Philosophy: A Visual Encyclopedia

Description

The perfect book for young readers looking to explore some of life's biggest questions. Thousands of years ago, ancient philosophers asked some important questions: "What is real?", "What is everything made of?", "Why does evil exist?", and "What can I know?" These questions have gone on to spark passionate debates about our existence and how we understand the world around us. In this engaging and accessible introduction to philosophy, readers aged 11+ will be introduced to a variety of philosophical ideas through the teachings of Plato, Confucius, Simone de Beauvoir, and many more. Vibrant, reader-friendly illustrations bring the history of ideas and thinking to life, and provide topics for reflection and debate. With biographies of the most influential philosophers from around the world, young readers will explore the questions that have been fundamental to the development of scientific study, logical thinking, religious beliefs, freedom in society, and much more. Thought experiments peppered throughout will help to connect readers with the theories presented so they can apply them to their own lives. Contents About this book Philosophy through the ages REALITY AND EXISTENCE What is everything made of? How is the world organized? Aristotle What is real? Materialism versus idealism What are space and time? What am I? What is the point of my existence? Simone de Beauvoir KNOWLEDGE What can we know? Scepticism What is knowledge? Plato Where does knowledge come from? John Locke Rationalism versus empiricism Are there limits to knowledge? Immanuel Kant Is knowledge always based on facts? THE MIND What is a mind? How do the mind and the body interact? René Descartes Mind–body dualism versus physicalism Ibn Sīnā Can I know that you’re thinking? Could a machine ever think? LOGIC AND LANGUAGE What is truth? What makes a good argument? What is a fallacy? What is a paradox? Is language logical? Ludwig Wittgenstein How is language used? SCIENCE Does science have a method? Are scientific laws facts? David Hume How does science progress? Is science objective? Mary Warnock RIGHT AND WRONG What is a good life? Siddhārtha Gautama What is a good act? John Stuart Mill Are moral values facts? Do I have free will? Determinism versus free will Do moral values change? Why is ethics relevant? RELIGION Does God exist? Thomas Aquinas What is the nature of God? Why does evil exist? Can reason and faith be united? SOCIETY Why do societies form? Jean-Jacques Rousseau Who should have power? How should rulers behave? Confucius What is individual freedom? How can societies be changed? Karl Marx How can we ensure equality? Mary Wollstonecraft Feminist philosophy BEAUTY AND ART What is beauty? What is art? Should art ever be censored? Philosophers on beauty and art Glossary Index Acknowledgments