Very Short Introduction
‘Poetry and poetics: landscapes, allusions, and alcohol’ examines Chinese poetry. Poetry was seen as a manifestation of nature's patterns, which appeals to energies beyond the rational ...
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5. Logic and reality
Julia Annas
in Ancient Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction
Why is logic needed as part of philosophy? This topic has always been controversial. We need logic to make sure that our arguments are sound. In ancient philosophy, logic has the function ...
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17. Teleology
Jonathan Barnes
in Aristotle: A Very Short Introduction
Aristotle had a teleological view of nature. Natural behaviour and natural structure usually have final causes, but these are constrained by necessity: nature does the best she can ‘in the ...
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