From philosophy's founding fathers, such as Thales, Socrates, and Plato, to great minds of the postmodern era, such as Sartre, Ayer, and Feyerabend, this essential guide distills the thoughts of the world's most influential minds and explains their answers to some of philosophy's key questions. Is there a Supreme Being? Who am I? What is truth? Do we have free will? Why do bad things happen? How should we live? Is death the end of everything? What is the meaning of life? Arranged from the ancient world to the present day, each philosopher's notable works and pronouncements are encapsulated in a series of succinct, easy-to-read biographies, accompanied by illustrations, at-a-glance fact panels, and quotations, making this the ideal beginner's guide to a fascinating but often daunting subject.