How much do our perceptions of things depend on our cognitive ability, and how much on our linguistic resources? Where, and how, do these two questions meet? Umberto Eco undertakes a series of idiosyncratic and typically brilliant explorations, starting from the perceived data of common sense, from which flow an abundance of 'stories' or fables, often with animals as protagonists, to expound a clear critique of Kant, Heidegger and Peirce. And as a beast designed specifically to throw spanners in the works of cognitive theory, the duckbilled platypus naturally takes centre stage.

Umberto Eco(19322016) wrote fiction, literary criticism and philosophy. His first novel,The Name of the Rose, was a major international bestseller. His other works includeFoucault's Pendulum,The Island of the Day Before, Baudolino,The Mysterious Flame of Queen Loana, The Prague CemeteryandNumero Zeroalong with many brilliant collections of essays.

A playful collection of philosophical critiques from the internationally acclaimed and bestselling author of The Name of the Rose and The Prague Cemetery