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Routledge Focus on Philosophy

About the Book Series

Routledge Focus on Philosophy is an exciting and innovative new series, capturing and disseminating some of the best and most exciting new research in philosophy in short book form. Peer reviewed and at a maximum of fifty thousand words shorter than the typical research monograph, Routledge Focus on Philosophy titles are available in both ebook and print on demand format. Tackling big topics in a digestible format the series opens up important philosophical research for a wider audience, and as such is invaluable reading for the scholar, researcher and student seeking to keep their finger on the pulse of the discipline. The series also reflects the growing interdisciplinarity within philosophy and will be of interest to those in related disciplines across the humanities and social sciences.

22 Series Titles


Honouring and Admiring the Immoral An Ethical Guide

Honouring and Admiring the Immoral: An Ethical Guide

1st Edition

By Alfred Archer, Benjamin Matheson
May 31, 2023

Is it appropriate to honour and admire people who have created great works of art, made important intellectual contributions, performed great sporting feats, or shaped the history of a nation if those people have also acted immorally? This book provides a philosophical investigation of this ...

Newton's Third Rule and the Experimental Argument for Universal Gravity

Newton's Third Rule and the Experimental Argument for Universal Gravity

1st Edition

By Mary Domski
May 31, 2023

This book provides a reading of Newton’s argument for universal gravity that is focused on the evidence-based, "experimental" reasoning that Newton associates with his program of experimental philosophy. It highlights the richness and complexity of the Principia and also draws important lessons ...

The Epistemology and Morality of Human Kinds

The Epistemology and Morality of Human Kinds

1st Edition

By Marion Godman
May 31, 2023

Natural kinds is a widely used and pivotal concept in philosophy – the idea being that the classifications and taxonomies employed by science correspond to the real kinds in nature. Natural kinds are often opposed to the idea of kinds in the human and social sciences, which are typically seen as ...

The Ethics of Whistleblowing

The Ethics of Whistleblowing

1st Edition

By Eric R. Boot
May 31, 2023

Following the enormous political, legal, and media interest that has surrounded high profile cases of whistleblowing, such as Chelsea Manning and Edward Snowden, the fundamental ethical questions surrounding whistleblowing have often been obscured. In this fascinating book Eric Boot examines the ...

The Philosophy and Psychology of Commitment

The Philosophy and Psychology of Commitment

1st Edition

By John Michael
May 31, 2023

The phenomenon of commitment is a cornerstone of human social life. Commitments make individuals’ behavior predictable, thereby facilitating the planning and coordination of joint actions involving multiple agents. Moreover, commitments make people willing to rely upon each other, and thereby ...

A Defence of Nihilism

A Defence of Nihilism

1st Edition

By James Tartaglia, Tracy Llanera
August 01, 2022

This book offers a philosophical defence of nihilism. The authors argue that the concept of nihilism has been employed pejoratively by almost all philosophers and religious leaders to indicate a widespread cultural crisis of truth, meaning, or morals. Many religious believers think atheism leads to...

The Right to Know Epistemic Rights and Why We Need Them

The Right to Know: Epistemic Rights and Why We Need Them

1st Edition

By Lani Watson
May 30, 2022

We speak of the right to know with relative ease. You have the right to know the results of a medical test or to be informed about the collection and use of personal data. But what exactly is the right to know, and who should we trust to safeguard it? This book provides the first comprehensive ...

What We Ought and What We Can

What We Ought and What We Can

1st Edition

By Alex King
September 30, 2021

Are we able to do everything we ought to do? According to the important but controversial Ought Implies Can principle, the answer is yes. In this book Alex King sheds some much-needed light on this principle. She argues that it is flawed because we are obligated to perform some actions that we ...

How We Understand Others Philosophy and Social Cognition

How We Understand Others: Philosophy and Social Cognition

1st Edition

By Shannon Spaulding
December 18, 2020

In our everyday social interactions, we try to make sense of what people are thinking, why they act as they do, and what they are likely to do next. This process is called mindreading. Mindreading, Shannon Spaulding argues in this book, is central to our ability to understand and interact with ...

Plant Minds A Philosophical Defense

Plant Minds: A Philosophical Defense

1st Edition

By Chauncey Maher
March 05, 2019

The idea that plants have minds can sound improbable, but some widely respected contemporary scientists and philosophers find it plausible. It turns out to be rather tricky to vindicate the presumption that plants do not have minds, for doing so requires getting clear about what plants can do and ...

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