History of Western Philosophy outlines the history of Western philosophy from the beginnings to the present day. Philosophers usually speak of classical philosophy (600 BCE to 400 CE), medieval and renaissance philosophy (400 to 1600), modern philosophy (1600 to 1900), and contemporary philosophy (1900 to today). This brand-new volume discusses the major thinkers of each of these periods and their most influential ideas.

Reality, Religion, and the Mind examines metaphysics, the basic, broad study of reality. The field encompasses such fundamental questions as the following: Is there really a God? Is there life on other planets? Do other people feel the same sensations that I do? In addition, this volume explores philosophy of mind, a subfield within metaphysics, which asks such questions as whether the mind is the same thing as the brain. Coverage also includes philosophy of religion, another subfield within metaphysics. What, or who, is God? Are there souls? Can science and religion contradict each other? Is...

Knowledge, Logic, and Science examines the philosophical study of knowledge, known as epistemology. Typical epistemological questions include the following: What is knowledge? How do we know what we know? What kinds of things can we know? An important subfield within epistemology is logic, which is the study of the formal structures of reasoning and implication. Logic analyses the very criteria for what constitutes a good argument. Another subfield explored here is the philosophy of science--for instance, the relation between science and technology and the appropriate role of science in...

Values and the Good Life examines axiology, which is the study of values. Axiology explores whether it is ever okay to tell a lie or to steal--and asks what makes certain actions right and others wrong. This accessible new resource also examines the value concerns that regard our collective, social nature, often called social and political philosophy. For instance, what does it mean to be a good citizen? What are the appropriate roles and functions of government? What does it mean to live a good life? In addition, this volume explores aesthetic values, or values related to art.

We all face philosophical questions and concerns every day. Far from being abstract and subjective, philosophy is fundamental not only to what we do with our lives, but also to who we are and who we hope to be. The new, four-volume Facts On File Guide to Philosophy Set provides an accessible and engaging introduction to this important subject. Authors David Boersema and Kari Middleton are academic philosophers who specialize in teaching their subject to beginning philosophical students. Ideal for high school and college students, this set provides a comprehensive survey of philosophy, and...