Over the millennia, the great thinkers of the world have sought to come up with rules for how to live better lives, how to govern better and how to understand the world around us. This fascinating guide introduces readers to many core philosophical ideas, featuring full-color diagrams and illustrations to help make even the most complex ideas accessible to everyone. Includes: - The different schools of philosophy which have held sway over the years- The most influential philosophers in history- The key concepts in every area ranging from ethics to metaphysics to epistemology