Blackwell Companions to Philosophy

“A Companion to the Philosophy of History and Historiography”. The philosophy of historiography examines our representations and knowledge of the past, the relation between evidence, inference, explanation and narrative. Do we possess knowledge of the past? Do we just have probable beliefs about the past, or is historiography a piece of convincing fiction? The philosophy of history is the direct philosophical examination of history, whether it is necessary or contingent, whether it has a direction or whether it is coincidental, and if it has a direction, what it is, and how and why it is unfolding? The fifty entries in this Companion cover the main issues in the philosophies of historiography and history, including natural history and the practices of historians. Written by an international and multi-disciplinary group of experts, these clearly written entries present a cutting-edge updated picture of current research in the philosophies of historiography and history. This Companion will be of interest to philosophers, historians, natural historians, and social scientists.

A Companion to Nietzsche provides a comprehensive guide to all the main aspects of Nietzsche's philosophy, profiling the most recent research and trends in scholarship. • Brings together an international roster of both rising stars and established scholars, including many of the leading commentators and interpreters of Nietzsche. • Showcases the latest trends in Nietzsche scholarship, such as the renewed focus on Nietzsche's philosophy of time, of nature, and of life. • Includes clearly organized sections on Art, Nature, and Individuation, Nietzsche's New Philosophy of the Future, Eternal Recurrence, the Overhuman, and Nihilism, Philosophy of Mind, Philosophy and Genealogy, Ethics, Politics, Aesthetics, Evolution and Life. • Features fresh treatments of Nietzsche's core and enigmatic doctrines.

“A Companion to Phenomenology and Existentialism” is a complete guide to two of the dominant movements of philosophy in the twentieth century. • Written by a team of leading scholars, including Dagfinn Føllesdal, J. N. Mohanty, Robert Solomon, Jean-Luc Marion • Highlights the area of overlap between the two movements • Features longer essays discussing each of the main schools of thought, shorter essays introducing prominent themes, and problem-oriented chapters • Organised topically, around concepts such as temporality, intentionality, death and nihilism • Features essays on unusual subjects, such as medicine, the emotions, artificial intelligence, and environmental philosophy

A Companion to Schopenhauer provides a comprehensive guide to all the important facets of Schopenhauer's philosophy. The volume contains 26 newly commissioned essays by prominent Schopenhauer scholars working in the field today. • A thoroughly comprehensive guide to the life, work, and thought of Arthur Schopenhauer • Demonstrates the range of Schopenhauer's work and illuminates the debates it has generated • 26 newly commissioned essays by some of the most prominent Schopenhauer scholars working today reflect the very latest trends in Schopenhauer scholarship • Covers the full range of historical and philosophical perspectives on Schopenhauer's work • Discusses his seminal contributions to our understanding of knowledge, perception, morality, science, logic and mathematics, Platonic Ideas, the unconscious, aesthetic experience, art, colours, sexuality, will, compassion, pessimism, tragedy, pleasure, and happiness.

“A Companion to Donald Davidson’ presents newly commissioned essays by leading figures within contemporary philosophy. Taken together, they provide a comprehensive overview of Davidson's work across its full range, and an assessment of his many contributions to philosophy. • Highlights the breadth of Davidson's work across philosophy • Demonstrates the continuing influence his work has on the philosophical community • Includes newly commissioned contributions from leading figures in contemporary philosophy • Provides an in-depth exposition and analysis of Davidson's work across the range of areas to which he contributed, including philosophy of action, epistemology, metaphysics, philosophy of language, and philosophy of mind

“A Companion to Buddhist Philosophy” is the most comprehensive single volume on the subject available; it offers the very latest scholarship to create a wide-ranging survey of the most important ideas, problems, and debates in the history of Buddhist philosophy. • Encompasses the broadest treatment of Buddhist philosophy available, covering social and political thought, meditation, ecology and contemporary issues and applications • Each section contains overviews and cutting-edge scholarship that expands readers understanding of the breadth and diversity of Buddhist thought • Broad coverage of topics allows flexibility to instructors in creating a syllabus • Essays provide valuable alternative philosophical perspectives on topics to those available in Western traditions

A Companion to the Philosophy of Time presents the broadest treatment of this subject yet, 32 specially commissioned articles - written by an international line-up of experts — provide an unparalleled reference work for students and specialists alike in this exciting field. • The most comprehensive reference work on the philosophy of time currently available • The first collection to tackle the historical development of the philosophy of time in addition to covering contemporary work • Provides a tripartite approach in its organization, covering history of the philosophy of time, time as a feature of the physical world, and time as a feature of experience • Includes contributions from both distinguished, well-established scholars and rising stars in the field

This Companion offers a state-of-the-art survey of the work of John Stuart Mill-one which covers the historical influences on Mill, his theoretical, moral and social philosophy, as well as his relation to contemporary movements. Its contributors include both senior scholars with established expertise in Mill's thought and new emerging interpreters. Each essay acts as a "go-to" resource for those seeking to understand an aspect of Mill's thought or to familiarise themselves with the contours of a debate within the scholarship. The Companion is a key reference on Mill's theory of liberty and utilitarianism, but also provides a valuable resource on lesser-known aspects of his work, including his epistemology, metaphysics, and philosophy of language. The volume is divided into six sections. Part I covers Mill's life, his immediate posthumous reputation, and his own telling of his life-story. Part II brings together an accessible and comprehensive summary of the various influences on Mill's thought. Part III offers an account of the foundations of Mill's philosophy and his thought on key philosophic topics. Parts IV and V tackle issues from Mill's moral and social philosophy. Part VI concludes with a treatment of the broader aspects of Mill's thought, tracing his relation to major movements in philosophy.

Philosophers throughout history have debated the existence of gods, but it is only in recent years that the absence of such a belief has become a significant topic of philosophical analysis, in particular for philosophers of religion. Although it is difficult to trace the historical contours of atheism as the lack of belief in a higher power, the reasoned, reflective, and thoughtful rejection of theism has become commonplace in many modern intellectual circles, including academic philosophy where disciplinary data indicates that a large majority of philosophers self-identify as atheists. As the first book of its kind to bring together a collection of writing on the philosophical aspects of atheism both historical and contemporary, the Companion to Atheism and Philosophy stages an explicit, constructive, and comprehensive conversation between philosophy and atheism to examine the ways in which atheist thought intersects with ideas and positions from a variety of philosophical and theological sub-disciplines. The Companion begins by addressing the foundational questions and lingering controversies which underpin philosophical thought about atheism, exploring the implications of major developments in the history of philosophy for the modern atheistic worldview. Divided into eight distinct sections, essays consider a range of thinkers who were widely believed to have been atheists-including David Hume, Mary Wollstonecraft, Karl Marx, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton-and survey different kinds of objections to theism and atheism, including logical, evidential, normative, and prudential. Later chapters trace the relationship between atheism and metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, and political philosophy oriented around topics such as pragmatism, postmodernism, freedom, education, violence, and happiness. Deftly curated and thoughtfully composed, “A Companion to Atheism and Philosophy” is the most ambitious and authoritative account of philosophical thinking on atheism available, and is a first-rate resource for academics, professionals, and students of philosophy, religious studies, and theology.

This comprehensive collection of original essays written by an international group of scholars addresses the central themes in Latin American philosophy. • Represents the most comprehensive survey of historical and contemporary Latin American philosophy available today • Comprises a specially commissioned collection of essays, many of them written by Latin American authors • Examines the history of Latin American philosophy and its current issues, traces the development of the discipline, and offers biographical sketches of key Latin American thinkers • Showcases the diversity of approaches, issues, and styles that characterize the field

In this volume, some of today's most distinguished philosophers survey the whole field of ethics, from its origins, through the great ethical traditions, to theories of how we ought to live, arguments about specific ethical issues, and the nature of ethics itself. The book can be read straight through from beginning to end; yet the inclusion of a multi-layered index, coupled with a descriptive outline of contents and bibliographies of relevant literature, means that the volume also serves as a work of reference, both for those coming afresh to the study of ethics and for readers already familiar with the subject.

Applied philosophy has been a growing area of research for the last 40 years. Until now, however, almost all of this research has been centered around the field of ethics. “A Companion to Applied Philosophy” breaks new ground, demonstrating that all areasof philosophy, including epistemology, metaphysics, philosophy of science, and philosophy of mind, can be applied, and are relevant to questions of everyday life. This perennial topic in philosophy provides an overview of these various applied philosophy developments, highlighting similarities and differences between various areas of applied philosophy, and examining the very nature of this topic. It is an area to which many of the towering figures in the history of philosophy have contributed, and this timely Companion demonstrates how various historical contributions are actually contributions within applied philosophy, even if they are not traditionally seen as such. “The Companion” contains 42 essays covering major areas of philosophy; the articles themselves are all original contributions to the literature and represent the state of the art on this topic, as well as offering a map to the current debates.

A comprehensive guide to practicing ethics across disciplines and contexts in the 21st century In an era of rapid technological advancements and complex societal challenges, A Companion to Doing Ethics is a vital resource for understanding and navigating the multifaceted role of ethics today. Edited by Alan A. Preti and Timothy A. Weidel, this timely volume explores how ethics has evolved from traditional academic theory into a multidisciplinary practice with real-world applications. Contributions from leading scholars and professionals working in diverse fields, including healthcare, business, public policy, and education, illuminate the dynamic ways ethics is applied in modern contexts. Whether an ethicist working in a university, a member of a hospital ethics board, or a leader at an applied humanities center, the Companion is your indispensable reference and guide. In-depth chapters address a broad range of vital topics-from the role of public philosophy to the need for ethics education in shaping responsible decision making-while offering a rich, interdisciplinary perspective on the challenges and responsibilities of ethical work. Providing insights into what it means to practice ethics in today's world by those actively engaged in the field, A Companion to Doing Ethics: • Explores the expanding role of ethics across academic, professional, and public contexts • Highlights non-Western and global approaches to ethical practice • Examines the function and impact of ethics centers and applied humanities institutions • Offers insights into the integration of ethics education across diverse curricula • Features multidisciplinary case studies illustrating real-world ethical applications Part of the prestigious Blackwell Companions to Philosophy series, A Companion to Doing Ethics is essential reading for advanced undergraduate and graduate courses in ethics, applied philosophy, and public policy. It is also an invaluable resource for ethics center directors, healthcare ethics board members, business leaders, and educators seeking to deepen their understanding of contemporary ethical practice.

Investigate the challenging and nuanced philosophy of the long nineteenth century from Kant to Bergson Philosophy in the nineteenth century was characterized by new ways of thinking, a desperate searching for new truths. As science, art, and religion were transformed by social pressures and changing worldviews, old certainties fell away, leaving many with a terrifying sense of loss and a realization that our view of things needed to be profoundly rethought. The Blackwell Companion to Nineteenth-Century Philosophy covers the developments, setbacks, upsets, and evolutions in the varied philosophy of the nineteenth century, beginning with an examination of Kant's Transcendental Idealism, instrumental in the fundamental philosophical shifts that marked the beginning of this new and radical age in the history of philosophy. Guiding readers chronologically and thematically through the progression of nineteenth-century thinking, this guide emphasizes clear explanation and analysis of the core ideas of nineteenth-century philosophy in an historically transitional period. It covers the most important philosophers of the era, including Hegel, Fichte, Schopenhauer, Mill, Kierkegaard, Marx, Nietzsche, Bradley, and philosophers whose work manifests the transition from the nineteenth century into the modern era, such as Sidgwick, Peirce, Husserl, Frege and Bergson. The study of nineteenth-century philosophy offers us insight into the origin and creation of the modern era. In this volume, readers will have access to a thorough and clear understanding of philosophy that shaped our world.

This is a comprehensive collection of essays that explores cutting-edge work in experimental philosophy, a radical new movement that applies quantitative and empirical methods to traditional topics of philosophical inquiry. • Situates the discipline within Western philosophy and then surveys the work of experimental philosophers by sub-discipline • Contains insights for a diverse range of fields, including linguistics, cognitive science, anthropology, economics, and psychology, as well as almost every area of professional philosophy today • Edited by two rising scholars who take a broad and inclusive approach to the field • Offers a complete introduction for non-specialists and students to the central approaches, findings, challenges, and controversies in experimental philosophy

The first anthology devoted to the theory and practice of all forms of public philosophy. “A Companion to Public Philosophy” brings together in a single volume the diverse practices, modalities, and perspectives of this rapidly growing field. Forty-two chapters written by established practitioners and newer voices alike consider questions ranging from the definition of public philosophy to the value of public philosophy to both society and philosophy itself. Throughout the book, philosophers offer insights into the different publics they have engaged, the topics they have explored, the methods they have used and the lessons they have learned from these engagements. The Companion explores important philosophical issues concerning the practice of philosophy in the public sphere, how public philosophy relates to advocacy, philosophical collaborations with political activists, locations where public philosophy can be done, and more. Many essays highlight underserved topics such as effective altruism, fat activism, trans activism, indigenous traditions, and Africana philosophy, while other essays set the stage for rigorous debates about the boundaries of public philosophy and its value as a legitimate way to do philosophy. • Discusses the range of approaches that professional philosophers can use to engage with non-academic audiences • Explores the history and impact of public philosophy from the time of Socrates to the modern era • Highlights the work of public philosophers concerning issues of equity, social justice, environmentalism, and medical ethics • Covers the modalities used by contemporary public philosophers, including film and television, podcasting, internet memes, and community-engaged teaching • Includes essays by those who bring philosophy to corporations, government policy, consulting, American prisons, and activist groups across the political spectrum “A Companion to Public Philosophy” is essential reading for philosophers from all walks of life who are invested in and curious about the ways that philosophy can impact the public and how the public can impact philosophy. It is also an excellent text for undergraduate and graduate courses on the theory and practice of public philosophy as well as broader courses on philosophy, normative ethics, and comparative and world philosophy.

Now published in two volumes, the second edition of the bestselling “Companion to the Philosophy of Language” provides a complete survey of contemporary philosophy of language. The Companion has been greatly extended and now includes a monumental 17 new essays—with topics chosen by the editors, who curated suggestions from current contributors—and almost all of the 25 original chapters have been updated to take account of recent developments in the field. In addition to providing a synoptic view of the key issues, figures, concepts, and debates, each essay introduces new and original contributions to ongoing debates, as well as addressing a number of new areas of interest, including two-dimensional semantics, modality and epistemic modals, and semantic relationism. The extended "state-of-the-art" chapter format allows the authors, all of whom are internationally eminent scholars in the field, to incorporate original research to a far greater degree than competitor volumes. Unrivaled in scope, this volume represents the best contemporary critical thinking relating to the philosophy of language.

“A Companion to Arthur C. Danto” paints a detailed portrait of one the most significant figures in twentieth-century philosophy and art criticism, offering unparalleled coverage of all aspects of Danto's writings, artworks, and thought. Edited by two long-time colleagues of Arthur Danto, this interdisciplinary resource presents more than 40 original essays from both prominent Danto scholars and leading practitioners from various sub-fields of philosophy. The Companion illuminates Danto's many contributions to the art world, aesthetics, criticism, and philosophy of knowledge, action, science, history, and politics. The essays explore central concepts and intersecting themes in Danto's writings while providing new interventions into the areas of philosophy in which Danto engaged. Topics include Danto's mode of writing and art production, his critical engagement with artists and philosophers, conflicts in Danto's views and in interpretations of his works, and much more. An important addition to Danto studies, “A Companion to Arthur C. Danto” is essential reading for practitioners, scholars, and advanced students looking for a critical, provocative, and insightful treatment of Danto's philosophy, art, and criticism.

Drawing on essays from leading international and multi-disciplinary scholars, “A Companion to the Philosophy of Technology” is the first comprehensive and authoritative reference source to cover the key issues of technology's impact on society and our lives. • Presents the first complete, authoritative reference work in the field • Organized thematically for use both as a full introduction to the field or an encyclopedic reference • Draws on original essays from leading interdisciplinary scholars • Features the most up-to-date and cutting-edge research in the interdisciplinary fields of philosophy, technology, and their broader intellectual environments

Provides a comprehensive, cutting-edge, and accessible accompaniment to various narratives about free will. “A Companion to Free Will” is an indispensable resource for anyone interested in the philosophy of free will, offering an authoritative survey of perennial issues and contemporary debates within the field. Bringing together the work of a diverse team of established and younger scholars, this well-balanced volume offers innovative perspectives and fresh approaches to the classical compatibility problem, moral and legal responsibility, consciousness in free action, action theory, determinism, logical fatalism, impossibilism, and much more. The Companion's 30 chapters provide general coverage of the discipline as well as an in-depth exploration of both CAP (Classical Analytic Paradigm) and non-CAP perspectives on the problem of free will and the problem of determinism-raising new questions about what the free will debate is, or should be, about. Throughout the book, coverage of modern exchanges between the world's leading philosophers is complemented by incisive commentary, novel insights, and selections that examine compatibilist, libertarian, and denialist viewpoints. • Offers a balanced presentation of conflicting theories and ongoing debates about the nature, existence, and implications of free will • Explores the role of scientific advances and empirical methods in contributing to discourses on free will and action theory • Reviews new developments in longstanding arguments between compatibilist and incompatibilist approaches to free will including those that question this way of framing the debate and critique the standard terminology • Discusses descriptive, revisionary, and pragmatic approaches for defining key concepts and addressing compatibility problems surrounding free will • Considers various issues of moral responsibility and philosophical approaches to the problem of free will in new ways Part of the acclaimed “Blackwell Companions to Philosophy” series, “A Companion to Free Will” is essential reading for undergraduate and graduate students of philosophy, professional philosophers and theorists, and interested novices alike.

“A Companion to Wittgenstein”. The most comprehensive survey of Wittgenstein's thought yet compiled, this volume of fifty newly commissioned essays by leading interpreters of his philosophy is a keynote addition to the Blackwell Companions to Philosophy series. Full of penetrating insights into the life and work of the most important philosopher of the twentieth century, the collection explores the full range of Wittgenstein's contribution to philosophy. It includes essays on his intellectual development, his work in logic and mathematics, philosophy of language, philosophy of mind and action, epistemology, ethics, philosophy of religion, and much else. As well as examining Wittgenstein's contribution to human understanding in detail, the Companion features vital contextual analysis that traces the relationship between his ideas and those of other philosophers and schools of thought, including the Aristotelian and continental philosophical traditions. Authors also address prominent themes that remain current in today's philosophical debates, explaining Wittgenstein's continuing legacy alongside his historical significance. Essential reading for scholars of philosophy at all levels, “A Companion to Wittgenstein” combines engaging commentary with unrivaled academic authority.

In A Companion to David Lewis, Barry Loewer and Jonathan Schaffer bring together top philosophers to explain, discuss, and critically extend Lewis's seminal work in original ways. Students and scholars will discover the underlying themes and complex interconnections woven through the diverse range of his work in metaphysics, philosophy of language, logic, epistemology, philosophy of science, philosophy of mind, ethics, and aesthetics. • The first and only comprehensive study of the work of David Lewis, one of the most systematic and influential philosophers of the latter half of the 20th century • Contributions shed light on the underlying themes and complex interconnections woven through Lewis's work across his enormous range of influence, including metaphysics, language, logic, epistemology, science, mind, ethics, and aesthetics • Outstanding Lewis scholars and leading philosophers working in the fields Lewis influenced explain, discuss, and critically extend Lewis's work in original ways • An essential resource for students and researchers across analytic philosophy that covers the major themes of Lewis's work

A comprehensive guide to AI's ethical, epistemological, and legal impacts through applied philosophy Inartificial intelligence (AI) influences nearly every aspect of society. A Companion to Applied Philosophy of AI provides a critical philosophical framework for understanding and addressing its complexities. Edited by Martin Hähnel and Regina Müller, this volume explores AI's practical implications in epistemology, ethics, politics, and law. Moving beyond a narrow ethical perspective, the authors advocate for a multi-faceted approach that synthesizes diverse disciplines and perspectives, offering readers a nuanced and integrative understanding of AI's transformative role. The Companion explores a broad range of topics, from issues of transparency and expertise in AI-driven systems to discussions of ethical theories and their relevance to AI, such as consequentialism, deontology, and virtue ethics. Filling a significant gap in the current academic literature, this groundbreaking volume also addresses AI's broader social, political, and legal dimensions, equipping readers with practical frameworks to navigate this rapidly evolving field. Offering fresh and invaluable insights into the interplay between philosophical thought and technological innovation, A Companion to Applied Philosophy of AI: • Features contributions from leading philosophers and interdisciplinary experts • Offers a unique applied philosophy perspective on artificial intelligence • Covers diverse topics including ethics, epistemology, politics, and law • Encourages interdisciplinary dialogue to better understand AI's profound implications for humanity A Companion to Applied Philosophy of AI is ideal for undergraduate and graduate courses in applied philosophy, AI ethics, political theory, and legal philosophy. It is also a vital reference for those working in areas including AI policy, governance, and interdisciplinary research.

“A Companion to the Philosophy of Action” offers a comprehensive overview of the issues and problems central to the philosophy of action. • The first volume to survey the entire field of philosophy of action (the central issues and processes relating to human actions) • Brings together specially commissioned chapters from international experts • Discusses a range of ideas and doctrines, including rationality, free will and determinism, virtuous action, criminal responsibility, Attribution Theory, and rational agency in evolutionary perspective • Individual chapters also cover prominent historic figures from Plato to Ricoeur • Can be approached as a complete narrative, but also serves as a work of reference • Offers rich insights into an area of philosophical thought that has attracted thinkers since the time of the ancient Greeks

A definitive contribution to scholarship on Adorno, bringing together the foremost experts in the field. As one of the leading continental philosophers of the last century, and one of the pioneering members of the Frankfurt School, Theodor W. Adorno is the author of numerous influential-and at times quite radical-works on diverse topics in aesthetics, social theory, moral philosophy, and the history of modern philosophy, all of which concern the contradictions of modern society and its relation to human suffering and the human condition. Having authored substantial contributions to critical theory which contain searching critiques of the 'culture industry' and the 'identity thinking' of modern Western society, Adorno helped establish an interdisciplinary but philosophically rigorous study of culture and provided some of the most startling and revolutionary critiques of Western society to date. “The Blackwell Companion to Adorno” is the largest collection of essays by Adorno specialists ever gathered in a single volume. Part of the acclaimed Blackwell Companions to Philosophy series, this important contribution to the field explores Adorno's lasting impact on many sub-fields of philosophy. Seven sections, encompassing a diverse range of topics and perspectives, explore Adorno's intellectual foundations, his critiques of culture, his views on ethics and politics, and his analyses of history and domination. • Provides new research and fresh perspectives on Adorno's views and writings • Offers an authoritative, single-volume resource for Adorno scholarship • Addresses renewed interest in Adorno's significance to contemporary questions in philosophy • Presents over 40 essays written by international-recognized experts in the field A singular advancement in Adorno scholarship, “The Companion to Adorno” is an indispensable resource for Adorno specialists and anyone working in modern European philosophy, contemporary cultural criticism, social theory, German history, and aesthetics.

A groundbreaking collection of contemporary essays from leading international scholars that provides a balanced and expert account of the resurgent debate about substance dualism and its physicalist alternatives. Substance dualism has for some time been dismissed as an archaic and defeated position in philosophy of mind, but in recent years, the topic has experienced a resurgence of scholarly interest and has been restored to contemporary prominence by a growing minority of philosophers prepared to interrogate the core principles upon which past objections and misunderstandings rest. As the first book of its kind to bring together a collection of contemporary writing from top proponents and critics in a pro-contra format, “The Blackwell Companion to Substance Dualism” captures this ongoing dialogue and sets the stage for rigorous and lively discourse around dualist and physicalist accounts of human persons in philosophy. Chapters explore emergent, Thomistic, Cartesian, and other forms of substance dualism-broadly conceived-in dialogue with leading varieties of physicalism, including animalism, non-reductive physicalism, and constitution theory. Loose, Menuge, and Moreland pair essays from dualist advocates with astute criticism from physicalist opponents and vice versa, highlighting points of contrast for readers in thematic sections while showcasing today's leading minds engaged in direct debate. Taken together, essays provide nuanced paths of introduction for students, and capture the imagination of professional philosophers looking to expand their understanding of the subject. Skillfully curated and in touch with contemporary science as well as analytic theology, “The Blackwell Companion to Substance Dualism” strikes a measured balanced between advocacy and criticism, and is a first-rate resource for researchers, scholars, and students of philosophy, theology, and neuroscience.

“The Blackwell Companion to Naturalism” provides a systematic introduction to philosophical naturalism and its relation to other schools of thought. • Features contributions from an international array of established and emerging scholars from across the humanities • Explores the historical development of naturalism and its ascension to the dominant orthodoxy in the Western academy • Juxtaposes theoretical criticisms with impassioned defenses, encapsulating contemporary debates on naturalism • Includes discussions of metaphysics, realism, feminism, science, knowledge, truth, mathematics, free will, and ethics viewed through a naturalist lens

This collection of 28 original essays examines the diverse scope of John Locke's contributions as a celebrated philosopher, empiricist, and father of modern political theory. • Explores the impact of Locke's thought and writing across a range of fields including epistemology, metaphysics, philosophy of science, political theory, education, religion, and economics • Delves into the most important Lockean topics, such as innate ideas, perception, natural kinds, free will, natural rights, religious toleration, and political liberalism • Identifies the political, philosophical, and religious contexts in which Locke's views developed, with perspectives from today's leading philosophers and scholars • Offers an unprecedented reference of Locke's contributions and his continued influence

The first volume to offer a comprehensive scholarly treatment of Rand's entire corpus (including her novels, her philosophical essays, and her analysis of the events of her times), this Companion provides vital orientation and context for scholars and educated readers grappling with a controversial and understudied thinker whose enduring influence on American (and world) culture is increasingly recognized. • The first publication to provide an in-depth scholarly treatment ranging over the whole of Rand's corpus • Provides informed contextual analysis for scholars in a variety of disciplines • Presents original research on unpublished material and drafts from the Rand archives in California • Features insightful and fair-minded interpretations of Rand's controversial positions

Wide ranging and up to date, this is the single most comprehensive treatment of the most influential political philosopher of the 20th century, John Rawls. • An unprecedented survey that reflects the surge of Rawls scholarship since his death, and the lively debates that have emerged from his work • Features an outstanding list of contributors, including senior as well as "next generation" Rawls scholars • Provides careful, textually informed exegesis and well-developed critical commentary across all areas of his work, including non-Rawlsian perspectives • Includes discussion of new material, covering Rawls's work from the newly published undergraduate thesis to the final writings on public reason and the law of peoples • Covers Rawls's moral and political philosophy, his distinctive methodological commitments, and his relationships to the history of moral and political philosophy and to jurisprudence and the social sciences • Includes discussion of his monumental 1971 book, A Theory of Justice, which is often credited as having revitalized political philosophy

A Companion to Derrida is the most comprehensive single volume reference work on the thought of Jacques Derrida. Leading scholars present a summary of his most important accomplishments across a broad range of subjects, and offer new assessments of these achievements. • The most comprehensive single volume reference work on the thought of Jacques Derrida, with contributions from highly prominent Derrida scholars • Unique focus on three major philosophical themes of metaphysics and epistemology, ethics, religion, and politics, and art and literature • Introduces the reader to the positions Derrida took in various areas of philosophy, as well as clarifying how derrideans interpret them in the present • Contributions present not only a summary of Derrida's most important accomplishments in relation to a wide range of disciplines, but also a new assessment of these accomplishments • Offers a greater understanding of how Derrida's work has fared since his death.

A Companion to the Philosophy of Action offers a comprehensive overview of the issues and problems central to the philosophy of action. • The first volume to survey the entire field of philosophy of action (the central issues and processes relating to human actions) • Brings together specially commissioned chapters from international experts • Discusses a range of ideas and doctrines, including rationality, free will and determinism, virtuous action, criminal responsibility, Attribution Theory, and rational agency in evolutionary perspective • Individual chapters also cover prominent historic figures from Plato to Ricoeur • Can be approached as a complete narrative, but also serves as a work of reference • Offers rich insights into an area of philosophical thought that has attracted thinkers since the time of the ancient Greeks

A Companion to Relativism presents original contributions from leading scholars that address the latest thinking on the role of relativism in the philosophy of language, epistemology, ethics, philosophy of science, logic, and metaphysics. • Features original contributions from many of the leading figures working on various aspects of relativism • Presents a substantial, broad range of current thinking about relativism • Addresses relativism from many of the major subfields of philosophy, including philosophy of language, epistemology, ethics, philosophy of science, logic, and metaphysics

This companion provides original, scholarly, and cutting-edge essays that cover the whole range of Hegel's mature thought and his lasting influence. • A comprehensive guide to one of the most important modern philosophers • Essays are written in an accessible manner and draw on the most up-to-date Hegel research • Contributions are drawn from across the world and from a wide variety of philosophical approaches and traditions • Examines Hegel's influence on a range of thinkers, from Kierkegaard and Marx to Heidegger, Adorno and Derrida • Begins with a chronology of Hegel's life and work and is then split into sections covering topics such as Philosophy of Nature, Aesthetics, and Philosophy of Religion

Jon Stewart, one of the world's leading experts on the work of Søren Kierkegaard, has here compiled the most comprehensive single-volume overview of Kierkegaard studies currently available. • Includes contributions from an international array of Kierkegaard scholars from across the disciplines • Covers all of the major disciplines within the broad field of Kierkegaard research, including philosophy; theology and religious studies; aesthetics, the arts and literary theory; and social sciences and politics • Elucidates Kierkegaard's contribution to each of these areas through examining the sources he drew upon, charting the reception of his ideas, and analyzing his unique conceptual insights into each topic • Demystifies the complex field of Kierkegaard studies creating an accessible entry-point into his thought and writings for readers new to his work

A groundbreaking reference work on the revolutionary philosophy and intellectual legacy of Richard Rorty A provocative and often controversial thinker, Richard Rorty and his ideas have been the subject of renewed interest to philosophers working in epistemology, metaphysics, analytic philosophy, and the history of philosophy. Having called for philosophers to abandon representationalist accounts of knowledge and language, Rorty introduced radical and challenging concepts to modern philosophy, generating divisive debate through the new form of American pragmatism which he advocated and the renunciation of traditional epistemology which he espoused. However, while Rorty has been one of the most widely-discussed figures in modern philosophy, few volumes have dealt directly with the expansive reach of his thought or its implications for the fields of philosophy in which he worked. The Blackwell Companion to Rorty is a collection of essays by prominent scholars which provide close, and long-overdue, examination of Rorty's groundbreaking work. Divided into five parts, this volume covers the major intellectual movements of Rorty's career from his early work on consciousness and transcendental arguments, to the lasting impacts of his major writings, to his approach to pragmatism and his controversial appropriations from other philosophers, and finally to his later work in culture, politics, and ethics. • Offers a comprehensive, balanced, and insightful account of Rorty's approach to philosophy • Provides an assessment of Rorty's more controversial thoughts and his standing as an "anti-philosopher's philosopher" • Contains new and original exploration of Rorty's thinking from leading scholars and philosophers • Includes new perspectives on topics such as Rorty's influence in Central Europe Despite the relevance of Rorty's work for the wider community of philosophers and for those working in fields such as international relations, legal and political theory, sociology, and feminist studies, the secondary literature surrounding Rorty's work and legacy is limited. “A Companion to Rorty” address this absence, providing a comprehensive resource for philosophers and general readers.

This authoritative collection surveys the teachings of Confucius and illustrates his importance throughout Chinese history in one focused and incisive volume. A Concise Companion to Confucius offers a succinct introduction to one of East Asia's most widely-revered historical figures, providing essential coverage of his legacy at a manageable length. The volume embraces Confucius as philosopher, teacher, politician, and sage, and curates a collection of key perspectives on his life and teachings from a team of distinguished scholars in philosophy, history, religious studies, and the history of art. Taken together, chapters encourage specialists to read across disciplinary boundaries, provide nuanced paths of introduction for students, and engage interested readers who want to expand their understanding of the great Chinese master. Divided into four distinct sections, the Concise Companion depicts a coherent figure of Confucius by examining his diverse representations from antiquity through to the modern world. Readers are guided through the intellectual and cultural influences that helped shape the development of Confucian philosophy and its reception among late imperial literati in medieval China. Later essays consider Confucius's engagement with topics such as warfare, women, and Western philosophy, which remain fruitful avenues of philosophical inquiry today. The collection concludes by exploring the significance of Confucian thought in East Asia's contemporary landscape and the major intellectual movements which are reviving and rethinking his work for the twenty-first century. An indispensable resource, “A Concise Companion to Confucius” blazes an authoritative trail through centuries of scholarship to offer exceptional insight into one of history's earliest and most influential ancient philosophers. A Concise Companion to Confucius: • Provides readers with a broad range of perspectives on the ancient philosopher • Traces the significance of Confucius throughout Chinese history-past, present, and future • Offers a unique, interdisciplinary overview of Confucianism • Curated by a team of distinguished scholars in philosophy, history, religious studies, and the history of art “A Concise Companion to Confucius” is an ideal text for undergraduate and graduate courses on Confucius and Confucianism. It is also fascinating and informative reading for anyone interested in learning more about one of history's most influential philosophers.

This second edition of “A Companion to Bioethics”, fully revised and updated to reflect the current issues and developments in the field, covers all the material that the reader needs to thoroughly grasp the ideas and debates involved in bioethics. • Thematically organized around an unparalleled range of issues, including discussion of the moral status of embryos and fetuses, new genetics, life and death, resource allocation, organ donations, AIDS, human and animal experimentation, health care, and teaching • Now includes new essays on currently controversial topics such as cloning and genetic enhancement • Topics are clearly and compellingly presented by internationally renowned bioethicists • A detailed index allows the reader to find terms and topics not listed in the titles of the essays themselves

The Blackwell Companion to Aristotle provides in-depth studies of the main themes of Aristotle's thought, from art to zoology. • The most comprehensive single volume survey of the life and work of Aristotle • Comprised of 40 newly commissioned essays from leading experts • Coves the full range of Aristotle's work, from his 'theoretical' inquiries into metaphysics, physics, psychology, and biology, to the practical and productive "sciences" such as ethics, politics, rhetoric, and art

“A Companion to Chomsky” Widely considered to be one of the most important public intellectuals of our time, Noam Chomsky has revolutionized modern linguistics. His thought has had a profound impact upon the philosophy of language, mind, and science, as well as the interdisciplinary field of cognitive science which his work helped to establish. Now, in this new Companion dedicated to his substantial body of work and the range of its influence, an international assembly of prominent linguists, philosophers, and cognitive scientists reflect upon the interdisciplinary reach of Chomsky's intellectual contributions. Balancing theoretical rigor with accessibility to the non-specialist, the Companion is organized into eight sections-including the historical development of Chomsky's theories and the current state of the art, comparison with rival usage-based approaches, and the relation of his generative approach to work on linguistic processing, acquisition, semantics, pragmatics, and philosophy of language. Later chapters address Chomsky's rationalist critique of behaviorism and related empiricist approaches to psychology, as well as his insistence upon a "Galilean" methodology in cognitive science. Following a brief discussion of the relation of his work in linguistics to his work on political issues, the book concludes with an essay written by Chomsky himself, reflecting on the history and character of his work in his own words. A significant contribution to the study of Chomsky's thought, “A Companion to Chomsky” is an indispensable resource for philosophers, linguists, psychologists, advanced undergraduate and graduate students, and general readers with interest in Noam Chomsky's intellectual legacy as one of the great thinkers of the twentieth century.

The work of Simone de Beauvoir has endured and flowered in the last two decades, thanks primarily to the lasting influence of “The Second Sex” on the rise of academic discussions of gender, sexuality, and old age. Now, in this new Companion dedicated to her life and writings, an international assembly of prominent scholars, essayists, and leading interpreters reflect upon the range of Beauvoir's contribution to philosophy as one of the great authors, thinkers, and public intellectuals of the twentieth century. The Companion examines Beauvoir's rich intellectual life from a variety of angles-including literary, historical, and anthropological perspectives-and situates her in relation to her forbears and contemporaries in the philosophical canon. Essays in each of four thematic sections reveal the breadth and acuity of her insight, from the significance of The Second Sex and her work on the metaphysics of gender to her plentiful contributions in ethics and political philosophy. Later chapters trace the relationship between Beauvoir's philosophical and literary work and open up her scholarship to global issues, questions of race, and the legacy of colonialism and sexism. The volume concludes by considering her impact on contemporary feminist thought writ large, and features pioneering work from a new generation of Beauvoir scholars. Ambitious and unprecedented in scope, “A Companion to Simone de Beauvoir” is an accessible and interdisciplinary resource for students, teachers, and researchers across the humanities and social sciences.

This book is a wide-ranging examination of rationalist thought in philosophy from ancient times to the present day. • Written by a superbly qualified cast of philosophers • Critically analyses the concept of rationalism • Focuses principally on the golden age of rationalism in the seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries • Also covers ancient rationalism, nineteenth-century rationalism, and rationalist themes in recent thought • Organised chronologically • Various philosophical methods and viewpoints are represented

Offers comprehensive treatment of Thomas Hobbes's thought, providing readers with different ways of understanding Hobbes as a systematic philosopher. As one of the founders of modern political philosophy, Thomas Hobbes is best known for his ideas regarding the nature of legitimate government and the necessity of society submitting to the absolute authority of sovereign power. Yet Hobbes produced a wide range of writings, from translations of texts by Homer and Thucydides, to interpretations of Biblical books, to works devoted to geometry, optics, morality, and religion. Hobbes viewed himself as presenting a unified method for theoretical and practical science-an interconnected system of philosophy that provides many entry points into his thought. “A Companion to Hobbes” is an expertly curated collection of essays offering close textual engagement with the thought of Thomas Hobbes in his major works while probing his ideas regarding natural philosophy, mathematics, human nature, civil philosophy, religion, and more. “The Companion” discusses the ways in which scholars have tried to understand the unity and diversity of Hobbes's philosophical system and examines the reception of the different parts of Hobbes's philosophy by thinkers such as René Descartes, Margaret Cavendish, David Hume, and Immanuel Kant. Presenting a diversity of fresh perspectives by both emerging and established scholars, this volume: • Provides a comprehensive treatment of Hobbes's thought in his works, including Elements of Law, Elements of Philosophy, and Leviathan • Explores the connecting points between Hobbes' metaphysics, epistemology, mathematics, natural philosophy, morality, and civil philosophy • Offers readers strategies for understanding how the parts of Hobbes's philosophical system fit together • Examines Hobbes's philosophy of mathematics and his attempts to understand geometrical objects and definitions • Considers Hobbes's philosophy in contexts such as the natural state of humans, gender relations, and materialist worldviews • Challenges conceptions of Hobbes's moral theory and his views about the rights of sovereigns Part of the acclaimed ‘Blackwell Companions to Philosophy” series, “A Companion to Hobbes” is an invaluable resource for scholars and advanced students of Early modern thought, particularly those from disciplines such as History of Philosophy, Political Philosophy, Intellectual History, History of Politics, Political Theory, and English.

An unparalleled collection of original essays on Benedict de Spinoza's contributions to philosophy and his enduring legacy A Companion to Spinoza presents a panoramic view of contemporary Spinoza studies in Europe and across the Anglo-American world. Designed to stimulate fresh dialogue between the analytic and continental traditions in philosophy, this extraordinary volume brings together 53 original essays that explore Spinoza's contributions to Western philosophy and intellectual history. A diverse team of established and emerging international scholars discuss new themes and classic topics to provide a uniquely comprehensive picture of one of the most influential metaphysicians of all time. Rather than simply summarizing the body of existing scholarship, the Companion develops new ideas, examines cutting-edge scholarship, and suggests directions for future research. The text is structured around six thematically-organized sections, exploring Spinoza's life and background, his contributions to metaphysics and natural philosophy, his epistemology, politics, ethics, and aesthetics, the reception of Spinoza in the work of philosophers such as Kant, Schelling, Schopenhauer, and Hegel, and more. This unparalleled research collection combines a timely overview of the current state of research with deep coverage of Spinoza's philosophy, legacy, and influence. Part of the celebrated Blackwell Companions to Philosophy series, A Companion to Spinoza is an ideal text for advanced courses in modern philosophy, intellectual history, and the history of metaphysics, and an indispensable reference for researchers and scholars in Spinoza studies.

“A Companion to Foucault” comprises a collection of essays from established and emerging scholars that represent the most extensive treatment of French philosopher Michel Foucault's works currently available. • Comprises a comprehensive collection of authors and topics, with both established and emerging scholars represented • Includes chapters that survey Foucault's major works and others that approach his work from a range of thematic angles • Engages extensively with Foucault's recently published lecture courses from the Collège de France • Contains the first translation of the extensive 'Chronology' of Foucault's life and works written by Foucault's life-partner Daniel Defert • Includes a bibliography of Foucault's shorter works in English, cross-referenced to the standard French edition Dits et Ecrits