Philosophy

In Harry Potter and Philosophy, 17 philosophical experts unlock some of Hogwarts' secret panels, and uncover surprising insights that are enlightening both for wizards and the most discerning muggles

Stretch your mind and give your intellect a workout. Put your neurons through their paces with this little book filled with philosophical quizzes, games, and thought experiments. First published 2007.

A fascinating examination of ethics, religion and psychology, this selection of Schopenhauer's works contains scathing attack on the nature and logic of religion, and an essay on ethics that ranges from the American slavery debate to the vices of Buddhism.
Throughout history, some books have changed the world. They have... read more

The Address was delivered at the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, on the afternoon of Thursday, November 19, 1863, during the American Civil War, four and a half months after the Union armies defeated those of the Confederacy at the decisive Battle of Gettysburg. In just over two minu... read more

The chance discovery of nine journals, covered in dust on a bookshelf in a tiny Australian country town, led to the collaboration of drawings and enlightened messages in this book. Hidden inside these journals were a soul's intimate journey through the trials, hopes and revelations of life.

Meet three different families with three different lifestyles.
The Hillard-Nierstheimer family exemplifies the standard meat-and-potatoes diet: they shop at the local supermarket, occasionally eat fast food, and enjoy their meat, Coke and beer. The Masarech-Motavalli family is concerned about its health and generally bu... read more

From Nobel prize-winning economist Amartya Sen, "The Argumentative Indian: Writings on Indian Culture, History and Identity" brings together an illuminating selection of writings on contemporary India. India is an immensely diverse country with many distinct pursuits, vastly different convictions, widely divergent customs and... read more

This investigation of religion by greatest psychoanalyst of the twentieth-century explores the role faith can take in the life of man, what it can mean to us and why as a species we are inclined towards it.
Throughout history, some books have changed the world. They have transformed the way we see ourselves - and each o... read more

A reassessment of our daily engagement with life. Droit invites us to reconsider ordinary actions as unexpected philosophical events. Peeling an apple, watching someone sleep, activities that when considered outside of their routine, invite us to experience the familiar in different ways.

Fundamental to Chinese philosophy and religion, the Tao Te Ching is a simple guidebook for virtue, encouraging peace, understanding and humility. Ranging from political advice to common wisdom, it has also served as an inspiration to artists across the ages and throughout the world.
Throughout history, some books have c... read more

Throughout history, some books have changed the world. They have transformed the way we see ourselves - and each other. They have inspired debate, dissent, war and revolution. They have enlightened, outraged, provoked and comforted. They have enriched lives - and destroyed them. Now Penguin brings you the works of the great t... read more

The Story of Philosophy is a brand new and highly ambitious survey of the thinkers and ideas that have perplexed humanity from time immemorial. Accessible writing, brilliant scholarship and over 150 colour illustrations combine to form a richly informative and highly entertaining work of narrative history. Starting with the m... read more

This title is a synthesis of the thought of economist Amartya Sen, who views economic development as a means to extending freedoms rather than an end in itself. By widening his outlook to include poverty, tyranny, lack of opportunity, individual rights, and political structures, Professor Sen provides a useful overview of the... read more

The Philosopher's Beach Book invites you to relax and think; to wiggle your toes in the sand (literally or metaphorically) and reflect on the meaning of life.
Have you ever stretched out on a holiday beach or taken a relaxed stroll in the evening, musing on your life 'back home' - your family, your work, your values - a... read more

Why would the work of the 17th century philosopher Benedict de Spinoza concern us today? How can Spinoza shed any light on contemporary thought? In this book, Moira Gatens and Genevieve Lloyd show us that in spite of, or rather because of, Spinoza's apparent strangeness, his philosophy can be a rich resource for cultural self... read more

The tradition of ancient philosophy is a long, rich and varied one, in which a constant note is that of discussion and argument. This book aims to introduce readers to some ancient debates and to get them to engage with the ancient developments of some themes. Getting away from the presentation of ancient philosophy as a succ... read more

Intelligent Virtue presents a distinctive new account of virtue and happiness as central ethical ideas. Annas argues that exercising a virtue involves practical reasoning of a kind which can illuminatingly be compared to the kind of reasoning we find in someone exercising a practical skill. Rather than asking at the start how... read more

The thirteen specially-commissioned essays in this volume are designed to provide an accessible and stimulating guide through an area of philosophical thought and literature that has seen massive expansion in recent years. They encompass all the core subject areas commonly taught in anglophone undergraduate and graduate philo... read more

This book is no less than a guide to the whole of Western philosophy--the ideas that have undergirded our civilization for two-and-a-half thousand years. Anthony Kenny tells the story of philosophy from ancient Greece through the Middle Ages and the Enlightenment into the modern world. He introduces us to the great thinkers a... read more

The Bedside Book of Philosophy will expand your mind, put your neurons through their paces and question the foundations of your opinions and knowledge itself. You'll discover that you can't even trust your own senses - even though they are all you have. Filled with philosophical puzzles that have intrigued the greatest minds,... read more