Think

Name: Think
Author: Simon Blackburn

Simon Blackburn

Explore philosophy’s biggest questions about truth, morality, free will, and the mind while sharpening how you understand life.

19 min5 Chapters

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Personal Growth & Self-Help

Philosophy

Education & Creativity

Outline

What's it about?

Think (1999) is an accessible introduction to philosophy for general readers. Simon Blackburn explores central questions about knowledge, the mind, free will, personal identity, reasoning, and morality, and introduces the ideas of great thinkers such as Descartes and Hume. The book encourages readers to think carefully and critically about their own beliefs.

Key ideas

Think is an accessible introduction to philosophy written for general readers, not specialists.
The book works through central questions about knowledge, the mind, free will, personal identity, reasoning, and morality.
Simon Blackburn introduces the ideas of great thinkers such as Descartes and Hume along the way.
Its larger aim is to get readers to think carefully and critically about their own beliefs.

About the author

Simon Blackburn is a British philosopher, born in 1944, who taught at the University of Cambridge. He is known for making philosophy understandable to a wide audience. His other books include The Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy and Being Good.

Questions people ask

Who is Think by Simon Blackburn for?

It is written for general readers who are curious about philosophy and have no background in it. Anyone who wants to examine their own beliefs more carefully will find it useful.

What is the main idea of Think?

Blackburn introduces philosophy through its core questions, including knowledge, the mind, free will, personal identity, reasoning, and morality. The book encourages readers to question their own beliefs instead of simply accepting them.

How long does the Think summary on Durar take?

The Durar summary of Think takes about 15 minutes to read or listen to. It covers the book's main questions and the thinkers it draws on, such as Descartes and Hume.