How much faith should we place in what scientists tell us? Is it possible for scientific knowledge to be fully "objective"? What, really, can be defined as science? In the second edition of this very short introduction, Samir Okasha explores the main themes and theories of contemporary philosophy of science and investigates fascinating, challenging questions such as these.

Linguistics falls in the gap between arts and science, on the edges of which the most fascinating discoveries and the most important problems are found. Rather than following the conventional organization of many contemporary introductions to the subject, the author of this stimulating guide begins his discussion with the oldest, "arts" end of the subject and moves chronologically through to the newest research - the "science" aspects.

In this Very Short Introduction, Robert Eaglestone provides a clear and engaging exploration of the major themes, patterns, and debates of contemporary fiction. From genre, form, and experimentalism to the legacies of modernism and postmodernism, the relationship between globalization and terrorism, and the impact of technology, Eaglestone examines how works both reflect the world in which we live and the artistic concerns of writers and readers alike.

Timothy Williamson tackles some of the key questions surrounding philosophy in new and provocative ways, showing how philosophy begins in common sense curiosity, and develops through our capacity to dispute rationally with each other. Discussing philosophy's ability to clarify our thoughts, he explains why such clarification depends on the development of philosophical theories, and how those theories can be tested by imaginative thought experiments, and compared against each other by standards similar to those used in the natural and social sciences.

The concept of law lies at the heart of our social and political life. Legal philosophy, or jurisprudence, explores the notion of law and its role in society, illuminating its meaning and its relation to the universal questions of justice, rights, and morality. In this Very Short Introduction audiobook, Raymond Wacks analyzes the nature and purpose of the legal system and the practice by courts, lawyers, and judges.

In this new edition, Steve Bruce discusses the continuing arguments for social egalitarianism, considering issues such as gay marriage, women in combat roles, and the 2010 Equality Act to debunk contemporary arguments against parity. As gender divisions are increasingly questioned, he looks ahead to the likely consequences of this for society.

International security is never out of the headlines. War and peace, military strategy, the proliferation of nuclear weapons and revisionist states remain central to the discussion, but concerns such as climate change, migration, poverty, health, and international terrorism have complicated the field. So what really matters: the traditional prioritization of state security or the security needs of individuals, humanity, and the biosphere?

The phrase "the meaning of life" for many seems a quaint notion fit for satirical mauling by Monty Python or Douglas Adams. But in this spirited Very Short Introduction, famed critic Terry Eagleton takes a serious if often amusing look at the question and offers his own surprising answer.

Diplomatic History explores the management of relations between nation-states by the process of negotiations. From the diplomacy of the American Revolution, the diplomatic origins of the Great War and its aftermath, Versailles, and the personal summitry behind the night Stalin and Churchill Divided Europe, to George W. Bush and the Iraq War, and diplomacy in the age of globalization, the management of power relationships has had an immense impact on our recent history.

In Politics: A Very Short Introduction, Kenneth Minogue begins with a discussion of issues arising from a historical account of politics and goes on to offer chapters dealing with the Ancient Greeks and the idea of citizenship; Roman law; medieval Christianity and individualism; freedom since Machiavelli and Hobbes; the challenge of ideologies; democracy, oligarchy, and bureaucracy; power and order in modern society; and politics in the West.

Hegel is regarded as one of the most influential figures on modern political and intellectual development. After painting Hegel's life and times in broad strokes, Peter Singer goes on to tackle some of the more challenging aspects of Hegel's philosophy. Offering a broad discussion of Hegel's ideas and an account of his major works, Singer explains what have often been considered abstruse and obscure ideas in a clear and inviting manner.

ポピュリズムやナショナリズムの台頭，社会的分断の深化，Qアノンはじめ陰謀論の隆盛，専制主義国家による挑戦などを前に，理念の共和国・米国のアイデンティティが揺らいでいる．今日の米国内の分断状況を観察し続けてきた著者が，その実態を精緻に腑分けし，米国の民主主義，そしてリベラル国際秩序の行方を展望する．

サントリー学芸賞受賞、東大名誉教授が記した経済学の名著が遂にオーディオブックになって登場！ 資本主義の危機を引き起こす「逆説」は、貨幣のなかにある！ 教養をつけたいあなたのために、今、現実に起きている政治経済を自分の頭で理解して読み解いていくための貴重な財産となる1冊です。 ★オーディオブックだけの特典！　著者・岩井克人のインタビューを収録しています★ 昨今、日本をはじめ世界の多くの国が 市場に大量の資金を供給することで経済の活性化を狙っています。 物が売れない不況が続く中で、より多くの資金の動きを生み出そうとする政策は、 好景気を感じさせるインフレを引き起こします。 「物が売れるようになった」「景気が良くなった」と思いがちなインフレですが、 行き過ぎると、「お金がお金として使えない」ハイパーインフレを引き起こし、 手元にいくら資金を持っていても、そのお金では何も買えない、という危機的状況にもつながりかねません。 このように、資本主義の危機をデフレではなく、インフレにみる著者の考えは 現代の経済政策を考えるときの新たな視点を与えてくれます。 そして、資本主義の危機を引き起こす鍵を握るのが「貨幣」。 「貨幣とは何か」「貨幣の持つ逆説とは」といった根源的な問いに対して、 マルクスの『資本論』をベースに、丁寧に読み解きつつ迫るのが本書

International relations affects everyone's lives: their security, economic well-being, rights and freedoms, and the environment they share. Recently we have seen the transformation from a world of empires to today's world of sovereign states, which are enmeshed in a complex array of international institutions, all exercising degrees of political authority. The new global organization of political authority has far-reaching consequences. This audiobook untangles this complex world, providing an accessible framework for understanding the contours of global political change.

二〇二一年初の米国連邦議会襲撃事件．憲法修正第二条を盾に武装した人民（ミリシア）と対峙する連邦キャピトル警察・州軍（ミリシア）が繰り広げる異様な光景が意味するものは何か．