"Analytic philosophy is now widely regarded as the dominant tradition in philosophy today. But what exactly is it? How did it arise, and what are its characteristic methods and concerns? What are its main strengths and weaknesses? In this 'Very short introduction', Michael Beaney discusses the nature and development of analytic philosophy by exploring key questions that reveal some of its central concerns, and illustrate some of the core ideas of its main founders. He argues that while clarity of thinking, precision of expression, and rigour of argumentation are rightly seen as virtues of analytic philosophy, there are others -- such as its conceptual creativity -- that also deserve appreciation." -- from the front flap.