Philosophy for Everyone

The bicycle has been described as the most perfect of human inventions and its ability to inspire cannot be underrated after all, Einstein claimed that the theory of relativity came to him whilst cycling. And so bicycling and philosophy create the perfect tandem; both teach us to confront realities about the world and ourselves, and to pursue lofty ideals. Investigating the connections between the intellectual and physical sides of cycling, this book rides over important philosophical terrain, including: The ethics of cycling competitiveness and success The epiphanies and self revelations discovered when cycling The transformative potential of cycling for personal growth The role and experience of women cyclists Cycling - Philosophy for Everyone explores in a fun but critical way the rich philosophical, cultural, and existential experiences that arise when two wheels are propelled by human energy.

Some wise men, a stable, a few sheep, and a young virgin giving birth to the mortal son of a prefect God: Christmas is one of Christianitys holiest days, and yet it is also a major pagan festival, a secular, cultural celebration, and a commercial event of epic proportions. As consumerism runs rife, have we lost sight of its very essence? Is celebrating Christmas really a good idea? From elves and Ebenezer Scrooge, to the culture wars and virgin birth, Christmas - Philosophy for Everyone unwraps the religious and moral issues surrounding the Yuletide season, including: Should parents lie to their children about Santa Claus? What relevance does Christmas hold to atheists and pagans? What does the Bible actually say about the virgin birth? How does Santa know if we have been naughty or good is there a darker side to our festive friend? Christmas - Philosophy for Everyone offers thoughtful and humorous philosophical and cultural insights into the festive season with plenty of goodwill and just a little bah humbug.

They terrify us, and yet we love to read about them, to watch films about them, and some even fantasize about meeting them; this is the horror-pleasure reaction to serial killers whose gruesome acts hold a deep and disturbing lure. Serial Killers - Philosophy for Everyone offers a philosophical examination of real and fictional serial killers, and investigates our profound intrigue with serial-murderers. Authors from various academic fields, as well as true crime writers and police officers delve into such questions as: What drives people to kill repeatedly? Can a serial killer be good and moral? What is it about serial killers that fascinates us? Do serial killers such as Ian Brady, Ted Bundy, John Wayne Gacy, Jeffrey Dahmer and the Zodiac killer, or fictional characters such as Dexter or Hannibal Lecter, make us understand ourselves differently? Investigating existential, ethical and political questions via real murder cases, this is a philosophical examination of our enduring fascination with these grisly figures.

Love it or loathe it, pornography is as old as human civilization itself. Ancient humans were drawing porn on their cave walls long before it flourished under the Greeks and Romans. With the age of the internet, it has now reached epic proportions. This anthology takes the ever-controversial discussion of pornography out of solely academic circles; it expands the questions about porn that academics might tackle and opens the conversation to those who know it best the creators and users of porn. Together, they address issues such as: Is a porn actors life worse-off by virtue of his or her profession? Why are men more willing to accept the authenticity of porn-gasms? What is the voyeuristic appeal of watching celebrity sex tapes? And, what is wrong with pornography? Entertaining and scholarly, Porn - Philosophy for Everyone offers a titillating, tantalizing glimpse into the world of porn.

A hazy student phase? A harmless way to relax? An effective form of pain relief? Or a dangerous and addictive narcotic? The debate on the status and legality of cannabis continues to rage on. Here, personal anecdotes, combined with academic and scientific reports, wrestle with some of the fascinating issues associated with cannabis use. In these pages, philosophers, psychologists and medical experts (some of whom may even enjoy the occasional spliff) try to understand: What exactly does it mean to get high? Is it immoral to smoke marijuana for pleasure? Is cannabis the start of the slippery road to other more dangerous drugs? Is altering our consciousness a basic human need? What is the morality or immorality of cannabis prohibition laws? Cannabis - Philosophy for Everyone offers frank, professionally informed, and often humorous discussions on the gourmandise and ethical, social, and political dimensions of this psychoactive and outlawed drug.