Philosophy and Religion

Delve into the myths and legends of Celtic folklore in this classic text, written by Arthurian expert Charles Squire. From King Arthur to Gaelic gods, this authoritative study explores the characters found in Celtic myth and epic poetry. These tales are not only extensively researched but beautiful and moving, with sections on Celtic paganism, druidism and the giants of ancient Briton. The go

The first full-length volume of Rumi´s cherished verse, from bestselling poet Daniel Ladinsky Renowned for his poignant renderings of mystical texts, here Daniel Ladinsky captures the beauty, intimacy, and musicality of one of Islam´s most beloved poets and spiritual thinkers. With learned insight and a delicate touch, this work explores the nuances of desire—that universal emotion—i

A new edition to Arcturus's growing list of non-fiction classics, On Happiness contains the Greek philosopher's teachings about life and death, religion and science, happiness, friendship and morality. His views were influential on later scientists and philosophers, such as Isaac Newton, Thomas Hobbes and Karl Marx, given his thoughts on the value of scientific observation as the only way to pro

Chivalry is a flower no less indigenous to the soil of Japan than its emblem, the cherry blossom; nor is it a dried-up specimen of an antique virtue preserved in the herbarium of our history. It is still a living object of power and beauty among us. To many people, the word samurai conjures images of menacing masks, long blades and elaborate armour. However, this classic text by Inazo Nitobe r

Could it be possible? This old saint in the forest hath not yet heard of it, that God is dead! The ancient Persian prophet Zarathustra descends from a life of solitude on the mountain to announce to the world that God has been supplanted by the "Superman", the divine in human form. In one of the most radical and influential works of modern philosophy, Friedrich Nietzsche lays out the new standa

A great battle is about to break out between two warring sets of cousins. The Pandava prince Arjuna, a mighty warrior, surveys the battlefield. Suddenly he finds himself gazing on the faces of the friends and family that he must now fight. Deeply conflicted Arjuna casts down his weapons and calls on the council of his charioteer Krishna. So begins the Bhagavad Gita... The Bhagavad Gita is the f

Even the gods envy those who are awakened and not forgetful, who are given to meditation, who are wise, and who delight in the repose of retirement (from the world). The Dhammapada is one of the world's great spiritual texts, providing the Buddha's own advice on how to live one's life. Through a collection of simple verses, it guides the reader down a path of wisdom, morality and compassion. Th

The Meditations on First Philosophy is one of Descartes's best-known works and one of the most influential philosophical texts ever written. This treatise offers Descartes' metaphysical views on the relationship between the mind and thought, the nature of reality and how accumulated knowledge and our experiences affect us. First published in 1641, the work consists of six meditations on the fo

Ranging from a few words to a few pages, the aphorisms in Human, All Too Human present Friedrich Nietzsche's thoughts on a variety of subjects, including the nature of reality (metaphysics); moral feelings, especially the concepts of good and evil; the argument that great art is the product of hard work as opposed to 'genius' and inspiration; free-thinking; the evolution of men, women and childr

Meet gullible trolls, enterprising princesses and nefarious wizards in this treasury of 25 Norse fairy tales. Collected by Peter Christen Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Moe in the 19th century, these Norwegian stories are described by Jacob Grimm as "surpassing nearly all others." They include such well-loved tales as 'The Three Billy Goat's Gruff' and 'Taming the Shrew' and open a window into the beau

Moral character, so to say, constitutes the most effective means of proof. In ancient Greece, rhetoric was at the centre of public life. Many writers attempted to provide manuals to help improve debating skills, but it was not until Aristotle produced The Art of Rhetoric in the 4th century bc that the subject had a true masterpiece. As he considered the role of emotion, reason, and morality i

The sight of suffering does one good, the infliction of suffering does one more good - this is a hard maxim, but none the less a fundamental maxim, old, powerful, and "human, all-too-human". In this daring and insightful work, Nietzsche lays bare the hypocrisies at the foundations of our ideas of morality. Considering ideas of good and evil, guilt and conscience, and law and violence along the