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Smithsonian Visual Encyclopedia
Philosophy A Visual Encyclopedia
The perfect book for young readers looking to explore some of life's biggest questions.
Thousands of years ago, ancient philosophers asked some important questions: "What is real?", "What is everything made of?", "Why does evil exist?", and "What can I know?" These questions have gone on to spark passionate debates about our existence and how we understand the world around us.
In this engaging and accessible introduction to philosophy, readers aged 11+ will be introduced to a variety of philosophical ideas through the teachings of Plato, Confucius, Simone de Beauvoir, and many more.
Vibrant, reader-friendly illustrations bring the history of ideas and thinking to life, and provide topics for reflection and debate. With biographies of the most influential philosophers from around the world, young readers will explore the questions that have been fundamental to the development of scientific study, logical thinking, religious beliefs, freedom in society, and much more. Thought experiments peppered throughout will help to connect readers with the theories presented so they can apply them to their own lives.
Thousands of years ago, ancient philosophers asked some important questions: "What is real?", "What is everything made of?", "Why does evil exist?", and "What can I know?" These questions have gone on to spark passionate debates about our existence and how we understand the world around us.
In this engaging and accessible introduction to philosophy, readers aged 11+ will be introduced to a variety of philosophical ideas through the teachings of Plato, Confucius, Simone de Beauvoir, and many more.
Vibrant, reader-friendly illustrations bring the history of ideas and thinking to life, and provide topics for reflection and debate. With biographies of the most influential philosophers from around the world, young readers will explore the questions that have been fundamental to the development of scientific study, logical thinking, religious beliefs, freedom in society, and much more. Thought experiments peppered throughout will help to connect readers with the theories presented so they can apply them to their own lives.
207 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 10, 2020
27 people are currently reading
175 people want to read
About the author
D.K. Publishing
9,140 books2,050 followersDorling Kindersley (DK) is a British multinational publishing company specializing in illustrated reference books for adults and children in 62 languages. It is part of Penguin Random House, a consumer publishing company jointly owned by Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA and Pearson PLC. Bertelsmann owns 53% of the company and Pearson owns 47%.
Established in 1974, DK publishes a range of titles in genres including travel (including Eyewitness Travel Guides), arts and crafts, business, history, cooking, gaming, gardening, health and fitness, natural history, parenting, science and reference. They also publish books for children, toddlers and babies, covering such topics as history, the human body, animals and activities, as well as licensed properties such as LEGO, Disney and DeLiSo, licensor of the toy Sophie la Girafe. DK has offices in New York, London, Munich, New Delhi, Toronto and Melbourne.
Source: Wikipedia.
Established in 1974, DK publishes a range of titles in genres including travel (including Eyewitness Travel Guides), arts and crafts, business, history, cooking, gaming, gardening, health and fitness, natural history, parenting, science and reference. They also publish books for children, toddlers and babies, covering such topics as history, the human body, animals and activities, as well as licensed properties such as LEGO, Disney and DeLiSo, licensor of the toy Sophie la Girafe. DK has offices in New York, London, Munich, New Delhi, Toronto and Melbourne.
Source: Wikipedia.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 14, 2022
*Philosophy: A visual Encyclopaedia *
Some books are just beautiful whether it is on account of their content, font , pictures , binding or cover but these just have a magnetic pull. This book is one such. It gives an overview of the subject of philosophy without letting the general reader get bogged down into unnecessary details. After reading this book I am planning to read some more detailed texts on philosophy to supplement my knowledge. While reading this book, I also watched Crash Course on Philosophy which helped me develop better understanding of the topics I read in this book. I’d not really recommend this book to someone looking for a good source of knowledge but if you just want an overview, like me, then go for it.
Some books are just beautiful whether it is on account of their content, font , pictures , binding or cover but these just have a magnetic pull. This book is one such. It gives an overview of the subject of philosophy without letting the general reader get bogged down into unnecessary details. After reading this book I am planning to read some more detailed texts on philosophy to supplement my knowledge. While reading this book, I also watched Crash Course on Philosophy which helped me develop better understanding of the topics I read in this book. I’d not really recommend this book to someone looking for a good source of knowledge but if you just want an overview, like me, then go for it.
February 18, 2023
I loved this book! I borrowed from the library and thought I would just lightly skim through. I ended up reading every page. The way it was laid out was so helpful and informative. The level was which it summarized each important philosophical concept was perfect. I felt like it succinctly encapsulated all the important arguments regarding the questions and concepts that have concerned (sometimes stumped) the great philosophers (both eastern and western) since pre-Socratics. I ended up buying because I feel like I will be referring back to this one often. I will force my children to read this one when they get a little older. It has me considering all the other similar D.K. Encyclopedia books.
July 5, 2023
Overall, this is a great introduction to philosophy. I appreciate the illustrations which enhance several of the concepts. I also feel the author(s) tried to have a balanced perspective of philosophers from various regions and incorporates several women and minorities views.
June 30, 2021
A good introduction to philosophy, aimed at a younger market it was still a good book.
July 27, 2025
One Star: A Colourful Display of Philosophical Evasion
If philosophy is the love of wisdom, this book feels more like an on-again-off-again relationship with postmodern platitudes.
It opens by saying philosophy helps us think clearly and seek truth, then spends the rest of the book avoiding both. Core concepts are skimmed. Truth is relativised. God is side-eyed. And one of history’s most influential philosophers, Jesus, is mysteriously absent from entire epochs where his influence was seismic.
This isn’t a reference book. It’s a worldview tour with curated thinkers, selective quotes, and a heavy lean toward modern secular assumptions. It’s bright, well-designed, and logically hollow.
Here are some highlights from my reading:
Notes from Inside the Book (yes, I read it):
Page 7 – Why Philosophy Matters
“Philosophy helps you think clearly,” says the text, then suggests truth is flexible and personal. Far from clarity, it’s materialism and its twin, moral relativism.
Pages 8–9 – Axial Age
Socrates, Confucius, Buddha, and others appear. Jesus, central to Western philosophical development, is curiously missing. Maybe he made too many truth claims? Awkward for a book pursuing truth.
Pages 122–125 – What Is a Good Life?
Goodness becomes “virtue,” “pleasure,” or “authenticity”, none of which are defined objectively. It’s an ethical salad bar. You get to pick what tastes good, and ignore the rest…because ‘good’ is whatever you want it to be.
Pages 128–129 – What Is a Good Act?
We’re given deontology, consequentialism, Hindu dharma, and a spider in a sink. The chapter never defines what “good” means, but it assures us that many people have thought about it. That’s nice.
Pages 134–135 – Are Moral Values Facts?
Spoiler: not really. Morality is reduced to emotional reactions (“boo-hooray” theory), and facts are kept in a separate box labelled “do not mix with values.” Consistency is optional.
Pages 136–137 – Do I Have Free Will?
You’re free unless your neurons say otherwise. The section explores determinism, compatibilism, and existentialist angst, but never anchors any of it in a moral framework that would make the question matter.
Pages 152–153 – What Is the Nature of God?
Religion finally gets some coverage, carefully framed. Thinkers like Aquinas are labelled “medieval,” Spinoza is praised for equating God with nature, and we’re told multiple times that God is unknowable. Ironically, that’s treated as a known fact. The philosophers that wrote this book would have failed philosophy class.
Aquinas is quoted as saying nothing we say about God is literally true, a gross simplification of his actual argument about analogy. And the underlying theme is clear: belief in a personal God is problematic, but pantheism or impersonal deism is intellectually palatable.
The takeaway? God is either everything, or nothing, but definitely not someone who might confront you with actual truth. That would be uncomfortable, therefore it’s safe to ignore.
This book looks like philosophy. It even quotes philosophers. But dig beneath the surface and you’ll find a carefully curated narrative, subtly reinforcing materialist assumptions while claiming neutrality.
If you’re looking for a genuine introduction to philosophical thought, especially one that takes theological reasoning seriously, this isn’t it.
It’s not offensive. It’s just evasive. And for a book about truth, that’s kind of the point. Truth should be pursued no matter where it leads, or how uncomfortable it makes you feel.
If philosophy is the love of wisdom, this book feels more like an on-again-off-again relationship with postmodern platitudes.
It opens by saying philosophy helps us think clearly and seek truth, then spends the rest of the book avoiding both. Core concepts are skimmed. Truth is relativised. God is side-eyed. And one of history’s most influential philosophers, Jesus, is mysteriously absent from entire epochs where his influence was seismic.
This isn’t a reference book. It’s a worldview tour with curated thinkers, selective quotes, and a heavy lean toward modern secular assumptions. It’s bright, well-designed, and logically hollow.
Here are some highlights from my reading:
Notes from Inside the Book (yes, I read it):
Page 7 – Why Philosophy Matters
“Philosophy helps you think clearly,” says the text, then suggests truth is flexible and personal. Far from clarity, it’s materialism and its twin, moral relativism.
Pages 8–9 – Axial Age
Socrates, Confucius, Buddha, and others appear. Jesus, central to Western philosophical development, is curiously missing. Maybe he made too many truth claims? Awkward for a book pursuing truth.
Pages 122–125 – What Is a Good Life?
Goodness becomes “virtue,” “pleasure,” or “authenticity”, none of which are defined objectively. It’s an ethical salad bar. You get to pick what tastes good, and ignore the rest…because ‘good’ is whatever you want it to be.
Pages 128–129 – What Is a Good Act?
We’re given deontology, consequentialism, Hindu dharma, and a spider in a sink. The chapter never defines what “good” means, but it assures us that many people have thought about it. That’s nice.
Pages 134–135 – Are Moral Values Facts?
Spoiler: not really. Morality is reduced to emotional reactions (“boo-hooray” theory), and facts are kept in a separate box labelled “do not mix with values.” Consistency is optional.
Pages 136–137 – Do I Have Free Will?
You’re free unless your neurons say otherwise. The section explores determinism, compatibilism, and existentialist angst, but never anchors any of it in a moral framework that would make the question matter.
Pages 152–153 – What Is the Nature of God?
Religion finally gets some coverage, carefully framed. Thinkers like Aquinas are labelled “medieval,” Spinoza is praised for equating God with nature, and we’re told multiple times that God is unknowable. Ironically, that’s treated as a known fact. The philosophers that wrote this book would have failed philosophy class.
Aquinas is quoted as saying nothing we say about God is literally true, a gross simplification of his actual argument about analogy. And the underlying theme is clear: belief in a personal God is problematic, but pantheism or impersonal deism is intellectually palatable.
The takeaway? God is either everything, or nothing, but definitely not someone who might confront you with actual truth. That would be uncomfortable, therefore it’s safe to ignore.
This book looks like philosophy. It even quotes philosophers. But dig beneath the surface and you’ll find a carefully curated narrative, subtly reinforcing materialist assumptions while claiming neutrality.
If you’re looking for a genuine introduction to philosophical thought, especially one that takes theological reasoning seriously, this isn’t it.
It’s not offensive. It’s just evasive. And for a book about truth, that’s kind of the point. Truth should be pursued no matter where it leads, or how uncomfortable it makes you feel.
July 17, 2022
Loved this book. Very informative and mind opening. I was sad I had a limited amount of time with it being I borrowed it from a library out of my parish. But may add it to my Christmas wish list so I can have it to reference every now and then.
February 4, 2023
18 - 2023
November 19, 2023
Just a light read, with beautiful illustrations and thought experiments. An introduction to Philosophy for someone like me with no background on the subject at all.
December 13, 2021
Very cool book
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews