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Philosophy

Most Recommended Books

Plato's Republic

Republic by Plato

“It’s very readable even if you aren’t a professional philosopher. Take the story of ‘The Ring of Gyges,’ which raises the question of whether you would continue to act like a good person if you had a ring of invisibility that let you get away with doing whatever you wanted to do. That’s a fascinating thought experiment that anybody can appreciate.”

Bryan Van Norden, Philosopher

Read more

Walden by Henry David Thoreau

“The beginning is hard going. Once you get past that, then suddenly you’re into these beautiful and inspiring descriptions of nature.”

Emily Thomas,

Read more

Dialogues and Natural History of Religion by David Hume

“I think that the most important contributions, the best books, in the philosophy of religion are these two little books that David Hume writes”

Graham Oppy, Philosopher

Read more

The Nicomachean Ethics by Aristotle

“According to Aristotle, it is hard to become virtuous, and hard to become vicious too. The character of most people is somewhere in the middle.”

Christian B Miller, Philosopher

Read more

On Liberty by John Stuart Mill

“On Liberty is the classic statement of traditional liberal values about the limits of state coercion. It’s an eloquent argument for personal liberty on the grounds that it’s the condition in which human beings are most likely to flourish and be happy.”

Jonathan Sumption,

Read more

Browse book recommendations:

Philosophy

  • Ancient Philosophy
  • Beliefs
  • Ethics & Moral Philosophy
  • Great Philosophers
  • How to Live
  • New Philosophy Books
  • Philosophical Issues & Topics
  • Philosophy of Mind
  • Philosophy of...
  • Social & Political Philosophy
  • The Enlightenment

You can use our reading lists below to find the best philosophy books ever written, recommended by philosophers such as Peter Singer, Simon Blackburn, Mary Warnock, and many more.

Our coverage reaches back to the dawn of the subject, with the best books on the Presocratics, Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. Aiming to challenge the western bias, we also have book recommendations for ancient Chinese philosophy, Islamic philosophy, and world philosophy. Our philosophy book recommendations continue from the ancient world up to the most thriving areas of philosophy today. These include the philosophy of science, political philosophy, and philosophy of mind.

Or you might be interested in reading about a particular philosopher. We provide engaging reading recommendations for many great philosophers (Such as Hume, Kant, Hegel, Nietzsche, and Wittgenstein).

We tried to maintain the ancient tradition of philosophy not only as an academic subject, but as a way to lead your life (see our interviews on the art of living, the meaning of life, and the philosophy of everyday living).

If you're new to the subject, you can start with our 'Introductions to Philosophy,' with recommendations of books that introduce you to philosophical ways of thinking. Our philosophy interviews are edited by British philosopher, Nigel Warburton. Whether you're a seasoned philosopher or just starting out, we have the books for you.

    The Best Illustrated Philosophy Books, recommended by Helen De Cruz

  • Read
    The Best Illustrated Philosophy Books - The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

    1

    The Little Prince
    by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

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    The Best Illustrated Philosophy Books - The Annotated Alice by Lewis Carroll and Martin Gardner

    2

    The Annotated Alice
    by Lewis Carroll and Martin Gardner

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    The Best Illustrated Philosophy Books - Logicomix: An Epic Search for Truth by Apostolos Doxiadis and Christos H Papadimitriou

    3

    Logicomix: An Epic Search for Truth
    by Apostolos Doxiadis and Christos H Papadimitriou

  • Read
    The Best Illustrated Philosophy Books - The Way of Nature (The Illustrated Library of Chinese Classics) by Zhuangzi (aka Chuang Tzu), C. C. Tsai (illustrator) and Brian Bruya (translator)

    4

    The Way of Nature (The Illustrated Library of Chinese Classics)
    by Zhuangzi (aka Chuang Tzu), C. C. Tsai (illustrator) and Brian Bruya (translator)

  • Read
    The Best Illustrated Philosophy Books - The Philosopher Queens: The lives and legacies of philosophy's unsung women by Lisa Whiting & Rebecca Buxton

    5

    The Philosopher Queens: The lives and legacies of philosophy's unsung women
    by Lisa Whiting & Rebecca Buxton

The Best Illustrated Philosophy Books, recommended by Helen De Cruz

Philosophy is a very verbal discipline with much effort made to express meaning through the very precise use of language. You might think that pictures wouldn’t get much of a look in, but you’d be wrong, as philosopher Helen de Cruz explains. She chooses five books where the philosophical meaning of the subjects under investigation are given greater depth and clarity with the use of illustrations, from ancient Chinese philosophy through to the philosopher queens of the 21st century.

    The Best Philosophy Books of 2020, recommended by Nigel Warburton

  • Read
    The Best Philosophy Books of 2020 - The Philosopher Queens: The lives and legacies of philosophy's unsung women by Lisa Whiting & Rebecca Buxton

    1

    The Philosopher Queens: The lives and legacies of philosophy's unsung women
    by Lisa Whiting & Rebecca Buxton

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    The Best Philosophy Books of 2020 - The Meaning of Travel: Philosophers Abroad by Emily Thomas

    2

    The Meaning of Travel: Philosophers Abroad
    by Emily Thomas

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    The Best Philosophy Books of 2020 - Frank Ramsey: A Sheer Excess of Powers by Cheryl Misak

    3

    Frank Ramsey: A Sheer Excess of Powers
    by Cheryl Misak

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    The Best Philosophy Books of 2020 - The Murder of Professor Schlick: The Rise and Fall of the Vienna Circle by David Edmonds

    4

    The Murder of Professor Schlick: The Rise and Fall of the Vienna Circle
    by David Edmonds

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    The Best Philosophy Books of 2020 - Metazoa: Animal Life and the Birth of the Mind by Peter Godfrey-Smith

    5

    Metazoa: Animal Life and the Birth of the Mind
    by Peter Godfrey-Smith

The Best Philosophy Books of 2020, recommended by Nigel Warburton

2020 has been a great year for popular philosophy with many excellent books published. Here, Nigel Warburton, our philosophy editor and co-host of the Philosophy Bites podcast, picks his favourites and explains what he likes about them.

    The Best Introductions to Philosophy, recommended by Nigel Warburton

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    The Best Introductions to Philosophy - What Does It All Mean? by Thomas Nagel

    1

    What Does It All Mean?
    by Thomas Nagel

  • Read
    The Best Introductions to Philosophy - The Life You Can Save by Peter Singer

    2

    The Life You Can Save
    by Peter Singer

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    The Best Introductions to Philosophy - Justice by Michael Sandel

    3

    Justice
    by Michael Sandel

  • Read
    The Best Introductions to Philosophy - Causing Death and Saving Lives by Jonathan Glover

    4

    Causing Death and Saving Lives
    by Jonathan Glover

  • Read
    The Best Introductions to Philosophy - The Grasshopper by Bernard Suits

    5

    The Grasshopper
    by Bernard Suits

The Best Introductions to Philosophy, recommended by Nigel Warburton

How should we live? What is the nature of reality? Should pro golfers be allowed to use carts? British philosopher Nigel Warburton sets us off down the road of philosophical enquiry with an intriguing reading list

    The best books on Spinoza, recommended by Steven Nadler

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    The best books on Spinoza - The Collected Works of Spinoza (Volume I) by Baruch Spinoza & Edwin Curley

    1

    The Collected Works of Spinoza (Volume I)
    by Baruch Spinoza & Edwin Curley

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    The best books on Spinoza - Behind the Geometrical Method: A Reading of Spinoza's Ethics by Edwin Curley

    2

    Behind the Geometrical Method: A Reading of Spinoza's Ethics
    by Edwin Curley

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    The best books on Spinoza - A Study of Spinoza's Ethics by Jonathan Bennett

    3

    A Study of Spinoza's Ethics
    by Jonathan Bennett

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    The best books on Spinoza - The Explainability of Experience: Realism and Subjectivity in Spinoza's Theory of the Human Mind by Ursula Renz

    4

    The Explainability of Experience: Realism and Subjectivity in Spinoza's Theory of the Human Mind
    by Ursula Renz

  • Read
    The best books on Spinoza - Spinoza on Philosophy, Religion, and Politics: The Theologico-Political Treatise by Susan James

    5

    Spinoza on Philosophy, Religion, and Politics: The Theologico-Political Treatise
    by Susan James

The best books on Spinoza, recommended by Steven Nadler

In 1656 Baruch Spinoza was thrown out by Amsterdam’s Portuguese-Jewish congregation for ‘abominable heresies’ and ‘monstrous deeds’, ensuring he would be forever remembered as a radical thinker. Here Steven Nadler, a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and author of a number of books on Spinoza, talks us through the life and work of the 17th century philosopher whose worldview remains, in many ways, remarkably modern.

    The Best Plato Books, recommended by Melissa Lane

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    The Best Plato Books - Political Dissent in Democratic Athens by Josiah Ober

    1

    Political Dissent in Democratic Athens
    by Josiah Ober

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    The Best Plato Books - Republic by Plato

    2

    Republic
    by Plato

  • Read
    The Best Plato Books - Why Plato Wrote by Danielle Allen

    3

    Why Plato Wrote
    by Danielle Allen

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    The Best Plato Books - Preface to Plato by Eric A Havelock

    4

    Preface to Plato
    by Eric A Havelock

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    The Best Plato Books - Statesman by Plato

    5

    Statesman
    by Plato

The Best Plato Books, recommended by Melissa Lane

Plato came from a politically active family, but renounced politics to become a philosopher. Or did he? Professor Melissa Lane of Princeton University recommends the best books to get a better understanding of the Greek philosopher Plato, including his most famous work, the Republic.

    Life-Changing Philosophy Books, recommended by Eric Weiner

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    Life-Changing Philosophy Books - The Enchiridion by Epictetus

    1

    The Enchiridion
    by Epictetus

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    Life-Changing Philosophy Books - Philosophy as a Way of Life by Pierre Hadot

    2

    Philosophy as a Way of Life
    by Pierre Hadot

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    Life-Changing Philosophy Books - Waiting for God by Simone Weil

    3

    Waiting for God
    by Simone Weil

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    Life-Changing Philosophy Books - The Heart of Philosophy by Jacob Needleman

    4

    The Heart of Philosophy
    by Jacob Needleman

  • Read
    Life-Changing Philosophy Books - Ultimate Questions by Bryan Magee

    5

    Ultimate Questions
    by Bryan Magee

Life-Changing Philosophy Books, recommended by Eric Weiner

Can philosophy change your life? Yes, says bestselling author Eric Weiner, though partly by making it more complicated. Here, he picks five works of life-changing philosophy, from Epictetus to Jacob Needleman, a professor (emeritus) at San Francisco State University.

    The Best Philosophy Books by Women, recommended by Lisa Whiting & Rebecca Buxton

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    The Best Philosophy Books by Women - Women, Race & Class by Angela Davis

    1

    Women, Race & Class
    by Angela Davis

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    The Best Philosophy Books by Women - Down Girl by Kate Manne

    2

    Down Girl
    by Kate Manne

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    The Best Philosophy Books by Women - What Is Philosophy for? by Mary Midgley

    3

    What Is Philosophy for?
    by Mary Midgley

  • Read
    The Best Philosophy Books by Women - American Citizenship: The Quest for Inclusion by Judith Shklar

    4

    American Citizenship: The Quest for Inclusion
    by Judith Shklar

  • Read
    The Best Philosophy Books by Women - The Rights of Others by Seyla Benhabib

    5

    The Rights of Others
    by Seyla Benhabib

The Best Philosophy Books by Women, recommended by Lisa Whiting & Rebecca Buxton

When it comes to the big names in philosophy, very few people think of women and the books that make the canon have, traditionally, almost always been written by European or American men. Here, Rebecca Buxton and Lisa Whiting, editors of The Philosopher Queens, a book that collects together articles about the most important women philosophers, talk through their selection of the best philosophy books written by women.

    Summer Reading 2020: Philosophy Books, recommended by Nigel Warburton

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    Summer Reading 2020: Philosophy Books - The Meaning of Travel: Philosophers Abroad by Emily Thomas

    1

    The Meaning of Travel: Philosophers Abroad
    by Emily Thomas

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    Summer Reading 2020: Philosophy Books - Mean Girl: Ayn Rand and the Culture of Greed by Lisa Duggan

    2

    Mean Girl: Ayn Rand and the Culture of Greed
    by Lisa Duggan

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    Summer Reading 2020: Philosophy Books - How to Live a Good Life: A Guide to Choosing Your Personal Philosophy by Daniel Kaufman, Massimo Pigliucci & Skye C Cleary

    3

    How to Live a Good Life: A Guide to Choosing Your Personal Philosophy
    by Daniel Kaufman, Massimo Pigliucci & Skye C Cleary

  • Read
    Summer Reading 2020: Philosophy Books - Free Speech: Ten Principles for a Connected World by Timothy Garton Ash

    4

    Free Speech: Ten Principles for a Connected World
    by Timothy Garton Ash

  • Read
    Summer Reading 2020: Philosophy Books - The Plague by Albert Camus

    5

    The Plague
    by Albert Camus

Summer Reading 2020: Philosophy Books, recommended by Nigel Warburton

From reflections on travel and searching for a personal philosophy to live by, to books on important aspects of democracy and contagious diseases, here’s British philosopher Nigel Warburton’s 2020 summer reading list. All the books you need to keep you thinking over the summer, whatever it may hold and wherever you may be.

    The Best Books by Albert Camus, recommended by Jamie Lombardi

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    The Best Books by Albert Camus - The Fall by Albert Camus

    1

    The Fall
    by Albert Camus

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    The Best Books by Albert Camus - The Plague by Albert Camus

    2

    The Plague
    by Albert Camus

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    The Best Books by Albert Camus - Notebooks 1935-1942: Volume 1 by Albert Camus

    3

    Notebooks 1935-1942: Volume 1
    by Albert Camus

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    The Best Books by Albert Camus - Lyrical and Critical Essays by Albert Camus

    4

    Lyrical and Critical Essays
    by Albert Camus

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    The Best Books by Albert Camus - The Rebel by Albert Camus

    5

    The Rebel
    by Albert Camus

The Best Books by Albert Camus, recommended by Jamie Lombardi

Albert Camus was born in northern Algeria in extreme poverty, but went on to become one of the best-known French philosophers of the 20th century. In 1957, he won the Nobel Prize in Literature for illuminating “the problems of the human conscience in our times.” Here, Camus expert Jamie Lombardi talks us through the books that best capture his work and the moral dilemmas he sought to explore.

    The best books on The Vienna Circle, recommended by David Edmonds

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    The best books on The Vienna Circle - Language, Truth and Logic by AJ Ayer

    1

    Language, Truth and Logic
    by AJ Ayer

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    The best books on The Vienna Circle - The World of Yesterday by Stefan Zweig & Anthea Bell (translator)

    2

    The World of Yesterday
    by Stefan Zweig & Anthea Bell (translator)

  • Read
    The best books on The Vienna Circle - The Vienna Circle by Friedrich Stadler

    3

    The Vienna Circle
    by Friedrich Stadler

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    The best books on The Vienna Circle - Frank Ramsey: A Sheer Excess of Powers by Cheryl Misak

    4

    Frank Ramsey: A Sheer Excess of Powers
    by Cheryl Misak

  • Read
    The best books on The Vienna Circle - Exact Thinking in Demented Times: The Vienna Circle and the Epic Quest for the Foundations of Science by Karl Sigmund

    5

    Exact Thinking in Demented Times: The Vienna Circle and the Epic Quest for the Foundations of Science
    by Karl Sigmund

The best books on The Vienna Circle, recommended by David Edmonds

Members of ‘the Vienna Circle’ had strong views on what can and cannot be meaningfully said. They’ve had an enormous impact on modern philosophy, partly because the arrival of fascist rule in Austria scattered them around the world. Here, philosopher David Edmonds, author of The Murder of Professor Schlick, introduces us to their ideas, their milieu and the poignant background to their lives and thinking.

    The best books on Italian Political Philosophy, recommended by Guglielmo Verdirame

  • Read
    The best books on Italian Political Philosophy - Discourses on Livy by Niccolo Machiavelli, trans. Harvey Mansfield and Nathan Tarcov

    1

    Discourses on Livy
    by Niccolo Machiavelli, trans. Harvey Mansfield and Nathan Tarcov

  • Read
    The best books on Italian Political Philosophy - The New Science of Giambattista Vico: Unabridged Translation of the Third Edition (1744) by Giambattista Vico, trans. Max Harold Fisch and Thomas Goddard Bergin

    2

    The New Science of Giambattista Vico: Unabridged Translation of the Third Edition (1744)
    by Giambattista Vico, trans. Max Harold Fisch and Thomas Goddard Bergin

  • Read
    The best books on Italian Political Philosophy - The History of European Liberalism by Guido De Ruggiero, trans. R. G. Collingwood

    3

    The History of European Liberalism
    by Guido De Ruggiero, trans. R. G. Collingwood

  • Read
    The best books on Italian Political Philosophy - Prison Notebooks by Antonio Gramsci, trans. Joseph A. Buttigieg and Antonio Callari

    4

    Prison Notebooks
    by Antonio Gramsci, trans. Joseph A. Buttigieg and Antonio Callari

  • Read
    The best books on Italian Political Philosophy - Liberalism and Democracy by Norberto Bobbio, trans. Martin Ryle and Kate Soper

    5

    Liberalism and Democracy
    by Norberto Bobbio, trans. Martin Ryle and Kate Soper

The best books on Italian Political Philosophy, recommended by Guglielmo Verdirame

Italy has a rich tradition of political philosophy, producing a number of thinkers with both practical experience and a cosmopolitan outlook. Here Guglielmo Verdirame, Professor of International Law at King’s College London, talks us through the five most important Italian political philosophers, and the best books to read to understand their work.

    The best books on Hannah Arendt, recommended by Samantha Rose Hill

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    The best books on Hannah Arendt - The Origins of Totalitarianism by Hannah Arendt

    1

    The Origins of Totalitarianism
    by Hannah Arendt

  • Read
    The best books on Hannah Arendt - The Human Condition by Hannah Arendt

    2

    The Human Condition
    by Hannah Arendt

  • Read
    The best books on Hannah Arendt - Men in Dark Times by Hannah Arendt

    3

    Men in Dark Times
    by Hannah Arendt

  • Read
    The best books on Hannah Arendt - Thinking Without a Banister by Hannah Arendt

    4

    Thinking Without a Banister
    by Hannah Arendt

  • Read
    The best books on Hannah Arendt - Hannah Arendt: For Love of the World by Elisabeth Young-Bruehl

    5

    Hannah Arendt: For Love of the World
    by Elisabeth Young-Bruehl

The best books on Hannah Arendt, recommended by Samantha Rose Hill

Unimpressed by the response of philosophers to the rise of Nazism in her native Germany, Hannah Arendt rejected the notion of being a philosopher and said she was a political theorist. Samantha Rose Hill of the Hannah Arendt Center at Bard College talks us through Hannah Arendt’s life and work—and suggests which books to read if we want to learn more about her and her ideas.

    The best books on Arthur Schopenhauer, recommended by David Bather Woods

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    The best books on Arthur Schopenhauer - The Two Fundamental Problems of Ethics by Arthur Schopenhauer

    1

    The Two Fundamental Problems of Ethics
    by Arthur Schopenhauer

  • Read
    The best books on Arthur Schopenhauer - The World as Will and Representation by Arthur Schopenhauer

    2

    The World as Will and Representation
    by Arthur Schopenhauer

  • Read
    The best books on Arthur Schopenhauer - Essays and Aphorisms by Arthur Schopenhauer

    3

    Essays and Aphorisms
    by Arthur Schopenhauer

  • Read
    The best books on Arthur Schopenhauer - Arthur Schopenhauer: His Life and His Philosophy by Helen Zimmern

    4

    Arthur Schopenhauer: His Life and His Philosophy
    by Helen Zimmern

  • Read
    The best books on Arthur Schopenhauer - The Philosophy of Schopenhauer by Bryan Magee

    5

    The Philosophy of Schopenhauer
    by Bryan Magee

The best books on Arthur Schopenhauer, recommended by David Bather Woods

Arthur Schopenhauer was a German philosopher who held a deeply pessimistic view of the world. He was also, among other things, a misogynist. And yet, he made important contributions to a number of areas of philosophy and had a deep influence on other philosophers. He wrote in a clear style that gained him a wide readership among non-philosophers as well. David Bather Woods, a Schopenhauer expert at the University of Warwick, talks us through his choice of books on the life and work of this remarkable thinker.

    The Best Books on the Philosophy of Travel, recommended by Emily Thomas

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    The Best Books on the Philosophy of Travel - Mountain Gloom And Mountain Glory: The Development of the Aesthetics of the Infinite by Marjorie Hope Nicolson

    1

    Mountain Gloom And Mountain Glory: The Development of the Aesthetics of the Infinite
    by Marjorie Hope Nicolson

  • Read
    The Best Books on the Philosophy of Travel - Letters written in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark by Mary Wollstonecraft

    2

    Letters written in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark
    by Mary Wollstonecraft

  • Read
    The Best Books on the Philosophy of Travel - Walden by Henry David Thoreau

    3

    Walden
    by Henry David Thoreau

  • Read
    The Best Books on the Philosophy of Travel - The Art of Travel by Alain de Botton

    4

    The Art of Travel
    by Alain de Botton

  • Read
    The Best Books on the Philosophy of Travel - How to Talk About Places You've Never Been: On the Importance of Armchair Travel by Michele Hutchison (translator) & Pierre Bayard

    5

    How to Talk About Places You've Never Been: On the Importance of Armchair Travel
    by Michele Hutchison (translator) & Pierre Bayard

The Best Books on the Philosophy of Travel, recommended by Emily Thomas

At its best, travel broadens our minds, expands our horizons and allows us to see the world we live in differently. But it has also played an important role in the history of philosophy. Emily Thomas, author of The Meaning of Travel: Philosophers Abroad, explores the connections between her two passions—philosophy and travel—at a moment when most of us are unable to leave our houses: perhaps the perfect moment to reflect on travel’s significance for human beings.

    The Best Philosophy Books of 2019, recommended by Nigel Warburton

  • Read
    The Best Philosophy Books of 2019 - Becoming Beauvoir: A Life by Kate Kirkpatrick

    1

    Becoming Beauvoir: A Life
    by Kate Kirkpatrick

  • Read
    The Best Philosophy Books of 2019 - Socrates in Love: The Making of a Philosopher by Armand D'Angour

    2

    Socrates in Love: The Making of a Philosopher
    by Armand D'Angour

  • Read
    The Best Philosophy Books of 2019 - A Theory of Jerks and Other Philosophical Misadventures by Eric Schwitzgebel

    3

    A Theory of Jerks and Other Philosophical Misadventures
    by Eric Schwitzgebel

  • Read
    The Best Philosophy Books of 2019 - Galileo's Error: Foundations for a New Science of Consciousness by Philip Goff

    4

    Galileo's Error: Foundations for a New Science of Consciousness
    by Philip Goff

  • Read
    The Best Philosophy Books of 2019 - A Theory of the Aphorism: From Confucius to Twitter by Andrew Hui

    5

    A Theory of the Aphorism: From Confucius to Twitter
    by Andrew Hui

The Best Philosophy Books of 2019, recommended by Nigel Warburton

We live in a golden age for philosophy books that are accessible to a wide audience. In the pages of even quite short books, we can find new ways of reflecting on who we are and how we should conduct ourselves in the world, as well as learn more about the brilliant thinkers who trod these paths before us. Our philosophy editor Nigel Warburton talks us through some of the best philosophy books that came out in 2019.

    The best books on Logic, recommended by Tom Stoneham

  • Read
    The best books on Logic - Logic Primer by Colin Allen & Michael Hand

    1

    Logic Primer
    by Colin Allen & Michael Hand

  • Read
    The best books on Logic - Logic by Wilfrid Hodges

    2

    Logic
    by Wilfrid Hodges

  • Read
    The best books on Logic - Paradoxes by R. M. Sainsbury

    3

    Paradoxes
    by R. M. Sainsbury

  • Read
    The best books on Logic - Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus by Ludwig Wittgenstein

    4

    Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus
    by Ludwig Wittgenstein

  • Read
    The best books on Logic - Philosophy of Logic by Willard Van Orman Quine

    5

    Philosophy of Logic
    by Willard Van Orman Quine

The best books on Logic, recommended by Tom Stoneham

Logic is an excellent form of mind-training because it involves a very particular way of thinking and focus on truth. But how does it work and what are its limitations? Tom Stoneham, a professor of philosophy at the University of York, picks some great books for anyone who wants to learn more about logic.

    The best books on The Epicureans, recommended by James Warren

  • Read
    The best books on The Epicureans - Lives of the Eminent Philosophers Diogenes Laertius (ed. James Miller, trans. Pamela Mensch)

    1

    Lives of the Eminent Philosophers
    Diogenes Laertius (ed. James Miller, trans. Pamela Mensch)

  • Read
    The best books on The Epicureans - On the Nature of the Universe Lucretius (trans. Ronald Melville)

    2

    On the Nature of the Universe
    Lucretius (trans. Ronald Melville)

  • Read
    The best books on The Epicureans - The Library of the Villa Dei Papiri at Herculaneum by David Sider

    3

    The Library of the Villa Dei Papiri at Herculaneum
    by David Sider

  • Read
    The best books on The Epicureans - Epicureanism by Tim O'Keefe

    4

    Epicureanism
    by Tim O'Keefe

  • Read
    The best books on The Epicureans - The Morality of Happiness by Julia Annas

    5

    The Morality of Happiness
    by Julia Annas

The best books on The Epicureans, recommended by James Warren

For most of us, an Epicurean means someone devoted to pleasure and enjoying themselves. But the real Epicureans had a very different philosophy of how to live. Cambridge University professor James Warren talks us through the philosophy of Epicurus and explains how it’s still relevant today—particularly when it comes to facing death.

    The best books on Aphorisms, recommended by Andrew Hui

  • Read
    The best books on Aphorisms - Analects Confucius (trans. Edward Slingerland)

    1

    Analects
    Confucius (trans. Edward Slingerland)

  • Read
    The best books on Aphorisms - Early Greek Philosophy: Early Ionian Thinkers Heraclitus (trans. André Laks and Glenn W. Most)

    2

    Early Greek Philosophy: Early Ionian Thinkers
    Heraclitus (trans. André Laks and Glenn W. Most)

  • Read
    The best books on Aphorisms - Pensées Blaise Pascal (trans. Roger Ariew)

    3

    Pensées
    Blaise Pascal (trans. Roger Ariew)

  • Read
    The best books on Aphorisms - The Gay Science Friedrich Nietzsche (trans. Walter Kaufmann)

    4

    The Gay Science
    Friedrich Nietzsche (trans. Walter Kaufmann)

  • Read
    The best books on Aphorisms - 300 Arguments by Sarah Manguso

    5

    300 Arguments
    by Sarah Manguso

The best books on Aphorisms, recommended by Andrew Hui

The unexamined life is not worth living; nature loves to hide; you can’t step in the same river twice. No doubt we’ve all grown up hearing aphorisms, but perhaps we take their importance for granted. Andrew Hui, the author of the first full book on the theory of the aphorism, guides us through the history of the short philosophical saying from Heraclitus to Nietzsche and beyond.

    The best books on Critical Thinking, recommended by Nigel Warburton

  • Read
    The best books on Critical Thinking - Calling Bullshit: The Art of Skepticism in a Data-Driven World by Carl Bergstrom & Jevin West

    1

    Calling Bullshit: The Art of Skepticism in a Data-Driven World
    by Carl Bergstrom & Jevin West

  • Read
    The best books on Critical Thinking - How to Make the World Add Up: Ten Rules for Thinking Differently About Numbers by Tim Harford

    2

    How to Make the World Add Up: Ten Rules for Thinking Differently About Numbers
    by Tim Harford

  • Read
    The best books on Critical Thinking - Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

    3

    Thinking, Fast and Slow
    by Daniel Kahneman

  • Read
    The best books on Critical Thinking - Factfulness: Ten Reasons We're Wrong About The World — And Why Things Are Better Than You Think by Hans Rosling

    4

    Factfulness: Ten Reasons We're Wrong About The World — And Why Things Are Better Than You Think
    by Hans Rosling

  • Read
    The best books on Critical Thinking - Black Box Thinking: The Surprising Truth About Success by Matthew Syed

    5

    Black Box Thinking: The Surprising Truth About Success
    by Matthew Syed

  • Read
    The best books on Critical Thinking - The Art of Thinking Clearly by Rolf Dobelli

    6

    The Art of Thinking Clearly
    by Rolf Dobelli

The best books on Critical Thinking, recommended by Nigel Warburton

Do you know your straw man arguments from your weasel words? Nigel Warburton, Five Books philosophy editor and author of Thinking from A to Z, selects some of the best books on critical thinking—and explains how they will help us make better informed decisions and construct more valid arguments. (This interview was updated 4 December, 2020, to include two new books that have come out since it was published in 2019)

    The best books on The History of Philosophy, recommended by Justin E. H. Smith

  • Read
    The best books on The History of Philosophy - The Veil of Isis: An Essay on the History of the Idea of Nature by Pierre Hadot

    1

    The Veil of Isis: An Essay on the History of the Idea of Nature
    by Pierre Hadot

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    The best books on The History of Philosophy - The Way and the Word: Science and Medicine in Early China and Greece by Geoffrey Lloyd & Nathan Sivin

    2

    The Way and the Word: Science and Medicine in Early China and Greece
    by Geoffrey Lloyd & Nathan Sivin

  • Read
    The best books on The History of Philosophy - The Lost Age of Reason: Philosophy in Early Modern India, 1450–1700 by Jonardon Ganeri

    3

    The Lost Age of Reason: Philosophy in Early Modern India, 1450–1700
    by Jonardon Ganeri

  • Read
    The best books on The History of Philosophy - Atoms and Alchemy: Chymistry and the Experimental Origins of the Scientific Revolution by William Newman

    4

    Atoms and Alchemy: Chymistry and the Experimental Origins of the Scientific Revolution
    by William Newman

  • Read
    The best books on The History of Philosophy - Native Pragmatism: Rethinking the Roots of American Philosophy by Scott L. Pratt

    5

    Native Pragmatism: Rethinking the Roots of American Philosophy
    by Scott L. Pratt

The best books on The History of Philosophy, recommended by Justin E. H. Smith

Today, we think of scientists and philosophers as distinct, but it wasn’t always this way. Back when the Royal Society was founded in the 1660s, figures like Newton, Descartes and Boyle all thought of themselves as ‘natural philosophers’. Justin E. H. Smith, professor of philosophy at the Université de Paris, introduces us to what he sees as the real history of philosophy.

    The best books on Consciousness, recommended by Susan Blackmore

  • Read
    The best books on Consciousness - Consciousness Explained by Daniel C Dennett

    1

    Consciousness Explained
    by Daniel C Dennett

  • Read
    The best books on Consciousness - Principles of Psychology by William James

    2

    Principles of Psychology
    by William James

  • Read
    The best books on Consciousness - The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind by Julian Jaynes

    3

    The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind
    by Julian Jaynes

  • Read
    The best books on Consciousness - The Mind's I: Fantasies And Reflections On Self & Soul by Douglas R Hofstadter & Daniel C Dennett

    4

    The Mind's I: Fantasies And Reflections On Self & Soul
    by Douglas R Hofstadter & Daniel C Dennett

  • Read
    The best books on Consciousness - Other Minds: The Octopus and the Evolution of Intelligent Life by Peter Godfrey-Smith

    5

    Other Minds: The Octopus and the Evolution of Intelligent Life
    by Peter Godfrey-Smith

The best books on Consciousness, recommended by Susan Blackmore

The ‘hard problem’ of consciousness – of how the physical matter of the brain produces the psychological phenomenon of consciousness – has dogged psychologists and neuroscientists for decades. But what if we’ve been posing the question incorrectly all this time? The psychologist Susan Blackmore discusses five key texts that tackle this quicksilver concept.

    Summer Reading: Philosophy Books to Take On Holiday, recommended by Nigel Warburton

  • Read
    Summer Reading: Philosophy Books to Take On Holiday - Socrates in Love: The Making of a Philosopher by Armand D'Angour

    1

    Socrates in Love: The Making of a Philosopher
    by Armand D'Angour

  • Read
    Summer Reading: Philosophy Books to Take On Holiday - How to Live: A Life of Montaigne in One Question and Twenty Attempts at an Answer by Sarah Bakewell

    2

    How to Live: A Life of Montaigne in One Question and Twenty Attempts at an Answer
    by Sarah Bakewell

  • Read
    Summer Reading: Philosophy Books to Take On Holiday - The Complete Philosophy Files by Stephen Law

    3

    The Complete Philosophy Files
    by Stephen Law

  • Read
    Summer Reading: Philosophy Books to Take On Holiday - The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli

    4

    The Prince
    by Niccolo Machiavelli

  • Read
    Summer Reading: Philosophy Books to Take On Holiday - The Path: A New Way to Think About Everything by Christine Gross-Loh & Michael Puett

    5

    The Path: A New Way to Think About Everything
    by Christine Gross-Loh & Michael Puett

Summer Reading: Philosophy Books to Take On Holiday, recommended by Nigel Warburton

Sea, sun and Socrates: what more could you want for the perfect holiday? Our philosophy editor Nigel Warburton, whose own book has had considerable success as a beach read, unveils his philosophy book holiday reading list.

    The best books on Philosophical Wonder, recommended by Eric Schwitzgebel

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    The best books on Philosophical Wonder - Chuang Tzu: Basic Writings by Books by Zhuangzi (aka Chuang Tzu)

    1

    Chuang Tzu: Basic Writings
    by Books by Zhuangzi (aka Chuang Tzu)

  • Read
    The best books on Philosophical Wonder - The Complete Essays of Montaigne Michel de Montaigne (trans. by Donald M. Frame)

    2

    The Complete Essays of Montaigne
    Michel de Montaigne (trans. by Donald M. Frame)

  • Read
    The best books on Philosophical Wonder - Labyrinths by Jorge Luis Borges

    3

    Labyrinths
    by Jorge Luis Borges

  • Read
    The best books on Philosophical Wonder - The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat by Oliver Sacks

    4

    The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat
    by Oliver Sacks

  • Read
    The best books on Philosophical Wonder - Diaspora by Greg Egan

    5

    Diaspora
    by Greg Egan

The best books on Philosophical Wonder, recommended by Eric Schwitzgebel

We think of philosophy as a discipline that interrogates complex dilemmas—the nature of will, right and wrong, human freedom—with logic, reasoned thought and argument. But what do the moments in philosophy that make us stop and look outside ourselves have to teach us? According to Eric Schwitzgebel, philosopher at the University of California Riverside, they can open up worlds of fresh possibility. Here he recommends five books of philosophical wonder.

    The Best Philosophy Books of 2018, recommended by Nigel Warburton

  • Read
    The Best Philosophy Books of 2018 - Down Girl by Kate Manne

    1

    Down Girl
    by Kate Manne

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    The Best Philosophy Books of 2018 - Aristotle's Way: How Ancient Wisdom Can Change Your Life by Edith Hall

    2

    Aristotle's Way: How Ancient Wisdom Can Change Your Life
    by Edith Hall

  • Read
    The Best Philosophy Books of 2018 - I Am Dynamite!: A Life of Nietzsche by Sue Prideaux

    3

    I Am Dynamite!: A Life of Nietzsche
    by Sue Prideaux

  • Read
    The Best Philosophy Books of 2018 - Hiking with Nietzsche: On Becoming Who You Are by John Kaag

    4

    Hiking with Nietzsche: On Becoming Who You Are
    by John Kaag

  • Read
    The Best Philosophy Books of 2018 - Being and Nothingness by Jean-Paul Sartre

    5

    Being and Nothingness
    by Jean-Paul Sartre

The Best Philosophy Books of 2018, recommended by Nigel Warburton

What can Nietzsche and Aristotle teach us about how to live? Should everyone read Being and Nothingness? From a philosophical approach to misogyny to an interrogation of whether it’s morally acceptable to have a Facebook account, philosopher Nigel Warburton introduces us to the best philosophy books of 2018.

    The Best Philosophy Books of 2017, recommended by Nigel Warburton

  • Read
    The Best Philosophy Books of 2017 - The Infidel and the Professor: David Hume, Adam Smith, and the Friendship That Shaped Modern Thought by Dennis Rasmussen

    1

    The Infidel and the Professor: David Hume, Adam Smith, and the Friendship That Shaped Modern Thought
    by Dennis Rasmussen

  • Read
    The Best Philosophy Books of 2017 - The Meaning of Belief: Religion from an Atheist’s Point of View by Tim Crane

    2

    The Meaning of Belief: Religion from an Atheist’s Point of View
    by Tim Crane

  • Read
    The Best Philosophy Books of 2017 - Why Buddhism is True: The Science and Philosophy of Meditation and Enlightenment by Robert Wright

    3

    Why Buddhism is True: The Science and Philosophy of Meditation and Enlightenment
    by Robert Wright

  • Read
    The Best Philosophy Books of 2017 - How To Be A Stoic: Ancient Wisdom for Modern Living by Massimo Pigliucci

    4

    How To Be A Stoic: Ancient Wisdom for Modern Living
    by Massimo Pigliucci

  • Read
    The Best Philosophy Books of 2017 - Utilitarianism: A Very Short Introduction by Katarzyna de Lazari-Radek and Peter Singer

    5

    Utilitarianism: A Very Short Introduction
    by Katarzyna de Lazari-Radek and Peter Singer

The Best Philosophy Books of 2017, recommended by Nigel Warburton

How should we live our lives? How can we best help others? What is the meaning of religious belief? The philosopher Nigel Warburton introduces us to some of the best philosophy books published in 2017.

    The best books on Political Philosophy, recommended by Jonathan Wolff

  • Read
    The best books on Political Philosophy - Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes

    1

    Leviathan
    by Thomas Hobbes

  • Read
    The best books on Political Philosophy - Early Writings by Karl Marx

    2

    Early Writings
    by Karl Marx

  • Read
    The best books on Political Philosophy - A Theory of Justice by John Rawls

    3

    A Theory of Justice
    by John Rawls

  • Read
    The best books on Political Philosophy - Anarchy, State, and Utopia by Robert Nozick

    4

    Anarchy, State, and Utopia
    by Robert Nozick

  • Read
    The best books on Political Philosophy - If You’re an Egalitarian, How Come You’re So Rich? by G. A. Cohen

    5

    If You’re an Egalitarian, How Come You’re So Rich?
    by G. A. Cohen

The best books on Political Philosophy, recommended by Jonathan Wolff

British philosopher Jonathan Wolff chooses five books by thinkers who have shaped the field of political philosophy. He explores the experiences that influenced each writer, saying ‘it’s very rare for philosophers to say very much about their history and what brought them to the views they have’.

    The best books on State, Power and Violence, recommended by Geoffroy de Lagasnerie

  • Read
    The best books on State - Violence and the Word by Robert Cover

    1

    Violence and the Word
    by Robert Cover

  • Read
    The best books on State - The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander

    2

    The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness
    by Michelle Alexander

  • Read
    The best books on State - Black against Empire: The History and Politics of the Black Panther Party by Joshua Bloom & Waldo E. Martin Jr.

    3

    Black against Empire: The History and Politics of the Black Panther Party
    by Joshua Bloom & Waldo E. Martin Jr.

  • Read
    The best books on State - Critique of Violence by Walter Benjamin

    4

    Critique of Violence
    by Walter Benjamin

  • Read
    The best books on State - The Birth of Biopolitics: Lectures at the Collège de France, 1978–1979 by Michel Foucault

    5

    The Birth of Biopolitics: Lectures at the Collège de France, 1978–1979
    by Michel Foucault

The best books on State, Power and Violence, recommended by Geoffroy de Lagasnerie

French philosopher and sociologist Geoffroy de Lagasnerie argues for a more realist political theory, one that fully acknowledges that state violence is the one thing in your life that you can never escape. His selection includes works by Michel Foucault and Walter Benjamin, as well as a history of the Black Panther Party.

    The best books on Stoicism, recommended by Massimo Pigliucci

  • Read
    The best books on Stoicism - The Discourses of Epictetus by Epictetus

    1

    The Discourses of Epictetus
    by Epictetus

  • Read
    The best books on Stoicism - A Guide to the Good Life by William B Irvine

    2

    A Guide to the Good Life
    by William B Irvine

  • Read
    The best books on Stoicism - Meditations by Marcus Aurelius

    3

    Meditations
    by Marcus Aurelius

  • Read
    The best books on Stoicism - Letters on Ethics: To Lucilius by Seneca

    4

    Letters on Ethics: To Lucilius
    by Seneca

  • Read
    The best books on Stoicism - A New Stoicism by Laurence Becker

    5

    A New Stoicism
    by Laurence Becker

The best books on Stoicism, recommended by Massimo Pigliucci

The Stoics offer us valuable strategies of thinking about and dealing with hardships that remain relevant for modern society, Massimo Pigliucci, Professor of Philosophy at the City College of New York and practising Stoic, told us in 2016. We were interviewing him about the best books to read to get a better idea of what Stoicism is all about and why some people find the ancient philosophy, famously practised by the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, comforting today. This week our philosophy editor, Nigel Warburton, caught up with Massimo and asked him about new Stoicism books that have come out since they first spoke–and why the philosophy remains so popular in 2020.

    The best books on Existentialism, recommended by Sarah Bakewell

  • Read
    The best books on Existentialism - Existentialism: A Reconstruction by David Cooper

    1

    Existentialism: A Reconstruction
    by David Cooper

  • Read
    The best books on Existentialism - Nausea by Jean-Paul Sartre

    2

    Nausea
    by Jean-Paul Sartre

  • Read
    The best books on Existentialism - Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl

    3

    Man's Search for Meaning
    by Viktor Frankl

  • Read
    The best books on Existentialism - The Existentialist Reader by Paul S MacDonald

    4

    The Existentialist Reader
    by Paul S MacDonald

  • Read
    The best books on Existentialism - Heidegger: An Introduction by Richard Polt

    5

    Heidegger: An Introduction
    by Richard Polt

The best books on Existentialism, recommended by Sarah Bakewell

Existentialist philosophy isn’t about bringing despair and angst into our lives, it’s about discovering our inner freedom, explains Sarah Bakewell, the author of At the Existentialist Café: Freedom, Being, and Apricot Cocktails. She recommends the best books on Existentialism.

    Peter Singer on Nineteenth-Century Philosophy

  • Read
    Peter Singer on Nineteenth-Century Philosophy - Phenomenology of Spirit by A. V. Miller & G. W. F. Hegel

    1

    Phenomenology of Spirit
    by A. V. Miller & G. W. F. Hegel

  • Read
    Peter Singer on Nineteenth-Century Philosophy - The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels

    2

    The Communist Manifesto
    by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels

  • Read
    Peter Singer on Nineteenth-Century Philosophy - On Liberty by John Stuart Mill

    3

    On Liberty
    by John Stuart Mill

  • Read
    Peter Singer on Nineteenth-Century Philosophy - The Descent of Man by Charles Darwin

    4

    The Descent of Man
    by Charles Darwin

  • Read
    Peter Singer on Nineteenth-Century Philosophy - The Methods of Ethics by Henry Sidgwick

    5

    The Methods of Ethics
    by Henry Sidgwick

Peter Singer on Nineteenth-Century Philosophy

The nineteenth century saw not only a widespread interest in philosophical ideas but also philosophy’s development as a more rigorous discipline. Australian philosopher Peter Singer introduces us to the highlights of a century of philosophy books.

    The best books on Wittgenstein, recommended by Peter Hacker

  • Read
    The best books on Wittgenstein - Ludwig Wittgenstein by Edward Kanterian

    1

    Ludwig Wittgenstein
    by Edward Kanterian

  • Read
    The best books on Wittgenstein - Ludwig Wittgenstein: The Duty of Genius by Ray Monk

    2

    Ludwig Wittgenstein: The Duty of Genius
    by Ray Monk

  • Read
    The best books on Wittgenstein - Recollections of Wittgenstein by (ed.) Rush Rhees

    3

    Recollections of Wittgenstein
    by (ed.) Rush Rhees

  • Read
    The best books on Wittgenstein - Wittgenstein by Severin Schroeder

    4

    Wittgenstein
    by Severin Schroeder

  • Read
    The best books on Wittgenstein - The Principles of Linguistic Philosophy by Friedrich Waismann

    5

    The Principles of Linguistic Philosophy
    by Friedrich Waismann

The best books on Wittgenstein, recommended by Peter Hacker

A pioneering figure in analytic philosophy, Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889-1951) is a clear example of philosophical genius. A profoundly intense, tortured, and solitary man, he produced two masterpieces of philosophy with fundamentally opposed views of language — both of which have been wildly influential. Peter Hacker introduces us to perhaps the most important philosopher since Kant, and explains why Wittgenstein would be horrified by Noam Chomsky.

    The Best Philosophy of Science Books, recommended by Stathis Psillos

  • Read
    The Best Philosophy of Science Books - Understanding Philosophy of Science by James Ladyman

    1

    Understanding Philosophy of Science
    by James Ladyman

  • Read
    The Best Philosophy of Science Books - The Scientific Image by Bas van Fraassen

    2

    The Scientific Image
    by Bas van Fraassen

  • Read
    The Best Philosophy of Science Books - Inference to the Best Explanation by Peter Lipton

    3

    Inference to the Best Explanation
    by Peter Lipton

  • Read
    The Best Philosophy of Science Books - The Advancement of Science by Philip Kitcher

    4

    The Advancement of Science
    by Philip Kitcher

  • Read
    The Best Philosophy of Science Books - Dynamics of Reason by Michael Friedman

    5

    Dynamics of Reason
    by Michael Friedman

The Best Philosophy of Science Books, recommended by Stathis Psillos

Science is often held to give us the best insight into the nature of reality, with a prestige unmatched in other disciplines. But what is the scientific method and how does it operate? Does it give us objective knowledge or does it just 'work'? And if an electron is an “unobservable entity”, why should we believe that they exist? Professor Stathis Psillos gives a detailed look at the philosophy of science

    The Best Nietzsche Books, recommended by Brian Leiter

  • Read
    The Best Nietzsche Books - Nietzsche: A Philosophical Biography by Rüdiger Safranski & translator Shelley Frisch

    1

    Nietzsche: A Philosophical Biography
    by Rüdiger Safranski & translator Shelley Frisch

  • Read
    The Best Nietzsche Books - Nietzsche on Truth and Philosophy by Maudemarie Clark

    2

    Nietzsche on Truth and Philosophy
    by Maudemarie Clark

  • Read
    The Best Nietzsche Books - Nietzsche’s System by John Richardson

    3

    Nietzsche’s System
    by John Richardson

  • Read
    The Best Nietzsche Books - Beyond Good and Evil by Friedrich Nietzsche & translated by Walter Kaufmann

    4

    Beyond Good and Evil
    by Friedrich Nietzsche & translated by Walter Kaufmann

  • Read
    The Best Nietzsche Books - On the Genealogy of Morality by Friedrich Nietzsche

    5

    On the Genealogy of Morality
    by Friedrich Nietzsche

The Best Nietzsche Books, recommended by Brian Leiter

Relativist, atheist, existentialist, Nazi. All have been said of German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, some with more reason than others. In 2011, we asked Nietzsche expert Brian Leiter to explain the appeal of the controversial philosopher and to recommend books by and about him. This September (2020) our philosophy editor, Nigel Warburton, asked Brian about some of the latest Nietzsche books, notable works that have come out in the decade since we first spoke to him.

    The Best Simone de Beauvoir Books, recommended by Kate Kirkpatrick

  • Read
    The Best Simone de Beauvoir Books - Philosophical Writings by Simone de Beauvoir

    1

    Philosophical Writings
    by Simone de Beauvoir

  • Read
    The Best Simone de Beauvoir Books - All Men Are Mortal by Simone de Beauvoir

    2

    All Men Are Mortal
    by Simone de Beauvoir

  • Read
    The Best Simone de Beauvoir Books - America Day By Day by Simone de Beauvoir

    3

    America Day By Day
    by Simone de Beauvoir

  • Read
    The Best Simone de Beauvoir Books - The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir

    4

    The Second Sex
    by Simone de Beauvoir

  • Read
    The Best Simone de Beauvoir Books - A Very Easy Death by Simone de Beauvoir

    5

    A Very Easy Death
    by Simone de Beauvoir

The Best Simone de Beauvoir Books, recommended by Kate Kirkpatrick

Simone de Beauvoir is remembered today as the pioneering feminist author of The Second Sex and a close companion of Jean Paul Sartre. But the scope of her intellectual contribution has long been underestimated, argues her latest biographer Kate Kirkpatrick, who offers an introduction to the landscape of Beauvoir’s works, from fiction to philosophy to life writing.

    The best books on Aristotle, recommended by Edith Hall

  • Read
    The best books on Aristotle - Aristotle: His Life and School by Carlo Natali

    1

    Aristotle: His Life and School
    by Carlo Natali

  • Read
    The best books on Aristotle - Aristotle's Children by Richard E Rubenstein

    2

    Aristotle's Children
    by Richard E Rubenstein

  • Read
    The best books on Aristotle - Ethics With Aristotle by Sarah Broadie

    3

    Ethics With Aristotle
    by Sarah Broadie

  • Read
    The best books on Aristotle - Aristotle: Political Philosophy by Richard Kraut

    4

    Aristotle: Political Philosophy
    by Richard Kraut

  • Read
    The best books on Aristotle - The Lagoon: How Aristotle Invented Science by Armand Marie Leroi

    5

    The Lagoon: How Aristotle Invented Science
    by Armand Marie Leroi

The best books on Aristotle, recommended by Edith Hall

Aristotle, says Edith Hall, is “quite simply the most important intellectual who ever lived.” Here the author and classicist selects five key Aristotle books to further your understanding of the great philosopher’s life and work.

    The Best Voltaire Books, recommended by Nicholas Cronk

  • Read
    The Best Voltaire Books - Voltaire Almighty: A Life in Pursuit of Freedom by Roger Pearson

    1

    Voltaire Almighty: A Life in Pursuit of Freedom
    by Roger Pearson

  • Read
    The Best Voltaire Books - A Pocket Philosophical Dictionary by John Fletcher (translator) & Voltaire

    2

    A Pocket Philosophical Dictionary
    by John Fletcher (translator) & Voltaire

  • Read
    The Best Voltaire Books - The Newton Wars and the Beginning of the French Enlightenment by J. B. Shank

    3

    The Newton Wars and the Beginning of the French Enlightenment
    by J. B. Shank

  • Read
    The Best Voltaire Books - Candide by Roger Pearson (translator) & Voltaire

    4

    Candide
    by Roger Pearson (translator) & Voltaire

  • Read
    The Best Voltaire Books - Reinventing Voltaire: The Politics of Commemoration in Nineteenth-Century France by Stephen Bird

    5

    Reinventing Voltaire: The Politics of Commemoration in Nineteenth-Century France
    by Stephen Bird

The Best Voltaire Books, recommended by Nicholas Cronk

The eighteenth-century philosopher wielded his powers of ridicule and witticism against religious fanatics—but always championed free speech and religious toleration. He was also a historian, scientist, poet, playwright, and political activist. Nicholas Cronk, General Editor of the Complete Works of Voltaire gives a detailed look at the polymathic philosophe.

    The best books on Philosophy of Mind, recommended by Keith Frankish

  • Read
    The best books on Philosophy of Mind - A Materialist Theory of the Mind by D M Armstrong

    1

    A Materialist Theory of the Mind
    by D M Armstrong

  • Read
    The best books on Philosophy of Mind - Consciousness Explained by Daniel C Dennett

    2

    Consciousness Explained
    by Daniel C Dennett

  • Read
    The best books on Philosophy of Mind - Varieties of Meaning: The 2002 Jean Nicod Lectures by Ruth Garrett Millikan

    3

    Varieties of Meaning: The 2002 Jean Nicod Lectures
    by Ruth Garrett Millikan

  • Read
    The best books on Philosophy of Mind - The Architecture of the Mind by Peter Carruthers

    4

    The Architecture of the Mind
    by Peter Carruthers

  • Read
    The best books on Philosophy of Mind - Supersizing the Mind: Embodiment, Action, and Cognitive Extension by Andy Clark

    5

    Supersizing the Mind: Embodiment, Action, and Cognitive Extension
    by Andy Clark

The best books on Philosophy of Mind, recommended by Keith Frankish

The experimental investigation of the mind is now the province of psychology and neuroscience – but many conceptual and metaphysical questions remain. Philosophy of mind deals with these fundamental questions, says Keith Frankish, as he selects five of the best books in the field.

    The best books on Immanuel Kant, recommended by Adrian Moore

  • Read
    The best books on Immanuel Kant - Critique of Pure Reason by Immanuel Kant

    1

    Critique of Pure Reason
    by Immanuel Kant

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    The best books on Immanuel Kant - Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals by Immanuel Kant

    2

    Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals
    by Immanuel Kant

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    The best books on Immanuel Kant - Critique of the Power of Judgement by Immanuel Kant

    3

    Critique of the Power of Judgement
    by Immanuel Kant

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    The best books on Immanuel Kant - Religion Within the Boundaries of Mere Reason by Immanuel Kant

    4

    Religion Within the Boundaries of Mere Reason
    by Immanuel Kant

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    The best books on Immanuel Kant - The Bounds of Sense by Peter Strawson

    5

    The Bounds of Sense
    by Peter Strawson

The best books on Immanuel Kant, recommended by Adrian Moore

Immanuel Kant was born in Königsberg, lived in Königsberg, and never travelled very far from Königsberg—but his mind ranged across vast territories, says Oxford philosophy professor, Adrian Moore. He selects five key texts for coming to grips with the work of “the greatest philosopher of all time.”

    The best books on Marx and Marxism, recommended by Terrell Carver

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    The best books on Marx and Marxism - Karl Marx by Isaiah Berlin

    1

    Karl Marx
    by Isaiah Berlin

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    The best books on Marx and Marxism - Karl Marx: His Life and Thought by David McLellan

    2

    Karl Marx: His Life and Thought
    by David McLellan

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    The best books on Marx and Marxism - Karl Marx's Theory of History by G. A. Cohen

    3

    Karl Marx's Theory of History
    by G. A. Cohen

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    The best books on Marx and Marxism - The Young Karl Marx by David Leopold

    4

    The Young Karl Marx
    by David Leopold

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    The best books on Marx and Marxism - Karl Marx: A Nineteenth-Century Life by Jonathan Sperber

    5

    Karl Marx: A Nineteenth-Century Life
    by Jonathan Sperber

The best books on Marx and Marxism, recommended by Terrell Carver

Few people have had their ideas reinvented as many times as the German intellectual and political activist, Karl Marx. Professor of political theory, Terrell Carver, takes us through the most influential books, in English, about Marx, Marxism and his friend, publicist and financial backer, Friedrich Engels.

    The best books on Socrates, recommended by M M McCabe

  • Read
    The best books on Socrates - Apology by Plato

    1

    Apology
    by Plato

  • Read
    The best books on Socrates - The Clouds by Aristophanes

    2

    The Clouds
    by Aristophanes

  • Read
    The best books on Socrates - Theaetetus by Plato

    3

    Theaetetus
    by Plato

  • Read
    The best books on Socrates - Socrates: Ironist and Moral Philosopher by Gregory Vlastos

    4

    Socrates: Ironist and Moral Philosopher
    by Gregory Vlastos

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    The best books on Socrates - The Art of Living by Alexander Nehamas

    5

    The Art of Living
    by Alexander Nehamas

The best books on Socrates, recommended by M M McCabe

The classical Greek philosopher is credited with laying the foundation of Western philosophy – without ever having written a word. Here, the eminent scholar M M McCabe recommends the best books to read to understand Socrates and engage with the eternal question: How best to live?

    The best books on Metaphysics, recommended by Tim Crane

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    The best books on Metaphysics - A Survey of Metaphysics by Jonathan Lowe

    1

    A Survey of Metaphysics
    by Jonathan Lowe

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    The best books on Metaphysics - Meditations on First Philosophy by René Descartes

    2

    Meditations on First Philosophy
    by René Descartes

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    The best books on Metaphysics - Real Time II by Hugh Mellor

    3

    Real Time II
    by Hugh Mellor

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    The best books on Metaphysics - Discourse on Metaphysics, Correspondence With Arnauld, and Monadology by Gottfried Wilhelm Freiherr von Leibniz

    4

    Discourse on Metaphysics, Correspondence With Arnauld, and Monadology
    by Gottfried Wilhelm Freiherr von Leibniz

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    The best books on Metaphysics - Sameness and Substance Renewed by David Wiggins

    5

    Sameness and Substance Renewed
    by David Wiggins

The best books on Metaphysics, recommended by Tim Crane

It’s abstract and not everyone’s cup of tea but, in many ways, inescapable. Philosopher Tim Crane introduces the best books on metaphysics.

    The best books on Hegel, recommended by Stephen Houlgate

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    The best books on Hegel - Phenomenology of Spirit by A. V. Miller & G. W. F. Hegel

    1

    Phenomenology of Spirit
    by A. V. Miller & G. W. F. Hegel

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    The best books on Hegel - Science of Logic by A. V. Miller & G. W. F. Hegel

    2

    Science of Logic
    by A. V. Miller & G. W. F. Hegel

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    The best books on Hegel - On Hegel's Logic by John Burbidge

    3

    On Hegel's Logic
    by John Burbidge

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    The best books on Hegel - Hegel's Idealism: The Satisfactions of Self-Consciousness by Robert B. Pippin

    4

    Hegel's Idealism: The Satisfactions of Self-Consciousness
    by Robert B. Pippin

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    The best books on Hegel - Aesthetics: Lectures on Fine Art Vol. II by G. W. F. Hegel & transl. Tom Knox

    5

    Aesthetics: Lectures on Fine Art Vol. II
    by G. W. F. Hegel & transl. Tom Knox

The best books on Hegel, recommended by Stephen Houlgate

G W F Hegel is one of the most divisive figures in western philosophy. He influenced Marx, Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Sartre, Adorno and countless others. And yet, he is seen as perhaps the most obscure and inaccessible philosopher to read. Is he worth engaging with? How should we read him? Stephen Houlgate, a philosopher at Warwick University, gives us an in-depth look at Hegel.

    The best books on Søren Kierkegaard, recommended by Clare Carlisle

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    The best books on Søren Kierkegaard - The Lily of the Field and the Bird of the Air Søren Kierkegaard (trans. by Bruce H. Kirmmse)

    1

    The Lily of the Field and the Bird of the Air
    Søren Kierkegaard (trans. by Bruce H. Kirmmse)

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    The best books on Søren Kierkegaard - The Sickness unto Death by Søren Kierkegaard

    2

    The Sickness unto Death
    by Søren Kierkegaard

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    The best books on Søren Kierkegaard - Stages on Life’s Way Søren Kierkegaard (trans. by Edna V. Hong and Howard H. Hong)

    3

    Stages on Life’s Way
    Søren Kierkegaard (trans. by Edna V. Hong and Howard H. Hong)

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    The best books on Søren Kierkegaard - Kierkegaard, Pietism and Holiness by Christopher Barnett

    4

    Kierkegaard, Pietism and Holiness
    by Christopher Barnett

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    The best books on Søren Kierkegaard - Written Images Søren Kierkegaard (ed. by Niels Jørgen Cappelørn, Joakim Garff, Johnny Kondrup)

    5

    Written Images
    Søren Kierkegaard (ed. by Niels Jørgen Cappelørn, Joakim Garff, Johnny Kondrup)

The best books on Søren Kierkegaard, recommended by Clare Carlisle

“It’s not surprising that he died at forty-two, because he burned himself out restlessly, relentlessly pursuing this question of how to be a human being.” Søren Kierkegaard’s latest biographer Clare Carlisle recommends five books for understanding the Danish philosopher’s life and work—and shows how his work often bears witness to the complex, fraught experience of being alive.

    The best books on The Philosophy of Art, recommended by Noël Carroll

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    The best books on The Philosophy of Art - Art by Clive Bell

    1

    Art
    by Clive Bell

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    The best books on The Philosophy of Art - Aesthetics by Monroe Beardsley

    2

    Aesthetics
    by Monroe Beardsley

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    The best books on The Philosophy of Art - Languages of Art by Nelson Goodman

    3

    Languages of Art
    by Nelson Goodman

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    The best books on The Philosophy of Art - Art and the Aesthetic by George Dickie

    4

    Art and the Aesthetic
    by George Dickie

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    The best books on The Philosophy of Art - After the End of Art by Arthur Danto

    5

    After the End of Art
    by Arthur Danto

The best books on The Philosophy of Art, recommended by Noël Carroll

What is art? Does it have to be good? Is it up to a museum curator or other expert to decide? If so, how did the first art arise? A leading philosopher chooses the best books on the philosophical questions surrounding art.

    The best books on The Presocratics, recommended by Angela Hobbs

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    The best books on The Presocratics - Early Greek Philosophy by Jonathan Barnes

    1

    Early Greek Philosophy
    by Jonathan Barnes

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    The best books on The Presocratics - The Sophistic Movement by G. B. Kerferd

    2

    The Sophistic Movement
    by G. B. Kerferd

  • Read
    The best books on The Presocratics - Theaetetus by Plato

    3

    Theaetetus
    by Plato

  • Read
    The best books on The Presocratics - Ecce Homo by Friedrich Nietzsche

    4

    Ecce Homo
    by Friedrich Nietzsche

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    The best books on The Presocratics - The Presocratic Philosophers by and M. Schofield, G. S. Kirk & J. E. Raven

    5

    The Presocratic Philosophers
    by and M. Schofield, G. S. Kirk & J. E. Raven

The best books on The Presocratics, recommended by Angela Hobbs

They were young, they were radical, they influenced everything from Nietzsche to The Sound of Music. Angela Hobbs introduces the best books on the Presocratics.

    Best Philosophical Novels, recommended by Rebecca Goldstein

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    Best Philosophical Novels - Middlemarch by George Eliot

    1

    Middlemarch
    by George Eliot

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    Best Philosophical Novels - Moby Dick by Herman Melville

    2

    Moby Dick
    by Herman Melville

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    Best Philosophical Novels - Death in Venice by Thomas Mann

    3

    Death in Venice
    by Thomas Mann

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    Best Philosophical Novels - The Black Prince by Iris Murdoch

    4

    The Black Prince
    by Iris Murdoch

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    Best Philosophical Novels - Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace

    5

    Infinite Jest
    by David Foster Wallace

Best Philosophical Novels, recommended by Rebecca Goldstein

The skills of a philosopher and those of a novelist are often in tension, but they have much to learn from each other, says novelist and philosopher, Rebecca Newberger Goldstein. She chooses her favourite philosophical novels.

    The best books on World Philosophy, recommended by Bryan Van Norden

  • Read
    The best books on World Philosophy - Republic by Plato

    1

    Republic
    by Plato

  • Read
    The best books on World Philosophy - A Treatise Of Human Nature by David Hume

    2

    A Treatise Of Human Nature
    by David Hume

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    The best books on World Philosophy - Mengzi: With Selections from Traditional Commentaries by Mengzi

    3

    Mengzi: With Selections from Traditional Commentaries
    by Mengzi

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    The best books on World Philosophy - Zhuangzi by Zhuangzi (aka Chuang Tzu)

    4

    Zhuangzi
    by Zhuangzi (aka Chuang Tzu)

  • Read
    The best books on World Philosophy - The Bodhicaryāvatāra by Śāntideva

    5

    The Bodhicaryāvatāra
    by Śāntideva

The best books on World Philosophy, recommended by Bryan Van Norden

The study of philosophy in the Western world is often parochial, and limited to the study of the Anglo-European tradition. It’s time to widen our focus, advises the author and philosopher Bryan Van Norden. Here he selects five foundational texts of philosophical traditions worldwide.

    The best books on David Hume, recommended by Simon Blackburn

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    The best books on David Hume - The Life of David Hume by Ernest Mossner

    1

    The Life of David Hume
    by Ernest Mossner

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    The best books on David Hume - An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding by David Hume

    2

    An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding
    by David Hume

  • Read
    The best books on David Hume - Dialogues and Natural History of Religion by David Hume

    3

    Dialogues and Natural History of Religion
    by David Hume

  • Read
    The best books on David Hume - The Philosophy of David Hume by Norman Kemp-Smith

    4

    The Philosophy of David Hume
    by Norman Kemp-Smith

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    The best books on David Hume - Critique of Pure Reason by Immanuel Kant

    5

    Critique of Pure Reason
    by Immanuel Kant

The best books on David Hume, recommended by Simon Blackburn

Hume had a message he wanted to get out — particularly as regards skepticism about religion — but he was no proto-Richard Dawkins, says Cambridge philosopher, Simon Blackburn. He chooses the best books on (or by) David Hume.

    The best books on Cruelty and Evil, recommended by Paul Bloom

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    The best books on Cruelty and Evil - Eichmann in Jerusalem by Hannah Arendt

    1

    Eichmann in Jerusalem
    by Hannah Arendt

  • Read
    The best books on Cruelty and Evil - Evil: Inside Human Violence and Cruelty by Roy Baumeister

    2

    Evil: Inside Human Violence and Cruelty
    by Roy Baumeister

  • Read
    The best books on Cruelty and Evil - Less Than Human by David Livingstone Smith

    3

    Less Than Human
    by David Livingstone Smith

  • Read
    The best books on Cruelty and Evil - Evil Men by James Dawes

    4

    Evil Men
    by James Dawes

  • Read
    The best books on Cruelty and Evil - Down Girl by Kate Manne

    5

    Down Girl
    by Kate Manne

The best books on Cruelty and Evil, recommended by Paul Bloom

How do evil-doers justify their behaviour? A common view of evil sees dehumanisation as fundamental. Yale psychologist Paul Bloom argues, however, that the picture may not be so simple. The most callous acts of cruelty and evil involve recognising the human feelings of the victim, their ability to feel shame and humiliation.

    The best books on Human Rights, recommended by John Tasioulas

  • Read
    The best books on Human Rights - The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

    1

    The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

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    The best books on Human Rights - Making Sense of Human Rights by James Nickel

    2

    Making Sense of Human Rights
    by James Nickel

  • Read
    The best books on Human Rights - The Idea of Natural Rights by Brian Tierney

    3

    The Idea of Natural Rights
    by Brian Tierney

  • Read
    The best books on Human Rights - The Law of Peoples by John Rawls

    4

    The Law of Peoples
    by John Rawls

  • Read
    The best books on Human Rights - On Human Rights by James Griffin

    5

    On Human Rights
    by James Griffin

The best books on Human Rights, recommended by John Tasioulas

What are human rights? Are they reducible to the rights enshrined in law or do they somehow objectively exist? Philosopher John Tasioulas picks the best five books on human rights.

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