A challenging new look at the great thinkers whose ides have shaped our civilization From Socrates to Sartre presents a rousing and readable introduction to the lives, and times of the great philosophers. This thought-provoking book takes us from the inception of Western society in Plato’s Athens to today when the commanding power of Marxism has captured one third of the world. T. Z. Lavine, Elton Professor of Philosophy at George Washington University, makes philosophy come alive with astonishing clarity to give us a deeper, more meaningful understanding of ourselves and our times. From Socrates to Sartre discusses Western philosophers in terms of the historical and intellectual environment which influenced them, and it connects their lasting ideas to the public and private choices we face in America today. From Socrates to Sartre formed the basis of from the PBS television series of the same name.

This comprehensive, historically organized introduction to philosophy communicates the richness of the discipline and provides the student with a working knowledge of the development of Western philosophy. New co-author James Fieser has brought this classic text up-to-date both chronologically and stylistically while preserving the thoughtful, conceptual characteristics that have made it so successful. The text covers all periods of philosophy, lists philosophers alphabetically and chronologically on the end-papers, and features an exceptional glossary of key concepts.

Christian philosopher Kreeft (philosophy, Boston College) uses an imaginary dialogue between Socrates and Sartre to challenge the fundamental concepts of existentialist philosophy. The conversational style and non-technical language he employs serves to make the concepts discussed accessible to both students and general readers. Kreeft is also the

Let Gilligan's Island teach you about situational ethics. Learn about epistemology from The Brady Bunch. Explore Aristotle's Poetics by watching 24. Television has grappled with a wide range of philosophical conundrums. According to the networks, it's the ultimate source of all knowledge in the universe! So why not look to the small screen for answers to all of humanity's dilemmas? There's not a single issue discussed by the great thinkers of the past that hasn't been hashed out between commercials in shows like Mad Men and Leave It to Beaver. So fix yourself a snack, settle into the couch, grab the remote...and prepare to be enlightened.

This collection of twelve essays by scholars from the USA, Canada, the UK and Japan, presents fresh perspectives on familiar Sartrean subjects and novel approaches to neglected ones. Divided into four equal parts – Aesthetics, Philosophy, Politics and Revolt – its chapters reflect both the eclectic scope of Sartre’s project and the dynamic attention it continues to attract. Moreover, this intellectual interest extends beyond the field of “Sartre studies” and across the generations, from established specialists to younger academics regarding Sartre from some surprising new angles: Pop-Art and jazz prove to be revealing prisms, as do dialogues with Dennett, Ilyenkov, Badiou and Genet, among others. In short, this is a book whose original essays make a lively contribution to the continuing critical conversation around the work of Jean-Paul Sartre.

If you want to know your Socrates from your Sartre and your Confucius from your Kant, strap in for this whirlwind tour of the highlights of philosophy. Including accessible primers on: The early Ancient Greek philosophers and the ‘big three’: Socrates, Plato and Aristotle Key schools of philosophy and their impact on modern life Insights into the main questions philosophers have explored over the years: Who am I? What is the meaning of life? Do I have free will? Practical applications for the theories of Descartes, Kant, Wollstonecraft, Marx, Nietzsche and many more. This illuminating little book will introduce you to the key thinkers, themes and theories you need to know to understand how human ideas have sculpted the world we live in and the way we think today.

Socrates is important to us for many reasons. First, he recognized the value of logic and showed us how to use it to discover truth. Second, he led an exemplary and courageous life which cannot fail to inspire anyone who reads about it. His calm and eloquent defense of himself during the final trial for heresy, which ended in his condemnation and execution, are among the most famous passages in world literature. No one, apart from the great religious teachers, has had a more profound impact on human thought. Socrates himself wrote nothing. Fortunately his pupils Plato and Xenophon recorded his sayings for posterity. Indeed the connection between Socrates and Plato is so close that this little book could alternatively been titled The Essence of Plato. The latter's philosophical treatises did not survive, so that all that remains to us is the Dialogues which mostly recount the life of Socrates. Axios Press's Essence of . . . series takes the greatest works ever written in the field of practical philosophy and pares them down to their essence. We select the best passages--the ones that are immediately relevant to us today, full of timeless wisdom and advice about the world and how best to live our lives--and leave behind the more obscure or less important bits. Our selections are not isolated: they flow together to create a seamless work that will capture your interest and attention from page one. And we provide useful notes and a solid introduction to the work.

Peter Kreeft's Socrates enters the debate on abortion, considering the arguments of psychology, medicine and philosophy.