A. C. Grayling

Absolutismo, amor, anarquía, bioética, islam y taoísmo son algunas de las más de cien entradas posibles que contiene éste amplio diccionario de ideas, un marco de referencia para vivir plenamente la historia de un mundo en continuo proceso de cambio: el siglo XXI.Este libro celebra el poder del pensamiento para cambiar el mundo y concibe las ideas como engranajes que hacen avanzar la historia. Conceptos como el fundamentalismo, la globalizacion o la bioetica definen nuestro futuro tanto como el marxismo, el existencialismo o la teoria de la evolucion han influenciado el presente que vivimos. Estos y muchos otros conceptos forman el bagaje necesario para entender las ideas mas influyentes del mundo actual, los debates contemporaneos y las teorias que subyacen a ellos. Ciencia, filosofia, politica, religion y ciencias sociales son los ambitos que recorre este maravilloso compendio de las ideas, cuya amplia vision consigue anular la brecha abierta entre ciencia y humanidades y superar los tecnicismos abstrusos que abundan en el mundo especializado de hoy. El resultado es una serie de ensayos breves, escritos con claridad y precision por uno de los pensadores europeos mas comprometidos/influyentes del momento.Absolutismo, amor, anarquia, bioetica, islam, laicismo, neurofilosofia, sociobiologia, taoismo, terapia cognitiva o xenofobia son algunas de las mas de cien entradas, ordenadas alfabeticamente, de un libro que, ademas de ser un diccionario de ideas, es un marco de referencia excelente para vivir plenamente la historia de un mundo en continuo proceso de cambio: el siglo XXI.

Grayling brings satisfying order to daunting subjects Steven Pinker In very recent times humanity has learnt a vast amount about the universe the past and itself But through our remarkable successes in acquiring knowledge we have learned how much we have yet to learn the science we have for example addresses just 5 per cent of the universe pre history is still being revealed with thousands of historical sites yet to be explored and the new neurosciences of mind and brain are just beginning What do we know and how do we know it What do we now know that we don t know And what have we learnt about the obstacles to knowing more In a time of deepening battles over what knowledge and truth mean these questions matter more than ever Bestselling polymath and philosopher A C Grayling seeks to answer them in three crucial areas at the frontiers of knowledge science history and psychology A remarkable history of science life on earth and the human mind itself this is a compelling and fascinating tour de force written with verve clarity and remarkable breadth of knowledge Remarkable readable and authoritative How he has mastered so much so thoroughly is nothing short of amazing Lawrence M Kr

El buen libro es una obra ambiciosa, escrita por un sabio con la intención de recopilar todo el conocimiento humanista de la historia en un solo volumen.ConEl Buen Libro: una biblia humanista, el filosofo A. C. Grayling selecciona y recoge lo mas granado de las tradiciones humanistas occidental y oriental, de la mano de sus mas notables representantes: Herodoto, Aristoteles, Plutarco, Ciceron, Lucrecio, Seneca, Confucio, Newton, Voltaire, Locke, Mencio y Hafiz, entre muchos otros. Y lo hace de la manera en que los antiguos estudiosos judios compusieron la Biblia: refundiendo, adaptando y editando los textos mas importantes, y distribuyendolos en libros y versiculos, para una mayor facilidad de lectura.El libro ofrece a sus lectores toda la sabiduria, inspiracion y perspicacia de los mas importantes referentes de la filosofia universal, erigiendose en una valiosa guia para todo aquel que desee vivir una vida plena, buena y activa, e incitandonos a tener una mente despierta y critica hacia cuanto nos rodea.

Beware who you give this book to. Financial Times I recommend that you keep this delightful essay at your side. Observer Dryly witty essay Alain de Botton, Sunday Telegraph We all sit through meetings with that one person who seems to be able to persuade everyone. What is their secret? Are they more gifted than we are? Or is it just that they are very skilled in the art of persuation? That is exactly what it is. They are people who use subtle tricks to convince other people to agree with them. Based on a lifetime of observing opinion-forming by two authors, The Art of Always Being Right shows you the 38 ways that will convince people that you are right. Master them all and success is guaranteed.

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A must read Gordon BrownA truly excellent book Sir David KingThe three biggest challenges facing the world today, in A. C. Graylings view, are climate change, technology and justice.In his timely new book, he asks: can human beings agree on a set of values that will allow us to confront the numerous threats facing the planet, or will we simply continue with our disagreements and antipathies as we collectively approach our possible extinction?As every day brings new stories about extreme weather events, spyware, lethal autonomous weapons systems, and the health imbalance between the northern and southern hemispheres, Graylings question Is Global Agreement on Global Challenges Possible? becomes ever more urgent.The solution he proposes is both pragmatic and inspiring.

The foundations upon which our democracies stand are inherently flawed, vulnerable to corrosion from within. What is the remedy?A. C. Grayling makes the case for a clear, consistent, principled and written constitution, and sets out the reforms necessary among them addressing the imbalance of power between government and Parliament, imposing fixed terms for MPs, introducing proportional representation and lowering the voting age to 16 (the age at which you can marry, gamble, join the army and must pay taxes if you work) to ensure the intentions of such a constitution could not be subverted or ignored. As democracies around the world show signs of decay, the issue of what makes a good state, one that is democratic in the fullest sense of the word, could not be more important.To take just one example: by the simplest of measures, neither Britain nor the United States can claim to be truly democratic. The most basic tenet of democracy is that no voice be louder than any other. Yet in our first past the post electoral systems a voter supporting a losing candidate is unrepresented, his or her voice unequal to one supporting a winning candidate, who frequently does not gain a majority of the votes cast. This is just one of a number of problems, all of them showing that democratic reform is a necessity in our contemporary world.

The EU referendum in the UK and Trumps victory in the USA sent shockwaves through our democratic systems. In Democracy and Its Crisis A. C. Grayling investigates why the institutions of representative democracy seem unable to hold up against forces they were designed to manage, and why it matters.First he considers those moments in history when the challenges we face today were first encountered and what solutions were found. Then he lays bare the specific threats facing democracy today.The paperback edition includes new material on the reforms that are needed to make our system truly democratic.

As the worlds superpowers and corporations jostle for control in space, A. C. Grayling asks: who really owns our planet?Grayling brings satisfying order to daunting subjects. STEVEN PINKERSilicon for microchips; manganese for batteries; titanium for missiles.The moon contains a wealth of natural resources. So, as the Earths supplies have begun to dwindle, it is no surprise that the worlds superpowers and wealthiest corporations have turned their eyes to the stars. As this new Space Race begins, A.C. Grayling asks: who, if anyone, owns the moon? Or Mars? Or other bodies in near space? And what do those superpowers and corporations owe to Planet Earth and its inhabitants as a whole?From feudal common land, through the rules of the sea, to the vast, nationless expanse of Antarctica, Grayling explores the history of the places which no one, and therefore everyone, owns. Examining the many ways this so-called terra nullius has fallen victim to the tragedy of the commons the tendency for communal resources to be exploited by a few individuals for personal gain at the expense of everyone else Who Owns the Moon? puts forward a compelling argument for a bold new global consensus, one which recognises and defends the rights of everyone who lives on this planet.

World-renowned philosopher A. C. Grayling explores the messy politics of the culture warsIt seems like we cant talk about anything nowadays Whether its war or something utterly inconsequential, the internet is primed for furore. And the results can be horrifying from online pile-ons and doxing to job loss and, in some cases, death. But how did we end up here?Nuanced and historically grounded, A. C. Grayling searches for middle ground in an otherwise incendiary debate. Looking at the history of cancellation, from Ancient Greek ostracism through hemlock cups, witch trials and the House of Un-American Activities, Discriminationsis a timely examination of the state of our public culture and the chilling effect its having on intellectual discourse.

Around the world the foundations of democracy, freedom, civil liberties are being eroded what can be done?Are we living through the end of the democratic moment? While democracy once seemed the bedrock of Western societies, the past few decades have revealed a fragile reality. Once liberal countries are turning to authoritarianism, wealthy individuals and corporations are interfering with elections ever more flagrantly, and faith in democracy has plummeted among every demographic. What happened?From gerrymandering and partisanship to corporate interference and tainted donations, A. C. Grayling reveals the forces undermining our democratic ideals and offers bold solutions. An urgent wake-up call to the risks this poses to us all, For The People reminds us why democracy remains worth fighting for.

Grayling brings satisfying order to daunting subjectsSteven PinkerAn enthusiastic thinker who embraces humour, common sense and lucidityIndependent_______________From the eminent philosopher, an authoritative exploration of the great questions of how to liveThere is a question everyone has to ask and answer - in fact, has to keep on asking and keep on answering. It is, How should I live my life? meaning, What values shall I live by? What sort of person should I be? What shall I aim for? The great majority of people do not ask this question, they merely answer it unthinkingly, by adopting conventional views of life and what matters in it...From Stoics to existentialists, in philosophy and literature, discussion of the philosophy of life -- of love and death, of courage, fortitude and wisdom -- challenges us all to think about what kinds of life are truly worth living. In this summation of a lifetime thinking and writing about this great question, A. C. Grayling explores with clarity and depth the ideas that each of us must use in answering it for ourselves.Drawing on the lives, experiences and works of a fantastically eclectic range of thinkers -- taking in not only philosophers such as Confucius, Seneca and Nietzsche, but also authors from Shakespeare to Ursula LeGuin, and modern thinkers such as Martha Nussbaum and Bernard Williams - Philosophy and Life brings together wisdom from across eras and continents in a tour de force on the philosophy of being human in a complicated world.

AUTHORITATIVE AND ACCESSIBLE, THIS LANDMARK WORK IS THE FIRST SINGLE-VOLUME HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY SHARED FOR DECADESA cerebrally enjoyable survey, written with great clarity and touches of witSunday Times The story of philosophy is an epic tale: an exploration of the ideas, views and teachings of some of the most creative minds known to humanity. But there has been no comprehensive history of this great intellectual journey since 1945. Intelligible for students and eye-opening for philosophy readers, A. C. Grayling covers with characteristic clarity and elegance subjects like epistemology, metaphysics, ethics, logic, and the philosophy of mind, as well as the history of debates in these areas, through the ideas of celebrated philosophers as well as less well-known influential thinkers. The History of Philosophy takes the reader on a journey from the age of the Buddha, Confucius and Socrates. Through Christianitys dominance of the European mind to the Renaissance and Enlightenment. On to Mill, Nietzsche, Sartre, then the philosophical traditions of India, China and the Persian-Arabic world.And finally, into philosophy today.

In an era of instability, how do we build a better future?We live in a time of unprecedented technological change and uncertainty, from AI to transhumanism. Humankind is faced with the question of what the future will be like and more burningly should be like. We confront increasing dangers from geopolitical instability, war and the climate crisis that threaten to render these developments either irrelevant or deadly.The answer cant just be to call a halt.A. C. Grayling asks the question no one else is asking. What do we wish to keep from yesterday that will help us decide today what we want and dont want tomorrow. How we might navigate the complexities to build a fairer, more equal, sustainable future.

Grayling brings satisfying order to daunting subjects Steven Pinker_________________________In very recent times humanity has learnt a vast amount about the universe, the past, and itself. But through our remarkable successes in acquiring knowledge we have learned how much we have yet to learn: the science we have, for example, addresses just 5 per cent of the universe; pre-history is still being revealed, with thousands of historical sites yet to be explored; and the new neurosciences of mind and brain are just beginning. What do we know, and how do we know it? What do we now know that we dont know? And what have we learnt about the obstacles to knowing more? In a time of deepening battles over what knowledge and truth mean, these questions matter more than ever. Bestselling polymath and philosopher A. C. Grayling seeks to answer them in three crucial areas at the frontiers of knowledge: science, history and psychology. A remarkable history of science, life on earth, and the human mind itself, this is a compelling and fascinating tour de force, written with verve, clarity and remarkable breadth of knowledge._________________________Remarkable, readable and authoritative. How he has mastered so much, so thoroughly, is nothing short of amazing Lawrence M. Krauss, author of A Universe from NothingThis book hums with the excitement of the great human project of discovery Adam Zeman, author of Aphantasia

La gran historia de la filosofía occidental y otras tradiciones de pensamiento.En esta obra colosal, A. C. Grayling examina el enraizamiento histórico de la filosofía tal como la conocemos hoy. Empieza antes de la era de Buda y Confucio para sumergirse despues en las antiguas escuelas griegas, el dominio del cristianismo, el Renacimiento y la Ilustracion, cuando el desarrollo de las ciencias naturales y las ideas sobre el estado moral de los individuos tuvieron un enorme impacto. Posteriormente se centra en filosofos modernos cuyas reflexiones dieron paso a las ciencias sociales, asi como en las principales preocupaciones filosoficas que impulsaron el auge del calculo y la ciencia cognitiva. Y como cualquier historia de la filosofia que se precie, esta no puede ser vista solo desde Occidente, de modo que se aproxima tambien a las grandes tradiciones de la India, China, el mundo islamico y el continente africano.Este decisivo catalogoque abarca la epistemologia, la metafisica, la etica, la estetica, la logica, la filosofia de la mente, del lenguajenace de un amplio ejercicio retrospectivo que concluye preguntandonos que hemos aprendido a partir de este antiguo cuerpo de pensamiento.

En línea con las obras clásicas que nos incitan a reflexionar sobre nosotros mismos y a comprendernos mejor (La consolación de la filosofía, de Alain de Botton es el ejemplo más reciente), esta pequeña joya del pensamiento filosofico que hoy presentamos nos ofrece estimulantes reflexiones sobre la condicion humana. En una serie de comentarios engarzados en conceptos eternos como felicidad, pena, valor, amor, esperanza, traicion, religion, pobreza, etc. A. C. Grayling nos enseña a detenernos y a saborear lo que verdaderamente cuenta cuando en nuestras vidas hemos de enfrentarnos al exito, al fracaso, a la pasion, al amor, al desengaño o a cualquiera de las profundas experiencias que nos depara el destino.

"Este libro trata de la vida y la época de un genio, René Descartes, un hombre orgulloso, reservado, a veces solitario y con frecuencia puntilloso, que ha tenido un gran impacto en la historia intelectual del mundo occidental. El alcance de este impacto puede medirse por el hecho de que sus escritos no han dejado de publicarse durante cuatro siglos y siguen estando en las listas de lectura de casi todas las universidades del mundoTratar de que sea algo mas que un nombre el la cubierta de un libro o una entrada en la lista de lecturas es, por tanto, tratar de mostrar que la aventura del pensamiento es algo vital, importante y coherente, y que Descartes y nosotros -en realidad, cualquiera que lea y piense, incluyendo a los lectores para quienes se ha escrito este libro- tambien hemos emprendido esta aventura" A. C. Grayling

Este libro nos otorga 'mapas esquemáticos' para la vida. En unos capítulos sobre la esperanza, el amor, la muerte, la traición, la religión…Grayling nos ofrece reflexiones sobre la vida diaria de la

A. C. Grayling denuncia la irracionalidad que entraña la fe religiosa y pone de relieve la necesidad urgente de reemplazarla por valores basados en la razón, la reflexión y la compasión.Ha llegado la hora de subvertir la idea de que el credo religioso merece respeto por si mismo, y de que deberia tratarselo con guantes de seda.Ha llegado la hora de rechazar tener que andar de puntillas al pasar junto a las personas que reclaman respeto, consideracion, un trato especial o cualquier otra forma de inmunidad, por el simple hecho de tener fe religiosa, como si tener fe fuera una virtud privilegiada, como si fuera mas noble creer en afirmaciones sin fundamento y en antiguas supersticiones.Ha llegado la hora de decirles en voz alta a los creyentes que sus decisiones personales son irracionales, y que sus elecciones en la esfera privada pueden ser dudosas. Todo el mundo es libre de creer lo que quiera, siempre y cuando no moleste (ni coaccione, ni mate) a los demas; pero nadie tiene derecho a reclamar privilegios por el simple hecho de ser devoto de una u otra de las muchas religiones del mundo.