The Big Questions
Philosophy

Cambridge philosophy professor Simon Blackburn answers the key questions in philosophy - and provides easy-to-understand and enlightening answers.

The Big Questions series is designed to let renowned experts confront the 20 most fundamental and frequently asked questions of a major branch of science or philosophy. Each 3000-word essay simply and concisely examines a question that has eternally perplexed enquiring minds, and provides answers from history's great thinkers. This ambitious project is a unique distillation of humanity's best ideas. In Big Questions: Philosophy, bestselling author Simon Blackburn addresses 20 essential questions.

Preface.
Am I a ghost in a machine? - the search for consciousness.
What is human nature? - the problems of interpretation.
Am I free? - choices and responsibility.
What do we know? - virtual realities and valuable authorities.
Are we rational animals? - reason in theory and practice.
How can I lie to myself? - self-deception, seduction and motivation.
Is there such a thing as society? - the individual and the group.
Can we understand each other? - treating words carefully.
Can machines think? - artificial intelligence and cognitive powers.
Why be good? - annoying behaviour and annoying questions.
Is it all relative? - problems of toleration, truth and confidence.
Does time go by? - the strange river of time.
Why do things keep on keeping on? - problems of constancy and chaos.
Why is there something and not nothing? - the strange ways of being.
What fills up space? - the curious nature of things and their properties.
What is beauty? - the fatal attraction of things.
Do we need God? - hope, consolation and judgement.
What is it all for? - the pursuit of the meaning of life.
What are my rights? - positive, negative and natural rights.
Is death to be feared? - the awful abyss of extinction.
Notes.
Key philosophers.
Index.