The genealogy of the idea of security from ancient Greece to the war on terrorism

In The Security Principle, French philosopher Frédéric Gros takes a historical approach to the concept of "security", looking at its evolution from the Stoics to the social network. With lucidity and rigour, Gros's approach is fourfold, looking at security as a mental state, as developed by the Greeks; as an objective situation and absence of all danger, as prevailed in the Middle Ages; as guaranteed by the nation state and its trio of judiciary, police and military; and finally "biosecurity", control, regulation and protection in the flux of contemporary society. In this deeply thought-provoking account, Gros's exploration of security shines a light both on its past meanings as well as its present uses, exposing the contemporary abuses of security and the pervasiveness of it in everyday life in the Global North.

"Praise for A Philosophy of Walking: A passionate affirmation of the simple life, and joy in simple things. And it's beautifully written: clear, simple, precise." - Observer

"Praise for A Philosophy of Walking: Poignant life-stories ... are interspersed with the author's own meditations on walking... In the way a landscape is gradually absorbed by the long-distance rambler they steadily build into an insistent exhortation: get up, get out and walk!" - Independent

"Praise for A Philosophy of Walking: Life-affirming stuff." - National Geographic Traveler

"Praise for A Philosophy of Walking: Impressive." - Daily Telegraph

"Praise for A Philosophy of Walking: Philosopher Gros ponders walking, that most mundane mode of transportation or exercise, elevating it to its rightful place in inspiring creativity, evoking freedom, and quieting a troubled soul." - Booklist

"Praise for A Philosophy of Walking: This elegant book inspires consideration of an oft-overlooked subject." - Publisher's Weekly

"Praise for A Philosophy of Walking: An admirable little book which will delight even the most sedentary." - Le Monde

"Praise for A Philosophy of Walking: An unclassifiable book in which ideas are illuminated by the bright light of the morning." - L'Express

"Praise for A Philosophy of Walking: Resolving to take more walks in the new year might sound like promising to take more naps - choosing idleness over work. But a lot of clever people don't see it that way [...] Frédéric Gros asks why so many of our most productive writers and philosophers - Rousseau, Kant, Rimbaud, Robert Louis Stevenson, Nietzsche, Jack Kerouac - have also been indefatigable walkers." - Financial times

"Praise for A Philosophy of Walking: This short, simple and profound book... will be read and re-read." - Times Higher Education

"Praise for A Philosophy of Walking: Unpretentious and refreshing." - Flavorwire

"Praise for A Philosophy of Walking: A long walk, Gros suggests, allows us to commune with the sublime." - New York Times