An insightful look at the philosophy of language. Philosophers have traditionally approached questions of meaning as part of the philosophy of language. In this book David Cooper broadens the analysis beyond linguistic meaning to offer an account of meaning in general. He shows that not only words, sentences, and utterances in the linguistic domain can be described as meaningful but also items in such domains as art, ceremony, social action, and bodily gesture. Unlike much of the recent work in the philosophy of meaning, Cooper is not concerned with trying to develop a theory of (linguistic)...

By focusing on the idea that agency involves causal sensitivity to reasons, Rowland Stout shows how agency is one of the most useful ways into the philosophy of mind: if one can understand what it is to be a free and rational agent, then one can understand what it is to be a conscious subject of experience. Some of the questions considered include: Is all action intentional action? Is intentional action characterized by its relation with possible justification? Do beliefs motivate actions or do facts? What is the nature of the causal process of acting? Are intentions independent components in...

Stuart Brock and Edwin Mares offer a clear introduction to different realist and anti-realist positions and arguments in five key domains - science, ethics, mathematics, modality, and fictional objects. Realism and Anti-Realism focuses on the core concept of realism, taking the perspective that, for each domain considered, there are facts or entities distinctive to that domain whose existence and nature is in some important sense objective and mind-independent. For each of the five areas the authors examine the various styles of argument in support of and against realism and anti-realism,...

What is death? How should the knowledge of our finitude affect the living of our lives and what are the virtues suitable to mortal beings? Does death destroy the meaningfulness of life or would life that never ended be eternally and absurdly tedious? Can death really be an evil if, after death, we no longer exist as subjects of goods or evils? How should we respond to the deaths of others and do we have any duties towards the dead? Geoffrey Scarre addresses these important questions and many others in his introduction to the philosophy of death. Drawing from a wide variety of philosophical...

What is death? How should the knowledge of our finitude affect the living of our lives and what are the virtues suitable to mortal beings? Does death destroy the meaningfulness of life or would life that never ended be eternally and absurdly tedious? Can death really be an evil if, after death, we no longer exist as subjects of goods or evils? How should we respond to the deaths of others and do we have any duties towards the dead? Geoffrey Scarre addresses these important questions and many others in his introduction to the philosophy of death. Drawing from a wide variety of philosophical...

An accessible introduction to the history and philosophy of rights.

What is relativism?Even philosophers like Rorty and Putnam who are regarded as archetypal relativists deny that they are such and indeed launch strong attacks on what they see as relativism. What is a relativist posistion? The text discusses the positions grouped under the label of relavitism and deals with the 5 main kinds, showing what makes a position relativist in comparison to sceptical and pluralist positions. The text covers authors such as Quine, Russell, Searle, Putnam and Friege.

This CD accompanies a collection of four complete practice tests for the updated Key English Test (KET), specially prepared by University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations. These tests provide candidates with an excellent opportunity to familiarise themselves with the updated KET exam (to be introduced in March 2004) and to practise examination techniques. Visual material for Paper 3 is included with each test, enabling students to prepare thoroughly for the paired Speaking test. The Student's Book is available with or without answers. The 'with answers' edition contains a comprehensive section...