A History of Ideas: Buddhism’s Four Noble Truths
Suffering is an inescapable part of life – or is it? For Buddha, following the Four Noble Truths could lead you to enlightenment. Only by recognising the causes of suffering and changing our behaviour to follow the Buddha’s path can we avoid suffering.
A History of Ideas: Ayn Rand on Selfishness
Do you have a duty to be selfish? Are altruism and self-sacrifice immoral? Does it sound like we’ve been taking ‘crazy’ pills? No. These are the thoughts of Russian/American novelist Ayn Rand.
A History of Ideas: Max Weber and the Protestant Ethic
Did the rise of capitalism really owe much of its early impetus to hard working Calvinists? That’s what Max Weber proposed.
A History of Ideas: Aristotle on ‘Flourishing'
How can we live a good life? For Aristotle ‘flourishing’ was at the core of a good life and the way to achieve this sense of satisfaction was through living virtuously.