Polity’s Why It Matters series
In these short and lively books, world-leading thinkers make the case for the importance of their subjects and aim to inspire a new generation of students.
Helen Beebee & Michael Rush, Philosophy
Robert Eaglestone, Literature
Lynn Hunt, History
Tim Ingold, Anthropology
Neville Morley, Classics
Alexander B. Murphy, Geography
Geoffrey K. Pullum, Linguistics
Graham Ward, Theology and Religion
Polity
Copyright © Helen Beebee and Michael Rush 2019
The right of Helen Beebee and Michael Rush to be identified as Authors of this Work has been asserted in accordance with the UK Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
First published in 2019 by Polity Press
Polity Press
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Cambridge CB2 1UR, UK
Polity Press
101 Station Landing
Suite 300
Medford, MA 02155, USA
All rights reserved. Except for the quotation of short passages for the purpose of criticism and review, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher.
ISBN-13: 978-1-5095-3218-6
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Beebee, Helen, author. | Rush, Michael, 1976- author.
Title: Philosophy : why it matters / Helen Beebee, Michael Rush.
Description: Cambridge ; Medford, MA : Polity Press, 2019. | Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2018032465 (print) | LCCN 2018051371 (ebook) | ISBN 9781509532186 (Epub) | ISBN 9781509532155 | ISBN 9781509532155 (hardback) | ISBN 9781509532162(paperback)
Subjects: LCSH: Philosophy.
Classification: LCC B72 (ebook) | LCC B72 .B44 2019 (print) | DDC 100--dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018032465
The publisher has used its best endeavours to ensure that the URLs for external websites referred to in this book are correct and active at the time of going to press. However, the publisher has no responsibility for the websites and can make no guarantee that a site will remain live or that the content is or will remain appropriate.
Every effort has been made to trace all copyright holders, but if any have been overlooked the publisher will be pleased to include any necessary credits in any subsequent reprint or edition.
For further information on Polity, visit our website: politybooks.com
We would like to thank Pascal Porcheron and Ellen MacDonald-Kramer at Polity for their encouragement, enthusiasm, efficiency and good advice, as well as three anonymous reviewers, whose comments and suggestions led to many improvements.
Thanks to Al Baker for conversations on a book idea that led to a different book idea that led to a different book idea and ended up here. Thanks also to the following people for reading and commenting on a draft of this book: Sammy Boardman, Matthew Elton, Harry Gray, Jasmine Hay, Anneli Jefferson, Pauline Kwiat-Hodson, Emilia Meissner, Matthew Rush, and Ema Sullivan-Bissett. You’re all great.
We dedicate this book to the memory of Harry Lesser (1943–2015): an inspiring teacher, generous colleague, and friend.