This volume, based on the Royal Institute of Philosophy's annual lecture series for 2014-15, explores the history of philosophy.

Preface Anthony O'Hear; 1. An introduction to Plato's theory of forms David Sedley; 2. Aristotle through lenses from Bernard Williams S. Broadie; 3. What is the matter with matter, according to Plotinus? A. A. Long; 4. Aquinas on what God is not Brian Davies; 5. Descartes on the errors of the senses Sarah Patterson; 6. Why should we read Spinoza? Susan James; 7. Managing expectations: Locke on the material mind and moral mediocrity Catherine Wilson; 8. Hume's 'manifest contradictions' P. J. E. Kail; 9. Kant's third critique: the project of unification Sebastian Gardner; 10. Why Hegel now (again) - and in what form? Robert Stern; 11. Is Nietzsche a life-affirmer? Simon May; 12. The Analytic Revolution Michael Beaney; 13. Ramsey's cognitivism: truth, ethics and the meaning of life Cheryl Misak; 14. Wittgenstein and the illusion of 'progress': on real politics and real philosophy in a world of technocracy Rupert Read.