Biographical headnotes, reading introductions, study questions, and special "Prologues" and "Philosophical Overviews" help students understand and appreciate the philosophical concepts under discussion. Throughout the text, "Philosophical Bridges" discuss how earlier thinkers would influence philosophers to com, and place major movements in a contemporary context, showing students how the schools of philosophy interrelate and how various philosophies apply to the world today. In addition to this comprehensive survey of the whole of philosophical history, individual volumes for each of the major historical eras are also available for specialized courses.