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Book The 100 Most Influential Philosophers of All Time

Download or read book The 100 Most Influential Philosophers of All Time written by Brian Duignan Senior Editor, Religion and Philosophy and published by The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc. This book was released on 2009-12-20 with total page 368 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Presents an introduction to the world's most influential philosophers, with a brief summary of their lives and teachings, from the early philosophers of the Greek era up to the major philosophers of the twentieth century.

Book The Great Philosophers  The Lives and Ideas of History s Greatest Thinkers

Download or read book The Great Philosophers The Lives and Ideas of History s Greatest Thinkers written by Stephen Law and published by Quercus. This book was released on 2014-09-09 with total page 312 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Since the beginning of time mankind has struggled with the big questions surrounding our existence. Whilst most people have heard of Socrates, Machiavelli and Nietzsche, many are less clear on their theories and key concepts. In The Great Philosophers, bestselling author Stephen Law condenses and deciphers their fundamental ideas. Avoiding the technical jargon and complex logic associated with most books on philosophy, Law brings the thoughts of these great thinkers, from Confucius and Buddha to Wittgenstein and Sartre, to life.

Book Famous Philosophers and Their Teachings Part 2

Download or read book Famous Philosophers and Their Teachings Part 2 written by Hseham Amrahs and published by Mahesh Dutt Sharma. This book was released on 2024-01-05 with total page 215 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Philosophy, as a discipline, spans centuries and continents, revealing the intricate tapestry of human contemplation. Each philosopher, a distinct thread in this tapestry, contributes a unique hue to the rich narrative of our intellectual history. The lives they led, the ideas they forged, and the impact they left on societies illuminate the evolution of philosophical thought across epochs. As we delve into the lives of these luminaries, we encounter diverse cultural landscapes, historical contexts, and intellectual climates that have shaped their worldviews. From the ancient thinkers of Greece and Persia to the Enlightenment philosophers of Europe, and from the profound insights of Eastern philosophers to the groundbreaking theories of modern thinkers, this book traverses the global spectrum of philosophical wisdom.

Book Famous Philosophers and Their Teachings Part 3

Download or read book Famous Philosophers and Their Teachings Part 3 written by Hseham Amrahs and published by Mahesh Dutt Sharma. This book was released on 2024-01-05 with total page 227 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The narratives unfold chronologically, providing a panoramic view of the ebb and flow of philosophical ideas. The reader is invited to wander through the ancient agora where Socrates engaged in dialectical dialogues, to witness the Renaissance revival of classical thought, and to ponder the existential questions explored by 20th-century existentialists. Each chapter unearths the intricacies of a philosopher's life—their birthplaces, educational pursuits, intellectual influences, and the socio-political contexts that shaped their philosophical perspectives. The book celebrates the diversity of philosophical thought, showcasing not only the well-known figures who have become pillars of philosophical tradition but also those whose contributions may have been overlooked. It seeks to break down the barriers between different philosophical traditions, emphasizing the interconnectedness of ideas across cultures and periods. In addition to the biographical narratives, this book delves into the philosophical teachings of each thinker. It examines their key works, pivotal concepts, and the enduring impact of their ideas on subsequent generations. From metaphysics to ethics, epistemology to political philosophy, the reader is guided through the intellectual landscapes that these philosophers navigated, unveiling the intricate tapestry of human understanding they wove.

Book The World s Great Philosophers

Download or read book The World s Great Philosophers written by Robert L. Arrington and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2008-04-15 with total page 384 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The World's Great Philosophers provides an introduction to and overview of some of the most profound and influential thinkers in the history of philosophy. Presents an introduction to and overview of some of the most profound and influential thinkers in the history of philosophy. Contains 40 essays, written by an outstanding international assembly of scholars. Provides cogent and accessible discussion of key philosophers from around the world. Conveys the historical panorama of philosophical thought on the nature of reality, the human condition, and basic human values.

Book Legendary Philosophers  the Life and Philosophy of Socrates

Download or read book Legendary Philosophers the Life and Philosophy of Socrates written by Charles River Charles River Editors and published by . This book was released on 2013-10-02 with total page 34 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: *Discusses the mysteries and controversies surrounding Socrates' life and death. *Examines Socrates' philosophy as portrayed by Plato and Xenophon. *Analyzes the debate over whether Plato portrayed Socrates accurately. *Includes busts and other art depicting Socrates and other important people in his life. *Includes a Bibliography for further reading. "As for me, all I know is that I know nothing, for when I don't know what justice is, I'll hardly know whether it is a kind of virtue or not, or whether a person who has it is happy or unhappy." - attributed to Socrates in Plato's The Republic In 427 B.C., the Ancient Greek city-state of Athens was flourishing. Approximately 80 years earlier, the Athenians had formed the first self-representative democracy in history, the Peloponnesian War against Sparta had only just started, and Socrates was only beginning to lay the foundation of what would become Western philosophy. None of Socrates' works survived antiquity, so most of what is known about him came from the writings of his followers, most notably Plato. What is known about Socrates is that he seemed to make a career out of philosophy, and Plato was intent on following in his footsteps. Yet for all of the influence of Socrates' life on his followers, it was Socrates' death around 399 B.C. that truly shaped them. Plato was so embittered by Socrates' trial in Athens that he completely soured on Athenian democracy, and Aristotle would later criticize politicians who relied on rhetoric; when Aristotle's own life was threatened, he fled Greece and allegedly remarked, "I will not allow the Athenians to sin twice against philosophy." Since Socrates wrote nothing down, or at least nothing that survived antiquity, there has been a wealth of scholarship ever since attempting to determine the person to whom the philosophical positions of the various (and genuine) Socratic dialogues of Plato's should be attributed. Even though Aristotle insisted that Socrates only cared about ethics and held no metaphysical theory of the kind that Plato propounded, the attempt to read the ugly but wise Socrates via the Platonic dialogues continued up to the 20th century. The change of tone, style and philosophical topics seemed to be a big argument that Socratic views are to be found in the early Platonic works, whereas later works bear the stamp of Plato's personal views. The Platonic scholar Gregory Vlastos introduced a developmentalist position which has almost become an orthodoxy in Platonic studies, by moving the discussion from the historical Socrates to Plato as a philosopher. According to developmentalism, if the views in the dialogue are not spelled out only to be refuted afterward, then the person they should be attributed to is Plato and not Socrates. These philosophical views developed over a period of time, which also justifies the various inconsistencies and outright rejection of Plato's own metaphysical statements in subsequent dialogues. Legendary Philosophers: The Life and Philosophy of Socrates chronicles the life, death, and mysteries surrounding Ancient Greece's first great philosopher. Along with pictures of historic art depicting important people, you will learn about Socrates like you never have before, in no time at all.

Book Legendary Philosophers

    Book Details:
  • Author : Charles River Charles River Editors
  • Publisher : Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
  • Release : 2017-12-29
  • ISBN : 9781982096762
  • Pages : 72 pages

Download or read book Legendary Philosophers written by Charles River Charles River Editors and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2017-12-29 with total page 72 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: *Discusses the mysteries and controversies surrounding Socrates' life and death. *Examines Socrates' philosophy as portrayed by Plato and Xenophon. *Analyzes the debate over whether Plato portrayed Socrates accurately. *Includes busts and other art depicting Socrates and other important people in his life. *Includes a Bibliography for further reading. "As for me, all I know is that I know nothing, for when I don't know what justice is, I'll hardly know whether it is a kind of virtue or not, or whether a person who has it is happy or unhappy." - attributed to Socrates in Plato's The Republic In 427 B.C., the Ancient Greek city-state of Athens was flourishing. Approximately 80 years earlier, the Athenians had formed the first self-representative democracy in history, the Peloponnesian War against Sparta had only just started, and Socrates was only beginning to lay the foundation of what would become Western philosophy. None of Socrates' works survived antiquity, so most of what is known about him came from the writings of his followers, most notably Plato. What is known about Socrates is that he seemed to make a career out of philosophy, and Plato was intent on following in his footsteps. Yet for all of the influence of Socrates' life on his followers, it was Socrates' death around 399 B.C. that truly shaped them. Plato was so embittered by Socrates' trial in Athens that he completely soured on Athenian democracy, and Aristotle would later criticize politicians who relied on rhetoric; when Aristotle's own life was threatened, he fled Greece and allegedly remarked, "I will not allow the Athenians to sin twice against philosophy." Since Socrates wrote nothing down, or at least nothing that survived antiquity, there has been a wealth of scholarship ever since attempting to determine the person to whom the philosophical positions of the various (and genuine) Socratic dialogues of Plato's should be attributed. Even though Aristotle insisted that Socrates only cared about ethics and held no metaphysical theory of the kind that Plato propounded, the attempt to read the ugly but wise Socrates via the Platonic dialogues continued up to the 20th century. The change of tone, style and philosophical topics seemed to be a big argument that Socratic views are to be found in the early Platonic works, whereas later works bear the stamp of Plato's personal views. The Platonic scholar Gregory Vlastos introduced a developmentalist position which has almost become an orthodoxy in Platonic studies, by moving the discussion from the historical Socrates to Plato as a philosopher. According to developmentalism, if the views in the dialogue are not spelled out only to be refuted afterward, then the person they should be attributed to is Plato and not Socrates. These philosophical views developed over a period of time, which also justifies the various inconsistencies and outright rejection of Plato's own metaphysical statements in subsequent dialogues. Legendary Philosophers: The Life and Philosophy of Socrates chronicles the life, death, and mysteries surrounding Ancient Greece's first great philosopher. Along with pictures of historic art depicting important people, you will learn about Socrates like you never have before, in no time at all.

Book The World s Greatest Seers and Philosophers

Download or read book The World s Greatest Seers and Philosophers written by Clifford Sawhney and published by Pustak Mahal. This book was released on 2003-02-05 with total page 103 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The book includes the teachings of:*Socrates *Confucius *Buddha *Mahavir *Nagarjuna *Al-Farabi *Rumi *Descartes *Hegel *Ramakrishna Paramahansa *Vivekananda *Jiddu Krishnamurti *Aurobindo *Osho and many others.

Book Legendary Philosophers

    Book Details:
  • Author : Charles River Charles River Editors
  • Publisher : Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
  • Release : 2017-12-29
  • ISBN : 9781982096106
  • Pages : 72 pages

Download or read book Legendary Philosophers written by Charles River Charles River Editors and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2017-12-29 with total page 72 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: *Discusses Aristotle's philosophy and ideas about knowledge, reason, logic, politics, rhetoric, science, metaphysics, and more. *Includes busts and other art depicting Aristotle and other important people in his life. *Includes a Bibliography for further reading. "All men by nature desire to know. An indication of this is the delight we take in our senses; for even apart from their usefulness they are loved for themselves; and above all others the sense of sight. For not only with a view to action, but even when we are not going to do anything, we prefer sight to almost everything else. The reason is that this, most of all the senses, makes us know and brings to light many differences between things." - Aristotle, Metaphysics Among all the knowledge and pursuits handed down by our ancestors, few were as important as philosophy, which literally taught people how to think and became directly responsible for ideas like reason and empiricism. Men like Socrates, Plato and Aristotle formed the backbone of Western philosophy, and subsequent philosophers like Marcus Aurelius and Thomas Aquinas expounded on previous philosophy. In Charles River Editors' Legendary Philosophers series, readers can get caught up to speed on the lives of the most important philosophers in history in the time it takes to finish a commute, while learning interesting facts long forgotten or never known. Alongside Plato, Aristotle is, without question, one of the most influential ancient Greek philosophers and arguably the greatest icon of ancient thought. His life and work expanded rapidly and extensively across the ancient world, helped in part by the fact he tutored Alexander the Great, he was a recognized and celebrated intellectual force during all of antiquity and the Middle Ages. Furthermore, after Aristotle, Greek thought and political influence began a rapid decline, and the cultivation of knowledge, so important during the classic period, slowly but surely began to fade, making Aristotle the last of ancient Greece's great philosophers. Aristotle's influence on Western philosophical thought is marked by an extensive list of crucial issues that both signaled the way forward but at the same time boggled philosophers' minds throughout the centuries. Aristotle's reflections on Being, as well as his rigorous Logic, were his most important philosophical legacy, but he was also an intellectual in the broadest sense of the word. His interests went beyond metaphysical questions and into practical life and practical knowledge, from ethics to politics, rhetoric and the sciences, all of which left a profound impact on Western political thought and ethics. Naturally, this has also made him one of the foundations of knowledge and philosophical thought that subsequent philosophers relied on when forming and refining their own philosophies. Legendary Philosophers: The Life and Philosophy of Aristotle chronicles Aristotle's life, but it also discusses his canon of work, examines his philosophy in depth, and analyzes his enduring legacy. Along with pictures of historic art depicting important people, you will learn about Aristotle like you never have before, in no time at all.

Book Famous Philosophers and Their Teachings Part 1

Download or read book Famous Philosophers and Their Teachings Part 1 written by Hseham Amrahs and published by Mahesh Dutt Sharma. This book was released on 2024-01-05 with total page 198 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The narratives unfold chronologically, providing a panoramic view of the ebb and flow of philosophical ideas. The reader is invited to wander through the ancient agora where Socrates engaged in dialectical dialogues, to witness the Renaissance revival of classical thought, and to ponder the existential questions explored by 20th-century existentialists. Each chapter unearths the intricacies of a philosopher's life—their birthplaces, educational pursuits, intellectual influences, and the socio-political contexts that shaped their philosophical perspectives. The book celebrates the diversity of philosophical thought, showcasing not only the well-known figures who have become pillars of philosophical tradition but also those whose contributions may have been overlooked. It seeks to break down the barriers between different philosophical traditions, emphasizing the interconnectedness of ideas across cultures and periods.

Book Legendary Philosophers  the Life and Philosophy of Aristotle

Download or read book Legendary Philosophers the Life and Philosophy of Aristotle written by Charles River Charles River Editors and published by . This book was released on 2013-10-02 with total page 36 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: *Discusses Aristotle's philosophy and ideas about knowledge, reason, logic, politics, rhetoric, science, metaphysics, and more. *Includes busts and other art depicting Aristotle and other important people in his life. *Includes a Bibliography for further reading. "All men by nature desire to know. An indication of this is the delight we take in our senses; for even apart from their usefulness they are loved for themselves; and above all others the sense of sight. For not only with a view to action, but even when we are not going to do anything, we prefer sight to almost everything else. The reason is that this, most of all the senses, makes us know and brings to light many differences between things." - Aristotle, Metaphysics Among all the knowledge and pursuits handed down by our ancestors, few were as important as philosophy, which literally taught people how to think and became directly responsible for ideas like reason and empiricism. Men like Socrates, Plato and Aristotle formed the backbone of Western philosophy, and subsequent philosophers like Marcus Aurelius and Thomas Aquinas expounded on previous philosophy. In Charles River Editors' Legendary Philosophers series, readers can get caught up to speed on the lives of the most important philosophers in history in the time it takes to finish a commute, while learning interesting facts long forgotten or never known. Alongside Plato, Aristotle is, without question, one of the most influential ancient Greek philosophers and arguably the greatest icon of ancient thought. His life and work expanded rapidly and extensively across the ancient world, helped in part by the fact he tutored Alexander the Great, he was a recognized and celebrated intellectual force during all of antiquity and the Middle Ages. Furthermore, after Aristotle, Greek thought and political influence began a rapid decline, and the cultivation of knowledge, so important during the classic period, slowly but surely began to fade, making Aristotle the last of ancient Greece's great philosophers. Aristotle's influence on Western philosophical thought is marked by an extensive list of crucial issues that both signaled the way forward but at the same time boggled philosophers' minds throughout the centuries. Aristotle's reflections on Being, as well as his rigorous Logic, were his most important philosophical legacy, but he was also an intellectual in the broadest sense of the word. His interests went beyond metaphysical questions and into practical life and practical knowledge, from ethics to politics, rhetoric and the sciences, all of which left a profound impact on Western political thought and ethics. Naturally, this has also made him one of the foundations of knowledge and philosophical thought that subsequent philosophers relied on when forming and refining their own philosophies. Legendary Philosophers: The Life and Philosophy of Aristotle chronicles Aristotle's life, but it also discusses his canon of work, examines his philosophy in depth, and analyzes his enduring legacy. Along with pictures of historic art depicting important people, you will learn about Aristotle like you never have before, in no time at all.

Book Hypatia

    Book Details:
  • Author : Edward J. Watts
  • Publisher : Oxford University Press
  • Release : 2017-02-01
  • ISBN : 0190659149
  • Pages : 208 pages

Download or read book Hypatia written by Edward J. Watts and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2017-02-01 with total page 208 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A philosopher, mathematician, and martyr, Hypatia is one of antiquity's best known female intellectuals. During the sixteen centuries following her murder, by a mob of Christians, Hypatia has been remembered in books, poems, plays, paintings, and films as a victim of religious intolerance whose death symbolized the end of the Classical world. But Hypatia was a person before she was a symbol. Her great skill in mathematics and philosophy redefined the intellectual life of her home city of Alexandria. Her talent as a teacher enabled her to assemble a circle of dedicated male students. Her devotion to public service made her a force for peace and good government in a city that struggled to maintain trust and cooperation between pagans and Christians. Despite these successes, Hypatia fought countless small battles to live the public and intellectual life that she wanted. This book rediscovers the life Hypatia led, the unique challenges she faced as a woman who succeeded spectacularly in a man's world, and the tragic story of the events that led to her tragic murder.

Book Legendary Philosophers

    Book Details:
  • Author : Charles River Charles River Editors
  • Publisher : Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
  • Release : 2017-12-29
  • ISBN : 9781982096816
  • Pages : 64 pages

Download or read book Legendary Philosophers written by Charles River Charles River Editors and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2017-12-29 with total page 64 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: *Discusses Plato's philosophy and ideas about knowledge, reason, Forms, political science, rhetoric and more. *Includes busts and other art depicting Plato and important people and events. *Includes a Bibliography for further reading. "Until philosophers are kings, or the kings and princes of this world have the spirit and power of philosophy, and political greatness and wisdom meet in one, and those commoner natures who pursue either to the exclusion of the other are compelled to stand aside, cities will never have rest from their evils - no, nor the human race, as I believe - and then only will this our State have a possibility of life and behold the light of day." - Plato, The Republic A lot of ink has been spilled covering the lives of history's most influential figures, but how much of the forest is lost for the trees? Among all the knowledge and pursuits handed down by our ancestors, few were as important as philosophy, which literally taught people how to think and became directly responsible for ideas like reason and empiricism. Men like Socrates, Plato and Aristotle formed the backbone of Western philosophy, and subsequent philosophers like Marcus Aurelius and Thomas Aquinas expounded on previous philosophy. In Charles River Editors' Legendary Philosophers series, readers can get caught up to speed on the lives of the most important philosophers in history in the time it takes to finish a commute, while learning interesting facts long forgotten or never known. In 427 B.C., the Ancient Greek city-state of Athens was flourishing. Approximately 80 years earlier, the Athenians had formed the first self-representative democracy in history, the Peloponnesian War against Sparta had only just started, and Socrates was only beginning to lay the foundation of what would become Western philosophy. That year Plato was born to a wealthy family, and with an uncle who was close friends with Socrates, Plato was seemingly destined to become a philosopher. By the end of his life, Plato had indeed become the foremost philosopher of his time, and perhaps the most famous philosopher in Western history. None of Socrates' works survived antiquity, so most of what is known about him came from the writings of his followers, most notably Plato. What is known about Socrates is that he seemed to make a career out of philosophy, and Plato was intent on following in his footsteps. Yet for all of the influence of Socrates' life on Plato, it was Socrates' death around 399 B.C. that truly shaped him. Plato was so embittered by Socrates' trial in Athens that he completely soured on Athenian democracy, and he began to travel around the Mediterranean, studying topics like mathematics, honing his approach to philosophical thinking, and continuing to refine his philosophical beliefs. About a decade later, Plato returned to Athens and founded his famous Platonic Academy around 387 B.C., which he oversaw for 40 years until his death. One of Plato's philosophical beliefs was that writing down teachings was less valuable than passing them down orally, and several of Plato's writings are responses to previous writings of his, so Plato's personally held beliefs are hard to discern. However, Plato educated several subsequent philosophers, chief among them Aristotle, and his writings eventually formed the backbone of Western philosophy. Legendary Philosophers: The Life and Philosophy of Plato chronicles Plato's life, but it also discusses his canon of work, examines his philosophy in depth, and analyzes his enduring legacy. Along with pictures of important people in his life, you will learn about Plato like you never have before, in no time at all.

Book The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers  Tr  by C D  Yonge

Download or read book The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers Tr by C D Yonge written by Diogenes and published by Legare Street Press. This book was released on 2023-07-18 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Explore the beliefs, ideas, and philosophical musings of some of the greatest thinkers of ancient Greece with this insightful and engaging volume. Compiled by the legendary philosopher Diogenes, this work offers detailed biographical information as well as in-depth analyses of the key tenets of various schools of thought. A must-read for anyone interested in the history of philosophy or the roots of contemporary thought. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Book Lives of the Eminent Philosophers

Download or read book Lives of the Eminent Philosophers written by Diogenes Laertius and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2018 with total page 701 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "The translation is based on the most authoritative edition of the Greek text. 'Lives of the Eminent Philosophers' is a crucial source for much of what we know about the origins of philosophy in ancient Greece. Accompanied by dozens of artworks and newly commissioned essays that shed light on Diogenes' context and influence, this new, complete translation provides a revealing glimpse into the philosophers of Plato's Academy, Aristotle's Lyceum, and Epicurus' Garden."--Provided by publisher.

Book Philosophers  Their Lives and Works

Download or read book Philosophers Their Lives and Works written by DK and published by Dorling Kindersley Ltd. This book was released on 2022-04-30 with total page 360 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From Confucius and Plato to Karl Marx and Noam Chomsky, this ebook brings together more than 100 illustrated biographies of the world's great philosophers. Introduced with a stunning portrait of each featured philosopher, each profile traces the ideas, friendships, loves, and rivalries that inspired the world's greatest thinkers and influenced their work, offering revealing insights into what drove them to question the meaning of life, and come up with new ways of understanding the world and the history of ideas. Lavishly illustrated with photographs and paintings of philosophers, their homes, friends, studies, and their personal belongings, together with pages from original manuscripts, first editions, and correspondence, this ebook introduces the key ideas, themes, and working methods of each featured individual, setting their ideas within a wider historical and cultural context. Charting the development of ideas across the centuries in both the East and West, from ancient Chinese philosophy to the work of contemporary thinkers, Philosophers provides a compelling glimpse into the personal lives, loves, and influences of the great philosophers as they probed into life's "big ideas".

Book Examined Lives

    Book Details:
  • Author : James Miller
  • Publisher : Farrar, Straus and Giroux
  • Release : 2011-01-04
  • ISBN : 9781429957168
  • Pages : 432 pages

Download or read book Examined Lives written by James Miller and published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux. This book was released on 2011-01-04 with total page 432 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A New York Times Notable Book for 2011 We all want to know how to live. But before the good life was reduced to ten easy steps or a prescription from the doctor, philosophers offered arresting answers to the most fundamental questions about who we are and what makes for a life worth living. In Examined Lives, James Miller returns to this vibrant tradition with short, lively biographies of twelve famous philosophers. Socrates spent his life examining himself and the assumptions of others. His most famous student, Plato, risked his reputation to tutor a tyrant. Diogenes carried a bright lamp in broad daylight and announced he was "looking for a man." Aristotle's alliance with Alexander the Great presaged Seneca's complex role in the court of the Roman Emperor Nero. Augustine discovered God within himself. Montaigne and Descartes struggled to explore their deepest convictions in eras of murderous religious warfare. Rousseau aspired to a life of perfect virtue. Kant elaborated a new ideal of autonomy. Emerson successfully preached a gospel of self-reliance for the new American nation. And Nietzsche tried "to compose into one and bring together what is fragment and riddle and dreadful chance in man," before he lapsed into catatonic madness. With a flair for paradox and rich anecdote, Examined Lives is a book that confirms the continuing relevance of philosophy today—and explores the most urgent questions about what it means to live a good life.