Thinking Philosophically

ISBN-13: 9780631219354 / Angielski / Miękka / 2001 / 360 str.

Richard E. Creel

Opis

Thinking Philosophically begins by helping the reader acquire a lively sense of what philosophy is, how it began, why it persists, and how it is related to other fields of study, especially science.

Recenzje

"The book is written in a clear, lively, and engaging style. The selection of topics is excellent, and the writing is done in such a way as to directly engage the beginning student in thinking about philosophical issues. Creel does an excellent job of relating basic philosophical issues to the concerns of everyday life. All in all, a superb job." William Alston, Syracuse University

"It is clear the book is born of experience in teaching students. Creel addresses objections they are likely to have and engages them right where they are coming from. The book stays focused on ′big issues′ in a way that matches up with students′ expectations of what a philosophy class should be about." Trenton Merricks, Virginia Commonwealth University

"Thinking Philosophically will make a lively and distinctive addition to the introductory literature. The book will allow teachers and students alike to benefit from Richard Creel′s own experience as an undergraduate teacher. Strongly recommended." Aaron Ridley, University of Southampton

Spis treści

A Preface to Teachers.

Acknowledgments.

Philosophers in Thinking Philosophically.

Part I: Metaphilosophy:.

1. Introduction.

2. What is Philosophy?.

3. Why We Do Philosophy.

4. The Two Most Basic Causes of Philosophy.

5. Reason, Philosophy, and Other Disciplines.

6. Methods for Doing Philosophy.

7. Things Philosophers Do.

8. A Healthy Philosophical Attitude.

9. Alternatives to Philosophy.

Part II: Epistemology:.

Chapter 10: What is Truth?.

11. What is Knowledge?.

12. Logic – Understanding and Evaluating Arguments.

Part III: THEORY OF VALUE:.

13. Axiology and Happiness.

14. Ethics and Morality.

Part IV: Metaphysics:.

15. Freedom & Determinism.

16. The Mind/Body Problem.

17. Philosophical Theism.

18. Philosophical Materialism.

19. Metaphysical Idealism.

Part V: Parting Remarks:.

Index.

O autorze

Richard Creel is Professor of Philosophy and Religion at Ithaca College. He is a past president of the New York State Philosophical Association and is author of Religion and Doubt (second edition, 1991) and Divine Impassibility (1986).

Blurb

Thinking Philosophically begins by helping the reader acquire a lively sense of what philosophy is, how it began, why it persists, and how it is related to other fields of study, especially science.

Readers are given three methods for thinking about and discussing philosophical problems: The Socratic Method, Running out the Permutations, Rational Dialogue. The remainder of the book explores topics and positions in the three most basic areas of philosophy: Theory of Knowledge, Theory of Value, and Metaphysics. Numerous positions are explained, defended, and then critiqued. Each critique leads to a new position which is given the same threefold treatment. This dialectical process allows the reader to move beyond solitary reflection to fruitful philosophical dialogue with others.