In a wonderful synthesis of science, history, and imagination, Gino Segrè, an internationally renowned theoretical physicist, embarks on a wide-ranging exploration of how the fundamental scientific concept of temperature is bound up with the very essence of both life and matter. Why is the internal temperature of most mammals fixed near 98.6°? How do geologists use temperature to track the history of our planet? Why is the quest for absolute zero and its quantum mechanical significance the key to understanding superconductivity? And what can we learn from neutrinos, the subatomic "messages from the sun" that may hold the key to understanding the birth-and death-of our solar system? In answering these and hundreds of other temperature-sensitive questions, Segrè presents an uncanny view of the world around us.

This collection covers a volume of variegated moods, for the heart and social intellect. With varying styles, it represents an eclectic sampler ranging from hot greasy and funky erotic expression to contemporary social commentary. Much evolves over time, and this collection is such an effort. With some contemporary exceptions, the primary genesis of Its A Matter of Degree began some years ago. While styles have evolved over time, the messages reflected in these pieces remain current and strong. Life is still life, love is still love, and stuff remains stuff.

In Morality by Degrees, Alastair Norcross articulates and defends a radical new approach to ethical theory. Consequentialist theories of the right connect the rightness and wrongness (and related notions) of actions with the intrinsic goodness and badness of states of affairs consequential on those actions. The most popular such theory is maximization, which is said to demand of agents that they maximize the good, that they do the best they can, at all times. Thus it may seem that consequentialist theories are overly demanding, and, relatedly, that they cannot accommodate the phenomenon of going above and beyond the demands of duty. However, a clear understanding of consequentialism leaves no room for a theory of the right, at least not at the fundamental level of the theory. A consequentialist theory, such as utilitarianism, is a theory of how to rank outcomes, and derivatively actions, which provides reasons for choosing some actions over others. It is thus a purely scalar theory, with no demands that certain actions be performed, and no fundamental classification of actions as right or wrong. However, such notions may have pragmatic benefits at the level of application, since many people find it easier to guide their conduct by simple commands, rather than to think in terms of reasons of varying strength to do one thing rather than another. A contextualist semantics for various terms, such as "right", "permissible", "harm", when combined with the scalar approach to consequentialism, allows for the expression of truth-apt propositions with sentences containing such terms.

In Truly Understood, Christopher Peacocke argues that truth and reference have a much deeper role in the explanation of meaning and understanding than has hitherto been appreciated. Examination of specific concepts shows that a grasp of these concepts has to be characterized in terms of reference, identity, and relations to the world. Peacocke develops a positive general theory of understanding based on the idea that concepts are individuated by their fundamental reference rules, which contrasts sharply with conceptual-role, inferentialist, and pragmatist approaches to meaning. He treats thought about the material world, about places and times, and about the self within the framework of this general account, and extends the theory to explain the normative dimensions of content, which he believes are founded in the network of connections between concepts and the level of reference and truth. In the second part of the book, Peacocke explores the application of this account to some problematic mental phenomena, including the conception of many subjects of experience, concepts of conscious states, mental action, and our ability to think about the contents of our own and others' mental states.

A timely collection of debates concerning the major themes and topics in philosophy of mind, fully updated with new topics covering the latest developments in the field Contemporary Debates in Philosophy of Mind provides a lively and engaging introduction to the conceptual background, ongoing debates, and contentious issues in the field today. Original essays by more than 30 of the discipline’s most influential thinkers offer opposing perspectives on a series of contested questions regarding mental content, physicalism, the place of consciousness in the physical world, and the nature of perception and mental capacities. Written to appeal to non-specialists and professional philosophers alike, the second edition of Contemporary Debates in Philosophy of Mind features five entirely new debates on the relation between perception and cognition, whether pain is a natural kind, whether perception is best understood through representational content or direct contact with the world, whether we need imagination that goes beyond imagery and supposition, and whether perceptual contents are general, particular, or a hybrid. Presents 15 sets of specially commissioned essays with opposing viewpoints on central topics in philosophy of mind Offers head-to-head debates on central topics such as consciousness, intentionality, normativity, mental causation, materialism, and perception Provides a dynamic view of contemporary thinking about fundamental and controversial issues Includes a thorough introduction providing a comprehensive background to the issues explored in each debate Part of Wiley-Blackwell’s acclaimed Contemporary Debates in Philosophy series, Contemporary Debates in Philosophy of Mind, Second Edition is essential reading for undergraduate and graduate students, academics, professional philosophers, and sophisticated general readers with an interest in the subject.

In thirteen specially written essays, leading philosophers explore Kantian themes in moral and political philosophy that are prominent in the work of Thomas E. Hill, Jr. The first three essays focus on respect and self-respect.; the second three on practical reason and public reason. The third section covers a set of topics in social and political philosophy, including Kantian perspectives on homicide and animals. The final set of essays discuss duty, volition, and complicity in ethics. In conclusion Hill offers an overview of his work and responses to the preceding essays.

In Vagueness and Degrees of Truth, Nicholas Smith develops a new theory of vagueness: fuzzy plurivaluationism. A predicate is said to be vague if there is no sharply defined boundary between the things to which it applies and the things to which it does not apply. For example, 'heavy' is vague in a way that 'weighs over 20 kilograms' is not. A great many predicates - both in everyday talk, and in a wide array of theoretical vocabularies, from law to psychology to engineering - are vague. Smith argues, on the basis of a detailed account of the defining features of vagueness, that an accurate theory of vagueness must involve the idea that truth comes in degrees. The core idea of degrees of truth is that while some sentences are true and some are false, others possess intermediate truth values: they are truer than the false sentences, but not as true as the true ones. Degree-theoretic treatments of vagueness have been proposed in the past, but all have encountered significant objections. In light of these, Smith develops a new type of degree theory. Its innovations include a definition of logical consequence that allows the derivation of a classical consequence relation from the degree-theoretic semantics, a unified account of degrees of truth and subjective probabilities, and the incorporation of semantic indeterminacy - the view that vague statements need not have unique meanings - into the degree-theoretic framework. As well as being essential reading for those working on vagueness, Smith's book provides an excellent entry-point for newcomers to the era - both from elsewhere in philosophy, and from computer science, logic and engineering. It contains a thorough introduction to existing theories of vagueness and to the requisite logical background.

The Secrets of Prosperity: A Compilation of the Greatest Writings on Wealth and Success Welcome to The Secrets of Prosperity, an unparalleled collection of the most powerful and enlightening works on wealth and success. This book brings together writings from renowned thinkers and authors like Florence Scovel Shinn, James Allen, Neville Goddard, Wallace D. Wattles, and many others. Each work has been carefully selected for its ability to inspire, guide, and transform the lives of those who aspire to achieve prosperity. In our quest for abundance, we often explore various paths to find answers. This unique compilation offers a wealth of perspectives, ranging from practical, down-to-earth principles to deeper metaphysical teachings. By bringing these texts together in one volume, we provide a valuable tool for understanding the many facets of success. Books like The Kybalion play a crucial role in this exploration. While their content may initially seem abstract or esoteric, these texts provide keys to understanding the universal laws that govern our reality. By studying these metaphysical principles, we develop a deeper understanding of our own power and our ability to influence our lives and environment. This collection includes a variety of books, from lighter, more accessible works to more advanced spiritual and philosophical texts. Each reading offers a new perspective and can reveal different insights each time you revisit it. The essential thing is not to take these writings as absolute truths, but to find what resonates with you at a given moment and to be attentive to those resonances. As you journey through The Secrets of Prosperity, you will discover that each author brings their own vision and methods for achieving prosperity. Whether through positive thinking, affirmations, visualization, or understanding universal laws, you will find valuable and practical elements for your own journey. The important thing is to remain open, curious, and willing to experiment with what works for you. This book is more than just a collection of texts; it is a guide to personal transformation. We hope this compilation will inspire you, stimulate you, and accompany you on your journey toward a richer and more fulfilling life. May each page be a source of light and wisdom in your quest for prosperity. This compilation includes: "The Game of Life and How to Play It", Florence Scovel Shinn (1925) "As A Man Thinketh", James Allen (1902) "Feeling is the Secret", Neville Goddard (1944) "The Kybalion", Three Initiates (1908) "The Science of Getting Rich", Wallace D. Wattles (1910) "The Art of Money Getting: Golden Rules for Making Money", P.T. Barnum (1880) "The Secret of Success", William Walker Artkinson (1908) "The Mental Equivalent", Emmet Fox (1943) "Franklin's Way to Wealth - or, ‘Poor Richard Improved’", Benjamin Franklin (1758) Happy reading!

This book presents a catalogue of those matriculated or admitted to any degree in the University of Cambridge from 1544 to 1659.