In 'The Meaning of Things,' A.C. Grayling offers a profound exploration into the significance of everyday experiences and fundamental concepts such as love, morality, art, politics, and more. The book is composed of a series of concise yet contemplative essays, each serving as a stepping stone to bridge philosophical inquiry with the pragmatic aspects of daily existence. Grayling encourages readers to cultivate a habit of introspection to find meaning in life, covering topics like courage, love, betrayal, ambition, cruelty, wisdom, passion, beauty, and death. The essays are based on his 'The Last Word' column in The Guardian and aim to help readers consider a wide range of insights from philosophical thought without persuading them to adopt a particular viewpoint[1][3][5].
In 'Being Good: A Short Introduction to Ethics,' Simon Blackburn provides a thorough and engaging exploration of the field of ethics. The book addresses skepticism about ethics, discussing how cynicism and self-consciousness can complicate ethical considerations. Blackburn draws on historical, political, and personal examples to illustrate the relevance of ethics in everyday life, covering topics such as abortion, euthanasia, personal rights, and the meaning of life. He distills the arguments of philosophers like Hume, Kant, and Aristotle, emphasizing the importance of conscience, truth, and human progress. The book challenges readers to think critically about their ethical standards and the ethical climate of their time, advocating for a balanced and nuanced approach to ethical issues[1][2].
In this book, Angie Hobbs delves into Plato's concepts of courage and manliness, analyzing his dialogues such as the *Republic*, *Laches*, *Protagoras*, *Gorgias*, *Apology*, *Hippias Major*, *Hippias Minor*, *Symposium*, *Politicus*, and *Laws*. Hobbs argues that Plato's understanding of courage and manliness evolves significantly, particularly with the recognition of the autonomy of the *thumos* (the spirited element of the soul) in the *Republic*. The book also explores how Plato's approach to ethics, focusing on flourishing and virtue, creates structural links between ethical and aesthetic judgments, and how these concepts interact with issues of gender and the ideal society.
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss whether 'happiness' means living a life of pleasure, or of virtue. It is an old question, and the Roman poet Horace attempted to answer it when he wrote; 'Not the owner of many possessions will you be right to call happy: he more rightly deserves the name of happy who knows how to use the gods's gifts wisely and to put up with rough poverty, and who fears dishonour more than death'. It seems a noble sentiment but for the Greek Sophist Thrasymachus this sort of attitude was the epitome of moral weakness: For him poverty was miserable, and happiness flowed from wealth and power over men, an idea so persuasive that Plato wrote The Republic in response to its challenge. What have our philosophers made of the compulsion to be happy? And how much does this ancient debate still define what it means to be happy today? Are we entitled to health, wealth and the pursuit of pleasure or is true contentment something else entirely? With Angie Hobbs, Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Warwick; Simon Blackburn, Professor of Philosophy at Cambridge University; Anthony Grayling, Reader in Philosophy at Birkbeck College, University of London.
In Our Time 
