The essays in this book, drawn mainly from A. C. Grayling's columns in Prospect, the Dubliner and The Times , are in fact responses to questions set by editors and readers . ~ If beauty existed only in the eye of the beholder, would that make it an unimportant quality? ~ Are human rights political? ~ Can ethics be derived from evolution by natural selection? ~ If both sides in a conflict can passionately believe that theirs is the just cause, does this mean that the idea of justice is empty? ~ Does being happy make us good? And does being good make us happy? ~ Are human beings especially prone to self-deception? As in his previous books of popular philosophy, including the best-selling The Reason of Things and The Meaning of Things , rather than presenting a set of categorical answers Grayling offers instead suggestions for how to think about every aspect of a question, and arrive at one's own conclusions. As a result Thinking of Answers is both an enjoyable and inspirational collection.