GIVE YOUR LIFE A MENTAL WORKOUT Philosophy For Life is the essential introduction to the history of Western thought, covering all the key thinkers, both ancient and modern, and all the major branches of philosophy. But more than that, it is a toolkit for developing new insights into the world we live in. We are constantly bombarded by facts, arguments and people wanting to influence our decisions and shape the way we look at life. Whether it comes from religious groups, political parties or commercial enterprises, we are all vulnerable to being influenced in ways that might not be in our best interests. The best way to guard against this is to have some overall sense of who you are and what life is for, where you stand on the big issues and how you can find contentment in the world. Not everyone would agree with Socrates that 'The unexamined life is not worth living', but it is worthwhile to give your life a mental workout once in a while and to find out whether the examined life is more purposeful than the unexamined one.
In Philosophy For Life you will develop your own critical and creative thinking by exploring the key ideas in Western Philosophy and the arguments that continue to shape our world. Beginning with the theory of knowledge and covering empiricism and rationalism, the book explores the philosophy of science, language and logic, the philosophy of mind, religion, ethics, political philosophy and phenomenology, existentialism and postmodernism. Discover what philosophy is really about, learn to be a sceptic, meet Plato and Aristotle, explore the concept of mind, question free will, use philosophy for happiness, find out about Marx and materialism, think about human rights, see how popular philosophy is relevant to everything from comics to coffee in the philosophy of everything, and ask whether god exists. Philosophy is a life-tool, a set of skills for engaging with any subject, and here you will discover a body of wisdom and a way to develop your own critical and creative thinking. ABOUT THE SERIES People have been learning with Teach Yourself since 1938.
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