The Latest Answers to the Oldest Questions

Book excerpt: “A serious yet readable overview of philosophy in modern times” from the author of Zeno and the Tortoise: How to Think Like a Philosopher (The Spectator). The work of the classic philosophers is well known. But what do contemporary thinkers say about what it is to be a human being? In his serious, challenging, and remarkably accessible new book, Nicholas Fearn turns to contemporary philosophers to ask the age-old questions: Who am I? What do I know? What should I do? In his search for higher meaning, Fearn consults with thinkers from around the world (including John Searle, Martha Nussbaum, Peter Singer, Richard Rorty, Daniel Dennett, Noam Chomsky, Derek Parfit, Nick Bostrom, among many others) to create an impressive survey of recent thought. Variously, they believe that free will, identity, and consciousness are not what they seem; that the difference between virtue and wickedness can be a matter of sheer luck; and that, one day, we will all be vegetarians. Fearn discovers that the topics haven’t changed, though our world has. Or has it? Moving deftly from pop culture to the writings of Plato, The Latest Answers to the Oldest Questions is a brilliant and entertaining guide to the current state of philosophical thought. “[A] small marvel.”—The Economist “The writing is informative, witty and illustrated by vivid anecdotes.”—The Times Literary Supplement “A readable, challenging guide to the frontiers of thinking.”—The Independent “A commendable summation of current thought and a good mental workout.” —Leeds Guide (UK) “Illuminating, profound and witty. Read it and be challenged to think differently about who and what you are.”—Raymond Tallis, author of Aping Mankind