Engaging with philosophical concepts from 1995 to 2010, Simon Blackburn examines the complexities of representation, truth, reason, and assertion within practical thought. He delves into how our understanding of values and norms shapes our expressions and commitments, emphasizing the interplay between propositions and actions. Expanding his analysis beyond semantics, Blackburn addresses broader themes such as pluralism, pragmatism, the philosophy of mind, and the essence of practical reasoning, offering a comprehensive exploration of these interconnected ideas.
Simon Blackburn Books
Simon Blackburn is an English academic philosopher renowned for his contributions to metaethics, particularly his defense of quasi-realism, and his work in the philosophy of language. He has also successfully engaged a broad audience through his efforts to popularize philosophy. His writing delves into how we conceptualize morality and how language shapes our understanding of the world. Blackburn's work invites readers to contemplate the foundations of ethical concepts with clarity and intellectual rigor.







From Aristotle to Zen, this is the most comprehensive, authoritative, and up-to-date dictionary of philosophy available. Ideal for students or a general readership, it provides lively and accessible coverage of not only the Western philosophical tradition but also important themes fromChinese, Indian, Islamic, and Jewish philosophy. * 2,500 entries including the most recent terms and concepts * Biographical entries for nearly 500 philosophers * Terms relevant to philosophy from neighbouring disciplines Chronology of philosophical events
David Hume is generally recognized as the United Kingdom's greatest philosopher, as well as a notable historian and essayist, and a central figure of the Enlightenment. This book describes how Hume can be placed as one of the earliest, and most successful, evolutionary psychologists.
Mirror, Mirror
- 224 pages
- 8 hours of reading
Drawing on philosophy, psychology, literature, history, and popular culture, this book looks at the good and bad aspects of vanity and self-love, from the myth of Narcissus and the Christian story of the Fall to today's self-esteem industry.
Exploring the interplay between moral emotions and human motivation, Simon Blackburn presents a unique philosophy that addresses why we behave as we do and how we might improve. He develops a naturalistic ethics that harmonizes moral understanding with broader human experiences, challenging the notions of scepticism and relativism. By asserting that ethics can retain its authority while being grounded in our passions, Blackburn offers a fresh perspective on the relationship between morality and human nature.
Lust
- 192 pages
- 7 hours of reading
Based on a lecture series in the humanities hosted by the New York Public Library.
Think
- 320 pages
- 12 hours of reading
"Simon Blackburn begins by putting forward a convincing case for the study of philosophy and goes on to give the reader a sense of how the great historical figures such as Descartes, Hume, Kant, and Wittgenstein have approached its central themes."
The dismal truth about hedge funds and how investors can get a greater share of the profits Shocking but true: if all the money that's ever been invested in hedge funds had been in treasury bills, the results would have been twice as good.
Truth: A Guide for the Perplexed
- 272 pages
- 10 hours of reading
Tells about truth, and the enemies of truth, and the wars that are fought between them. This guide looks at relativism and absolutism, toleration and belief, objectivity and knowledge, science and pseudo-science, and the moral and political implications, as well as the nuances, of all these.
What Do We Really Know?
- 208 pages
- 8 hours of reading
Simon Blackburn tackles the key questions in philosophy.

