The Essential Mary Midgley
2nd Edition
Published on 19. May 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
583 pages
978-1-032-95782-1 (ISBN)
Description
Feared and admired in equal measure, Mary Midgley has carefully yet profoundly challenged many of the scientific and moral orthodoxies of the twentieth century.
The Essential Mary Midgley is a must-have anthology of the very best of Midgley's philosophy, whose work is described by the Financial Times as 'common sense philosophy of the highest order'. Incorporating carefully selected excerpts from Mary Midgley's bestselling books, including Wickedness, Beast and Man, Science and Poetry, and The Myths We Live By, this second edition includes some of her best work from the last twenty or so years, including The Solitary Self, Are you an Illusion?, and What Is Philosophy For?
The Essential Mary Midgley presents a superb introduction to her work, covering the topics that she returned to frequently, such as the roots of human nature, reason and imagination, the myths of science, the importance of holism in thinking about science and the environment and the nature of the self.
Expertly edited and introduced by David Midgley, this second edition includes a new Foreword by Rachael Wiseman.
The Essential Mary Midgley is a must-have anthology of the very best of Midgley's philosophy, whose work is described by the Financial Times as 'common sense philosophy of the highest order'. Incorporating carefully selected excerpts from Mary Midgley's bestselling books, including Wickedness, Beast and Man, Science and Poetry, and The Myths We Live By, this second edition includes some of her best work from the last twenty or so years, including The Solitary Self, Are you an Illusion?, and What Is Philosophy For?
The Essential Mary Midgley presents a superb introduction to her work, covering the topics that she returned to frequently, such as the roots of human nature, reason and imagination, the myths of science, the importance of holism in thinking about science and the environment and the nature of the self.
Expertly edited and introduced by David Midgley, this second edition includes a new Foreword by Rachael Wiseman.
Reviews / Votes
'She has, perhaps, the sharpest perception of any living thinker of the dangerous extremism that lurks behind so much contemporary scientistic discourse.' - Bryan Appleyard, The Sunday Times'One of the sharpest critical pens in the West.' - Times Literary Supplement
'The value of Mary's thinking is that she questions the assumptions and investigates what she calls 'philosophical plumbing' and the role of different ideas in helping map our world...Having the whole of Mary's thinking summarised in one volume is enormously valuable, enabling the reader to access the essence of her approach.' - The Science and Medical Network Review 'She has, perhaps, the sharpest perception of any living thinker of the dangerous extremism that lurks behind so much contemporary scientistic discourse.' - Bryan Appleyard, The Sunday Times
'One of the sharpest critical pens in the West.' - Times Literary Supplement
'The value of Mary's thinking is that she questions the assumptions and investigates what she calls 'philosophical plumbing' and the role of different ideas in helping map our world...Having the whole of Mary's thinking summarised in one volume is enormously valuable, enabling the reader to access the essence of her approach.' - The Science and Medical Network Review
More details
Edition
2nd edition
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
General
Dimensions
Height: 212 mm
Width: 138 mm
Thickness: 37 mm
Weight
729 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-032-95782-1 (9781032957821)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Mary Midgley | David Midgley
The Essential Mary Midgley
E-Book
05/2026
2nd Edition
Routledge
€55.49
Available for download
Mary Midgley | David Midgley
The Essential Mary Midgley
Book
05/2026
2nd Edition
Routledge
€192.50
Shipment within 10-20 days
Mary Midgley | David Midgley
The Essential Mary Midgley
E-Book
05/2026
2nd Edition
Routledge
€55.49
Available for download
Previous edition
Persons
Mary Midgley (1919-2018) was one of the leading moral philosophers of her generation and has been described by The Guardian as 'the foremost scourge of scientific pretension in this country'. Many of her books are available in Routledge Classics, including Beast and Man, Wickedness and The Myths We Live By.
David Midgley is a social and environmental activist and a teacher of Buddhist philosophy and meditation. In 1996 he founded Jamyang Buddhist Centre Leeds, and taught regularly at the Centre for 25 years.
David Midgley is a social and environmental activist and a teacher of Buddhist philosophy and meditation. In 1996 he founded Jamyang Buddhist Centre Leeds, and taught regularly at the Centre for 25 years.
Content
Foreword Rachael Wiseman Acknowledgements Preface to Second Edition David Midgley Introduction David Midgley Part 1: The Roots of Human Nature 1. Have We a Nature? 2. Animals and the Problem of Evil 3. Speech and Other Excellences 4. Pseudo-Darwinism and Social Atomism 5. The Natural Springs of Morality 6. The Problem of Natural Evil 7. The Elusiveness of Responsibility 8. Selves and Shadows 9. Emotion, Emotiveness and Sentimentality 10. Equality and Outer Darkness 11. Is a Dolphin a Person? Part 2: Philosophizing Out in the World 12. Philosophical Plumbing 13. Wisdom and Contemplation 14. The Withdrawal of Moral Philosophy 15. Escaping from Solitude 16. Sciencephobia and its Sources 17. What is Materialism? (And, by the way, what is matter?) 18. The Human Heart and Other Organs 19. On Trying Out One's New Sword on a Chance Wayfarer Part 3: The Myths of Science 20. Salvation and the Academics 21. Evolutionary Dramas 22. The Irresistible Escalator 23. The Service of Self and the Service of Kali 24. Biotechnology and the Yuk Factor 25. The Supernatural Engineer 26. The Remarkable Masculine Birth Of Time Part 4: Reason and Imagination 27. The Sources of Thought 28. Atomistic Visions: The Quest for Permanence 29. Putting Our Selves Together Again 30. A Plague on Both Their Houses Part 5: Gaian Thinking: Putting it All Together 31. Individualism and the Concept of Gaia 32. Gods and Goddesses: The Role of Wonder 33. Why there is Such a Thing as Society 34. The Unity of Life Part 6: The Life of a Philosopher - A Reflective Overview 35. Six Early Life - Ancestors and Downe House School 36. Oxford - The Philosophical Scene 37. Escaping from Oxford - Plotinus, Wittgenstein, and the Consolations of Philosophy. Bibliography Index