Good And Evil: 12 Philosophers On How To Live Edited by Andrew Irwin [Hardcover]

Introduced by Rory Stewart, this book is an accessible collection of essays examining one of philosophy's oldest and most enduring questions: What makes people good or evil?

Instead of presenting a single answer, the book brings together essays by different scholars, each explaining the ideas of a major philosopher and how they approached morality, ethics, and human behavior. Readers are introduced to contrasting perspectives, including:

• Hannah Arendt and the concept of the "banality of evil"
• Friedrich Nietzsche on suffering, strength, and values
• John Stuart Mill on happiness and utilitarian ethics
• Niccolò Machiavelli on power and political realism

By comparing these and other philosophical viewpoints, the book encourages readers to think critically about why people commit harmful acts, what moral responsibility means, and how individuals and societies can cultivate ethical behavior.

Rather than arguing for one "correct" moral philosophy, it presents a range of influential ideas and invites readers to weigh their strengths and limitations.