Stephen Law

A full-colour illustrated tour through philosophys most famous and most mind-bending ideas I Think Therefore I Am, Existentialism, Dialectical Materialism? The Socratic Method and Deconstruction? Sure, you know what they all mean. That is, youve certainly heard of them. But do you know enough about them to join a dinner party debate or dazzle the bar with your knowledge? 30-SECOND PHILOSOPHIES takes a revolutionary approach to getting a grip on the 50 most significant schools of philosophy. The book challenges leading thinkers to quit fretting about the meaning of meaning for a while and explain the most complex philosophical ideas using nothing more than two pages, 300 words, and a metaphorical image. Here, in one unique volume, you have the chance to pick the potted brains of our leading philosophers and understand complex concepts such as Kants Categorical Imperative without ending up in a darkened room with an ice pack on your head.

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.

¿Alguna vez te has quedado mirando a tu perro y te has preguntado en que estará pensando? ¿Has meditado sobre el sentido de la vida o has intentado imaginarte la nada más absoluta? Pon en marcha tu sentido comun y preparate para hacer frente a esos grandes enigmas que nos acompañan todos los dias. ¡Embarcate con nosotros en esta aventura en la que se mezclan los pensamientos razonables con las ideas mas descabelladas!

¿Cómo sabes que tus padres no son virtuales? ¿Hay vida después de la vida? ¿Por qué existe el bien y el mal? ¿Existe Dios? ¿Es posible que la vida sea sólo un sueño? Ahora puedes sentarte a hablar con tus amigos tardes y tardes filosofando sobre todos estos temas...Encuadernacion: Rustica.

A philosophical but fun look at the meanings of Christmas myths and rituals, from carving the turkey to why Santa wears red.Picture the scene: Aunt Gertrude has just given you the most appalling Christmas tie, complete with snow-flecked kittens in a bowler hat. Do you smile, nod, and confine it to the bottom drawer? Or do you tell the truth and spare yourself future ties from hell? Kant would say that we must, at all costs, tell the truth - whilst Mill would insist that we should think of the consequences. THE XMAS FILES is a philosophical meander though the myths and rituals of Christmas today, asking such important questions as does Santa exist? Whats wrong with Christmas kitsch? Is it all just a commercial racket? What was Augustines attitude to peace on earth? And what would David Hume have to say about the virgin birth? For underneath all the festive fun, the way we celebrate Christmas does raise serious questions about the beliefs that sustain us, and the ways in which we still value ritual and tradition as a means of coming together.

This book identifies eight key mechanisms that can transform a set of ideas into a psychological flytrap. The author suggests that, like the black holes of outer space, from which nothing, not even light, can escape, our contemporary cultural landscape contains numerous intellectual black-holes-belief systems constructed in such a way that unwary passers-by can similarly find themselves drawn in. While such self-sealing bubbles of belief will most easily trap the gullible or poorly educated, even the most intelligent and educated of us are potentially vulnerable. Some of the worlds greatest thinkers have fallen in, never to escape. This witty, insightful critique will help immunize readers against the wiles of cultists, religious and political zealots, conspiracy theorists, promoters of flaky alternative medicines, and others by clearly setting out the tricks of the trade by which such insidious belief systems are created and maintained.

Is there a God, should I eat meat, where does the universe come from, could I live for ever as a robot? These are the big questions readers will be wrestling with in this thoroughly enjoyable book. Dip into any chapter and you will find lively scenarios and dialogues to take you through philosophical puzzles ancient and modern, involving virtual reality, science fiction and a host of characters from this and other planets. The text is interspersed on every page with lively cartoons, and there is a list of philosophical jargon at the end..Stephen Law has a gift for communicating complex ideas. He offers few answers, but his unstuffy, highly personal approach will have the reader thinking and arguing with as much pleasure as he does himself.

Life philosophy based on Google searchesHave I found the one?Am I a psychopath?Should I be allowed to say whatever I want? Millions of people ask Google all sorts of questions, everything from the big and small. Responding to the biggest, existential questions asked online and using the wisdom of Plato, Kant, Kierkegaard and other philosophical greats philosopher, academic, and all-round polymath, Stephen Law, undertakes the challenge and explores our modern-day concerns with tongue-in-cheek sagacity. No matter what youve googled in a midnight moment of existential despair, this book will answer all your burning questions.

It now seems certain that our planet is warming. Is it the result of human activity and if so how do we combat it? This reasoned and reasonable guide helps to clarify the controversial issues and the way forward.An accessible guide to climate change that not only gives reasonable answers to the big questions surrounding the issue, but also takes us inside the corridors of power and the basements of the United Nations, where countries are engaged in a game of climate-change poker. For the individual, wondering whether to sell their seaside property or invest in a small wind-farm, this book offers sensible answers. It gives us the best and worst case scenarios and sets out how we can each address this contentious but vital issue.

Esta guía visual plantea un recorrido por la historia de la filosofía, con todas sus corrientes y escuelas, desde sus raíces griegas hasta las más recientes escuelas del mundo occidental, pasando por las corrientes trascendentalistas orientales. Desde sus paginas se proponen multiples angulos para ejercitar la mente y descubrir como construir y comunicar las grandes argumentaciones filosoficas. Incluye, en una seccion especifica, una completa galeria de los filosofos mas destacados y su contribucion a la historia del pensamiento. Las preguntas y los temas filosoficos fascinan a muchos, pero no siempre es facil abordarlos desde una perspectiva asequible. Este libro pretende ofrecer una guia precisa y clara a quienes empiezan a interesarsepor la filosofia.