Philosophy & Literature

Truth, beauty, goodness and commitment give the four sections of this anthology by Cameron Thompson and Peter Thompson, which sets literary works beside the philosophical ideas they express. Truth, beauty and goodness follow Plato, while the section on commitment speaks to modern concerns. Each section opens with philosophical writing, and the literary selections include plays, poems, short stories and novels, each with a biography of its author. Plato, Aristotle, Descartes and Kant appear, though most of the thinkers and writers are from the 20th century, and prominent American women are among the authors. Questions for students and introductions to each philosopher support classroom use, and the book stayed in print for 25 years after it first appeared in 1969.

It appears on a list of every book Barack Obama recommended during his presidency.