Street Philosophy

A thought-provoking introduction to modern philosophy—from the cohost of the popular Philosophy Bites podcast

“Wonderfully sharp and human … an important book for bewildering times.” —Sarah Bakewell, bestselling author of At the Existentialist Café

In ten chapters, Street Philosophy offers an accessible tour through the big questions of philosophy, drawing inspiration from the things we all see walking down a busy city street: a phone theft, a car accident, a protest, graffiti, pollution. It asks: What is art? How do we think about personal responsibility and free will? When is it our ethical obligation to break the law? Is it immoral to eat meat?

Nigel Warburton, public philosopher and beloved podcast host, walks with us down this imagined street, relating how the great thinkers have wrestled with these topics, whether it’s Immanuel Kant on morality, Ludwig Wittgenstein on what makes a game, Martha Nussbaum on how human beings flourish, Peter Singer on our relationship with animals. Warburton is a wonderful guide to the subject. He has spent a lifetime reading and teaching on these questions but can explain complex ideas in simple language. And, crucially, he emphasizes that philosophy is not a spectator sport, encouraging his readers to wrestle with these concepts, too.

Street Philosophy is an invitation to us all to live a more examined life.