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Very short introductions volume 61
Language
English
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Description
Karl von Clausewitz (1780-1831) is considered by many to have been one of the greatest writers on war. His study On War was described by the American strategic thinker Bernard Brodie as "not simply the greatest, but the only great book about war." It is hard to disagree. Even though he wrote his only major work at a time when the range of firearms was fifty yards, much of what he had to say remains relevant today. Michael Howard explains Clausewitz's...
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Series
Language
English
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Oxford's Very Short Introductions series offers concise and original introductions to a wide range of subjects -- from Islam to Sociology, Literary Theory to History, and Archaeology to the Bible. Not simply a textbook of definitions, each volume provides trenchant and provocative -- yet always balanced and complete -- discussions of the central issues in a given discipline or field. Every Very Short Introduction gives a readable evolution of the...
Author
Series
Very short introductions volume 3
Language
English
Formats
Description
This Very Short Introduction offers listeners a superb overview of the teachings of the Buddha, as well as a succinct guide to the integration of Buddhism into daily life. What are the distinctive features of Buddhism? Who was the Buddha, and what are his teachings? Words such as "karma" and "nirvana" have entered our vocabulary, but what do they mean? Damien Keown provides a lively, informative response to these frequently asked questions about Buddhism....
Author
Series
Very short introductions volume 126
Language
English
Formats
Description
"The tradition of ancient philosophy is a long, rich and varied one. Julia Annas gives a succinct account of ancient Greco-Roman philosophy, emphasizing its freshness and variety of themes, and its approach of lively discussion and argument. Getting away from the presentation of ancient philosophy as a succession of Great Thinkers, the book gives readers a sense of the freshness and liveliness of ancient philosophy, and of its wide variety of themes...
Author
Series
Very short introductions volume 18
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Pub. Date
2000
Language
English
Author
Series
Very short introductions volume 32
Language
English
Formats
Description
The influence of Aristotle, the prince of philosophers, on the intellectual history of the West is second to none. In this book Jonathan Barnes examines Aristotle's scientific researches, his discoveries in logic and his metaphysical theories, his work in psychology and in ethics and politics, and his ideas about art and poetry, placing his teachings in their historical context.
Author
Series
Very short introductions volume 14
Language
English
Formats
Description
"The Bible: A Very Short Introduction explores the material, cultural, and religious history of the Bible. The Bible is both one of the most read and the most influential books in the world. Its stories form the heart of Western civilization, while biblical language is interwoven into literature and everyday speech. As a source of shared Abrahamic beliefs, it has both drawn communities together and fuelled bitter disputes. This VSI examines how the...
Author
Series
Very short introductions volume 30
Language
English
Formats
Description
Descartes is perhaps best known for his statement, "Cogito, ergo sum," the cornerstone of his metaphysics. But he did not intend the metaphysics to stand apart from his scientific work, which included important investigations into physics, mathematics, and optics. In this book, Sorell shows that Descarates was, above all, an advocate and practitioner of the new mathematical approach to physics, and that he developed his philosophies to support his...
Author
Series
Very short introductions volume 22
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Pub. Date
2000
Language
English
Author
Series
Very short introductions volume 25
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Language
English
Description
Martin Heidegger, considered by some to be the greatest charlatan ever to claim the title of 'philosopher', and acknowledged by others as a leader in continental philosophy, is probably the most divisive thinker of the 20th century. In this new edition, Michael Inwood focuses on Heidegger's most important work, Being and Time, exploring its major themes of existence in the world, inauthenticity, guilt, destiny, truth, and the nature of time. In a...
Author
Series
Very short introductions volume 5
Language
English
Formats
Description
Hinduism is practiced by about 80 percent of India's population, and by about 30 million people outside India. But how is Hinduism defined, and what basis does the religion have? In this Very Short Introduction, Kim Knott provides clear insight into the beliefs and authority of Hindus and Hinduism, and considers the ways in which it has been affected by colonialism and modernity. The author also considers the challenges posed to Hinduism at the end...
Author
Series
Very short introductions volume 33
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Pub. Date
2000
Language
English
Author
Series
Very short introductions volume 11
Language
English
Formats
Description
Normon Solomon's succinct book is an ideal introduction to Judaism as a religion and way of life. Demonstrating the diverse nature and ethnic origin of Jewish people, Solomon explores how the religion has developed in the 2,000 years since the days of the Bible.
This Very Short Introduction starts by outlining the basics of practical Judaism, including festivals, prayers, customs, and various sects - and goes on to consider how Judaism has responded...
Author
Series
Very short introductions volume 4
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Pub. Date
2000
Language
English
Author
Series
Very short introductions volume 29
Language
English
Formats
Description
"Logic is often perceived as having little to do with the rest of philosophy, and even less to do with real life. In this lively and accessible introduction, Graham Priest shows how wrong this conception is. He explores the philosophical roots of the subject, explaining how modern formal logic deals with issues ranging from the existence of God and the reality of time to paradoxes of probability and decision theory. Along the way, the basics of formal...
Author
Series
Very short introductions volume 31
Language
English
Formats
Description
Niccolo Machiavelli taught that political leaders must be prepared to do evil so that good may come of it, and his name has been a byword ever since for duplicity and immorality. Is his sinister reputation deserved? In answering this question Quentin Skinner traces the course of Machiavelli's adult life, from his time as Second Chancellor of the Florentine republic, during which he met with kings, the pope, and the Holy Roman Emperor; to the fall...
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