Table of Contents

Introduction. Philosophy: Platonism; Aristotelianism; The golden rule; Altruism; Liberty; Tolerance; Scepticism; Reason; Punishment; Materialism; Relativism; Utilitarianism; Existentialism. Religion: Evil; Fate; Soul; Faith; Fundamentalism; Atheism; Secularism; Creationism. Politics: War; Duty, Utopia; Liberalism; Democracy; Conservatism; Imperialism; Nationalism; Multiculturalism; The social contract; Republicanism; Communism; Fascism; Racism; Feminism; Islamism. Economics: Capitalism; Globalization. Arts: Classicism; Romanticism; Modernism; Surrealism; Censorship. Science: Evolution; Gaia; Chaos; Relativity; Quantum mechanics; The Big Bang. Glossary. Index.

About the Author

Ben Dupre read Classics at Exeter College, Oxford before pursuing a career in reference publishing. He was Children's Reference Publisher at Oxford University Press from 1992 until 2004 and, all told, has more than 20 years' experience of bringing complex and challenging concepts to the widest possible audience.