Philosophy, Logic, & Ethics

What is the good life? What is justice? Do we have free will? Does it matter? From ancient classics like Plato's Allegory of the Cave to modern standards like John Rawls's A Theory of Justice, the texts in this collection explore ideas and questions at the root of the human condition.

Publication year 1990

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Space & The Universe, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy, Philosophy, Classic Fiction


Publication year 1517

Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality

Tags Christian literature, Philosophy, Religion / Spirituality, History: World, Philosophy, Classic Fiction, Politics / Government


Publication year 1944

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt

Tags Existentialism, Play: Drama, French Literature, Philosophy, Allegory / Fable / Parable, Relationships, Education, Education, Drama / Tragedy, Philosophy, Classic Fiction

No Exit (1944) is a play by French philosopher, writer, and critic Jean-Paul Sartre. Sartre was drafted into the French army during World War II and spent nearly a year as a German prisoner of war. He then wrote and debuted No Exit in Paris while the city was still under German occupation and control. No Exit is comprised of one act which takes place in a single room in the afterlife, which the characters... Read No Exit Summary


Publication year 2005

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Community, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality

Tags Religion / Spirituality, History: World, Politics / Government, Philosophy, Philosophy


Publication year 2021

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Society: Economics

Tags Psychology, Science / Nature, Business / Economics, Sociology, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy, Self Help


Publication year 1948

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Love

Tags Japanese Literature, Depression / Suicide, Realistic Fiction, Mental Illness, Asian Literature, Philosophy, Philosophy, Classic Fiction


Publication year 1624

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Society: Community, Life/Time: Mortality & Death

Tags Allegory / Fable / Parable, History: European, Relationships, British Literature, History: World, Psychology, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy, Classic Fiction, Religion / Spirituality


Publication year 1864

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Society: Community

Tags Classic Fiction, Philosophy, Psychological Fiction, Russian Literature, History: World, Psychology, Psychology, Philosophy

Notes from Underground (sometimes translated as Notes from the Underground) is an 1864 novella by Russian writer Fyodor Dostoevsky. Dostoevsky was a novelist, journalist, and short story author. His novels are deeply rooted in philosophy and politics and explore the experiences and repercussions of his 19th-century Russian sociopolitical context. Dostoevsky is also the author of Crime and Punishment, The Idiot, Demons, and The Brothers Karamazov. His writing influenced many other writers and philosophers, including existentialists... Read Notes from Underground Summary


Publication year 1785

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Politics & Government, Society: Nation, Society: Colonialism

Tags Education, Education, Science / Nature, History: World, Philosophy, American Revolution, Classic Fiction, History: U.S., Politics / Government, Philosophy, Race / Racism


Publication year 1620

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Philosophy, Science / Nature

Novum Organum is an epistemological tract written by Francis Bacon, an early modern statesman and polymath. It was published in 1620 and written in Latin. Its full title is Novum Organum, sive Indicia Vera de Interpretatione Naturae, meaning “New Organon, or true suggestions for the interpretation of nature.” Novum Organum was intended to be the second part of a larger work—the Instauratio Magna, or “Great Instauration,” Bacon’s proposal for an overhaul and new birth of... Read Novum Organum Summary


Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Fate

Tags Play: Tragedy, Mythology, Philosophy, Religion / Spirituality, Ancient Greece, Classic Fiction, Education, Education, Drama / Tragedy, Fantasy

Sophocles’s play Oedipus Rex, first performed in the early-to-mid 400s BCE, is one of the most famous and influential tragedies left to us from the ancient Greek tradition. Based on the myth of Oedipus, whose cursed fate was to marry his mother and kill his father, the play explores themes of destiny, free will, and literal and metaphoric vision and blindness. This guide uses the 1984 Penguin edition of The Three Theban Plays, translated by... Read Oedipus Rex Summary


Publication year 1967

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Language, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Literature

Tags Philosophy


Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Emotions/Behavior: Love

Tags Religion / Spirituality, Christian literature, Philosophy, Education, Education, Philosophy, Classic Fiction

St. Augustine of Hippo’s On Christian Doctrine is a theological work offering guidance to the interpretation of biblical scripture, as well as Augustine’s precepts for effective rhetorical practice and Christian teaching. The work first appeared in 397 AD. Augustine’s expertise on these topics is twofold. As Bishop of Hippo, Augustine brings ecclesiastical authority and an extensive knowledge of the scriptures to his theology; as a former teacher of rhetoric, he speaks as an expert when... Read On Christian Doctrine Summary


Publication year 1969

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Family

Tags Science / Nature, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy, Self Help, Religion / Spirituality, Psychology, Grief / Death, Health / Medicine

On Death and Dying is a 1969 psychological study by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross. It is best known in popular culture for introducing the five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Kübler-Ross’s work with terminally ill patients inspired the model. She wrote the study as a response to the lack of instruction in medical schools about how to handle the topic of death. It was the very first book written by Kübler-Ross in her... Read On Death and Dying Summary


Publication year 1901

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Identity: Mental Health

Tags Psychology, Philosophy, Love / Sexuality, Mental Illness, Education, Education, Science / Nature, French Literature, Psychology, Philosophy, Classic Fiction


Publication year 1964

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Economics, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Society: Community

Tags Philosophy, Politics / Government, Psychology, Education, Education, Business / Economics, Sociology, History: World, Psychology, Philosophy


Publication year 1939

Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Identity: Language

Tags Philosophy, Fantasy, Fairy Tale / Folklore, Mythology, Philosophy, Literary Criticism, Classic Fiction, Religion / Spirituality


Publication year 395

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt

Tags Philosophy, Religion / Spirituality, Classic Fiction, Christian literature, Philosophy, Politics / Government


Publication year 1978

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Natural World: Nurture v. Nature

Tags Science / Nature, Sociology, Psychology, Philosophy, Anthropology, Anthropology, History: World, Psychology, Philosophy