Ruth Abbey is Professor and Chair of the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at Swinburne University in Australia. She is the author of Nietzsche's Middle Period; The Return of Feminist Liberalism; and Human All Too Human: A Critical Introduction and Guide. She is the editor of Contemporary Philosophy in Focus: Charles Taylor; Feminist Interpretations of John Rawls; and Cosmopolitan Civility. She has published a number of articles and book chapters on topics ranging from contemporary liberalism to conceptions of marriage to animal ethics.

Preface to the Second Edition Introduction 1. Understanding Knowledge 2. Talking about Language 3. Evaluating Morality 4. Sourcing the Self 5. Recognizing Democracy 6. Framing Religion. Index

This thought-provoking introduction outlines Taylor's ideas in a coherent and accessible way. Essential reading for students of philosophy, religion and political theory, and will be welcomed by the non-specialist looking for a guide to Taylor's body of work.