Explores the ideas of several philosophers, including Socrates, Descartes, Kierkegaard, and Freud, and discusses how to create a philosophy and apply philosophical principles.
A revised edition to a solid performing book, with expanded content on various philosophers and ideas. -- The current edition has sold over 61,000 since its release in November of 1997. -- Existing content is great, but needs to be added to in order to more effectively compete with Philosophy for Dummies, which, at 360 pages, is 100 pages over our current edition. -- By its very nature, philosophy is not subject to a great deal of change over time, and therefore can be expected to continue to perform at or above current levels. Philosophy is all about being, knowing, and acting. It poses daring questions such as what exists, what counts as knowledge, and how do we know things? And, as life becomes more and more complicated, people turn to philosophy to help themselves better understand the world around them-politics, religion, family, the environment, and more. The Complete Idiot's Guide "RM" to Philosophy, Second Edition will continue the first edition's success in exposing beginners to the world of philosophy, its ideas, and its philosophers. It will contain expanded content on existing ideas and philosophers covered in the first edition, but it will also introduce new philosophers whose ideas were not included in the first edition, but whose contributions to the world of philosophy are perhaps now less obscure.
The Toltecs were an ancient society who lived in the central valley of Mexico. Their knowledge of science, art, and the spirit was amazingly advanced, and it led them to create a system of teaching that required enormous discipline and willpower. Focusing on the mind, the Toltecs developed a spiritual philosophy that incorporated the beauty of many esoteric teachings, forming a perfect model for transcendence. They believed that humans live in a world of dreams, and the way they dream places limitations on their lives. By changing those dreams, and reprogramming our minds, the wisdom of the Toltecs can lead us to the self-love and respect that are the keys to personal freedom. In The Complete Idiot's Guide to Toltec Wisdom, readers can travel through life with the knowledge of the Toltecs, taking charge of their lives and becoming fully aware for the first time.
Gain some insight into the game of life... Game Theory means rigorous strategic thinking. It is based on the idea that everyone acts competitively and in his own best interest. With the help of mathematical models, it is possible to anticipate the actions of others in nearly all life's enterprises. This book includes down-to-earth examples and solutions, as well as charts and illustrations designed to help teach the concept. In The Complete Idiot's Guide® to Game Theory, Dr. Edward C. Rosenthal makes it easy to understand game theory with insights into: • The history of the discipline made popular by John Nash, the mathematician dramatized in the film A Beautiful Mind • The role of social behavior and psychology in this amazing discipline • How important game theory has become in our society and why
Intended for high school and college students required to take at least one physics course, this book offers an easy-to-understand, comprehensive companion to their school textbooks that brings real-world relevance, and even a touch of fun, to Einstein's favorite subject.
Socrates admonition that 'the unexamined life is not worth living' still resonates with many people, and The Complete Idiot's Guide to Philosophy, Third Edition, is a great introduction to that mental exercise. The author skilfully covers the subject both historically and topically and brings the reader all the way up to the present, with insights into 21st-century philosophical thought. In this third edition of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Philosophy, readers will find- Essential philosophers and philosophies, from ancient times right up to today. Eastern as well as Western philosophy. More content, including the relationship of systems theory to philosophy today. Explanations of the latest thinking in 20th- and 21st-century philosophical thought.
An insightful look at one of the most unusual written works ever created. Compiled centuries ago by a group of wise men as a way to preserve the oral traditions of the Jewish faith, the Talmud has challenged and thrilled some of the world’s greatest minds with its complex approach to exploring ideas and subjects from virtually every possible angle. This essential guide makes the ancient text of the “oral Torah” accessible for all readers, whether they’re Jewish or not. In this Complete Idiot’s Guide®, you get. • An examination of Talmudic logic and debate. • Discussion of how science and medicine relate to Talmudic philosophies. • Description of proper behavior and conduct as expected within Talmudic lifestyle. • The significance of seeds and blessings found in the Talmud.
We’re living in the midst of a scientific revolution that’s captured the general public’s attention and imagination. The aim of this new revolution is to develop a “theory of everything”—a set of laws of physics that will explain all that can be explained, ranging from the tiniest subatomic particle to the universe as a whole. Here, readers will learn the ideas behind the theories, and their effects upon our world, our civilization, and ourselves. The Complete Idiot’s Guide® String Theory explains how this exciting idea holds up against competing theories. In this Complete Idiot’s Guide®, you get: • Clear explanation of quantum mechanics, Einstein’s theories of relativity, and how string theory unites them. • A quick, easy-to-understand overview of competing theories and how they might be tested. • Fast facts about black holes, what’s inside them, how they’re made, and why they’re so paradoxical. • Simple, smart tips to help you visualize extra dimensions.
A down-to-earth resource for a more-for-me life. Through practical information from an author who works about three days a week, The Complete Idiot’s Guide® to Working Less, Earning More will help readers get more time and more money by learning how to: • Think about the modern-day work ethic in a new way. • Set income-focused goals—and achieve them. • Build—and maintain—powerful relationships and networks. • Round out skill sets to be more marketable. • Maximize technology to minimize time spent on minutia. • Avoid time-wasters and efficiency traps.
From Plato to Freud to ecocriticism, the book illustrates dozens of stimulating-and sometimes notoriously complex-perspectives for approaching literature and film. The book offers authoritative, clear, and easy-to-follow explanations of theories that range from established classics to the controversies of current theory. Each chapter offers a conversational, step-by-step explanation of a single theory, critic, or issue, accompanied by concrete examples for applying the concepts and engaging suggestions for related literary readings. Following a section on the foundations of literary theory, the book is organized thematically, with an eye to the best way to develop a real, working understanding of the various theories. Cross-references are particularly important, since it's through the interaction of examples that readers most effectively advance from basic topics and arguments to some of the more specialized and complicated issues. Each chapter is designed to tell a complete story, yet also to reach out to other chapters for development and debate. Literary theorists are hardly unified in their views, and this book reflects the various traditions, agreements, influences, and squabbles that are a part of the field. Special features include hundreds of references to and quotations from novels, stories, plays, poems, movies, and other media. Online resources could also include video and music clips, as well as high-quality examples of visual art mentioned in the book. The book also includes periodic "running" references to selected key titles (such as Frankenstein) in order to illustrate the effect of different theories on a single work.