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.

Is there a ghost in the machine? Can you have a watch without a watchmaker? What does anyone know? Is truth relative? What is reason? Why be good? Does time go by? Do I mean what you mean? Why does Nature keep on keeping on? Are we free? Why is there something and not nothing? Can machines think? What fills up space? Is there no such thing as society? What is beauty? How is it possible to deceive myself? How can I be happy? What is the meaning of life? Is death fearful? Can murder ever be justified?