Peter Cave

Discover Philosophy Through 99 Perplexing Problems

Big Think Book

an introduction to philosophical paradoxes

This sentence is false

In showing how the great philosophers of human history lived and thought – and what they thought about – Peter Cave provides an accessible and enjoyable introduction to thinking philosophically and how it can change our everyday lives. With a lightness of touch, he addresses questions such as: Is there anything 'out there' that gives meaning to our lives? Does reality tell us how we ought to live? What indeed is reality and what is appearance – and how can we tell the difference? This book paints vivid portraits of an assortment of inspiring thinkers: from Lao Tzu to Avicenna to Iris Murdoch; from Hannah Arendt to Socrates and Plato to Karl Marx; from Kierkegaard and Nietzsche to Sartre to Samuel Beckett – and let us not forget Lewis Carroll for some thought-provoking fantasies and Ludwig Wittgenstein for the anguishes of a genius. As well as displaying optimists and pessimists, believers and non-believers, the book displays relevance to current affairs, from free speech to abortion to the treatment of animals to our leaders' moral character. In each brief chapter, Cave brings to life these often prescient, always compelling philosophical thinkers, showing how their ways of approaching the world grew out of their own lives and times and how we may make valuable use of their insights today. Now, more than ever, we need to understand how to live, and how to understand the world around us. This is the perfect guide.

Scholars, Dreamers and Sages Who Can Teach Us How to Live

How to Think Like a Philosopher

فكر كأرسطو واكتب كشكسبير

Duas Vidas Valem Mais Que Uma?

Discover how philosophy can shine a light on the world's most divisive issues.

Adventures in Democracy, Free Speech and Other Liberal Inventions

The Myths We Live By

In this stunning sequel to last Christmas’s bestselling surprise hit, Can a Robot be Human?, Peter Cave once again engages the reader in a romp through the best bits of philosophical thought. With the aid of tall stories, jokes, common sense and bizarre insights, Cave tackles some of life’s most important questions and introduces the puzzles that will keep you pondering throughout the night. From encounters with bears (ethical dilemmas) to talking turkeys (the problem of induction), Cave storms through philosophy’s classic conundrums with rapier wit and wisdom. Illustrated with quirky cartoons throughout, What's Wrong With Eating People? leaves no stone unturned, covering a smorgasbord of topics including logic, ethics, art and politics. It will provide a perfect gift for anyone who puzzles about the world!

33 More Perplexing Philosophy Puzzles

What's Wrong with Eating People?

From Confucianism to Kant’s categorical imperative, from the Ancient Greeks to Amnesty International, This essential volume presents ethics through a fascinating global historical lens and relates it to everyday life and 21st-century politics. Peter Cave traces the development of this key branch of philosophy up to the present day, introducing readers to all the main schools of thought. With his characteristic wit and clarity, Cave takes on good and evil, power and politics, and liberalism and relativism, and handily guides us around some of the most common potholes in ethical reasoning. Applying theory to contemporary concepts like corporate social responsibility and bioethical issues such as so-called designer babies, this is an indispensable primer on the subject.

A Beginner's Guide

Ethics

Peter Cave once again takes the reader on a witty, engaging romp through a glorious compendium of philosophical puzzles. With the aid of tall stories, jokes, common sense, and bizarre insights, Cave tackles some of life’s most important questions and introduces the conundrums that will keep you pondering throughout the night. Illustrated with dozens of quirky cartoons, Do Llamas Fall in Love? leaves no stone unturned, covering a smorgasbord of topics including logic, ethics, art, and politics. It will provide a perfect gift for anyone who puzzles about the world!

33 Perplexing Philosophy Puzzles

Do Llamas Fall in Love?

In this book of puzzles and paradoxes, Peter Cave introduces some of life's most important questions with tales and tall stories, reasons and arguments, common sense and bizarre conclusions. From how to get to heaven, to speedy tortoises, paradoxes and puzzles give rise to some of the most exciting philosophical problems. Illustrated with quirky cartoons throughout, The Unusual, Please! takes the reader on a tour to the most interesting and delightful parts of philosophy.

Can a Robot be Human?

An entertaining introduction to logic and reasoning, packed with puzzles and thought experiments for the reader to try "Peter Cave takes us on an edifying tour through the world of paradoxes, and there is much to be learned, as well as much enjoyment to be had, in the process." -Adrian W. Moore, University of Oxford, UK "'This sentence is false' is a sentence printed on the cover of this book. A sentence is not a name. So what is the name of the book? This book (whatever its name) is full of intriguing philosophical puzzles ... Paradoxes may seem trivial at first glance, but further thought reveals them to be challenges to some of our most fundamental beliefs and preconceptions. Peter Cave entertainingly escorts the reader through a great variety of these fascinating puzzles, shining light that is fresh and bright." -Laurence Goldstein, University of Kent, UK "This is a truly wonderful book. The topic is tough, but Peter Cave brings it to life. He manages to give new insights on old topics, which is itself remarkable, and he also brings in plenty of less familiar topics ... All in all, it is a joy to see such cleverness and clarity of thought coexisting with such an easy (and light and amusing) writing style." -Professor Imre Leader, Cambridge University, UK Put your neurons through their paces with this lively and engaging introduction to paradoxes. From "Buridan's Ass" and the "Surprise Examination" to "The Liar" and "Sleeping Beauty," This Sentence is False introduces all the key philosophical paradoxes. This fascinating guide to logic and reasoning is packed with puzzles and thought experiments to actively engage the reader in critical thinking. As well as paradoxes that occur in our everyday lives, topics also include God, ethics, political philosophy, space, and time. This Sentence is False will put your mind to the test, challenge what you think you know, and lead you on a fascinating journey through logical reasoning.

An Introduction to Philosophical Paradoxes

This Sentence is False

Dan Cohn-Sherbok

Arguing about Judaism differs from other introductions to Judaism. It is unique, not solely in its engaging dialogues between a Reform rabbi and a humanist, atheist philosopher, but also in its presentation of and challenges to the fundamental religious beliefs of the Jewish heritage and their relevance to today’s Jewish community. The dialogues contain both Jewish narratives and philosophical responses, with topics ranging from the nature of God to controversies over sexual relations, animal welfare and the environment — from antisemitism to the state of Israel and Zionism. Although the rabbi and philosopher argue strongly, clearly enjoying the cut and thrust of debate, they do so with sensitivity, charm and respect, revealing the rich intricacies of the Jewish religion and contemporary Jewish life. While essential reading for those studying Judaism and Jewish history, the book aims to stimulate debate more generally amongst Jews and non-Jews, the religious and the atheist — all those with a general interest in religion and philosophy.

A Rabbi, a Philosopher and a Revealing Debate

Arguing about Judaism

Philosophy, the “love of wisdom”, is the product of our endless fascination and curiosity about the world – the child of wonder. Through it, we seek to answer the most fundamental of questions: How do we know what we know? Does God exist? What is beauty? How should we live our lives? What am I? In this exhilarating tour, Peter Cave navigates all the main topics of philosophy with verve and clarity. Using witty and whimsical examples, including stoical sofas and Reg, the “regular” human, who just happens to carry his brain in a rucksack, Cave provides a welcome antidote to the dry textbook while covering everything from political philosophy to points of logic. Interspersed with helpful textboxes and underlining the enduring relevance of philosophy to us all, there is no better introduction for the aspiring sage.

Philosophy

In showing how the great philosophers of human history thought - and what they thought about - the popular philosopher Peter Cave provides a readable and entertaining introduction to thinking philosophically, and how to change our everyday lives. He addresses questions the great philosophers have grappled with: When we look at the world, what is it that tells us what morally we ought to do? And how do we even know that something exists? This book paints vivid portraits of a global assortment of great thinkers throughout history: from Augustine, Spinoza and Derrida to Mary Wollstonecraft, Iris Murdoch and Simone de Beauvoir. But there is also contemporary relevance here – the book relates to current affairs and issues such as debates over free speech, moral character in leaders, ethical issues such as abortion debates, gun control and religion. In each brief chapter, Cave brings to life these often prescient, always compelling philosophical thinkers, showing how their way of approaching the world grew out of their own lives and times and how we can use their insights today. Now more than ever we need to understand how to live, and how to understand the world around us. This is the perfect guide.

Rogue Angels

Algan Sezgintüredi

33 Felsefi muamma

İnsan yemenin nesi yanlış

Life does not become empty and meaningless in a godless universe. This is the contention at the heart of humanism, the philosophy concerned with making sense of the world through reason, experience and shared human values. In this thought-provoking introduction, Peter Cave explores the humanist approach to religious belief, ethics and politics, and addresses key criticisms. Revised and updated to confront today’s great crises – the climate emergency and global pandemics – and the future of humanism in the face of rapid technological advancement, this is for anyone wishing to better understand what it means to be human in the twenty-first century.

A Beginner's Guide (updated edition)

Humanism

White Line Fever

The sensational follow-up to the bestselling Can a Robot be Human In this stunning sequel to last Christmas' bestselling surprise hit, "Can a Robot be Human?", Peter Cave once again engages the reader in a romp through the best bits of philosophical thought. With the aid of tall stories, jokes, common sense and bizarre insights, Cave tackles some of life's most important questions and introduces the puzzles that will keep you pondering throughout the night. From encounters with bears (ethical dilemmas) to talking turkeys (the problem of induction), Cave storms through philosophy's classic conundrums with rapier wit and wisdom. Illustrated with quirky cartoons throughout, "What's Wrong With Eating People?" leaves no stone unturned, covering a smorgasbord of topics including logic, ethics, art and politics. It will provide a perfect gift for anyone who puzzles about the world!

Peter Cave

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