The Questions of Life An Invitation to Philosophy

by Savater, Fernando

• ISBN13: 9780745626284
• ISBN10: 0745626289
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2002-02-26
• Publisher: Polity

Summary

This book, by one of Spain's most eminent philosophers, provides a lively and very accessible introduction to philosophy. Written for those who have no prior knowledge of the field, it reveals how the central problems of philosophy remain highly relevant to everyday contemporary life. Savater addresses the questions that we ourselves must face: what is this ls"I' that I take for granted? What does it mean for me to be in the world? In what sense am I free? And how does the idea of death affect my life? In his discussion of concepts such as beauty, time and language, Savater frequently refers to earlier philosophers, yet he does so in a way that brings their ideas to life and shows their enduring relevance. Using quotations from the ancient Greeks through to more recent philosophers such as Wittgenstein and Sartre, Savater illustrates his own arguments, while also sketching a basic history of philosophical ideas. The Questions of Life has already been translated into ten languages and has enjoyed enormous success, selling over 70 000 copies in Spain alone. It is an elegant and straightforward book that abstains from specialised terminology. It constitutes an ideal introductory text for those studying philosophy at A-Level or university, and will also be of great interest to the general reader.

Author Biography

Fernando Savater is Professor of Philosophy at the Complutense University of Madrid

Table of Contents

Preface	xi
Acknowledgements	xiii
Introduction. Why philosophy?	1	(9)
Let us begin with death	10	(12)
The truths of reason	22	(17)
I inside, I outside	39	(15)
The symbolic animal	54	(18)
The world and its outskirts	72	(17)
Freedom in action	89	(18)
Artificial by nature	107	(21)
Living together	128	(19)
The shiver of beauty	147	(16)
Lost in time	163	(16)
Epilogue. Life without meaning?	179	(13)
Farewell	192	(1)
Appendix	193	(34)
Suggested further reading	227	(5)
Index	232