Product Description
The philosophy of biology is one of the most exciting new areas in the field of philosophy and one that is attracting much attention from working scientists. This Companion, edited by two of the founders of the field, includes newly commissioned essays by senior scholars and up-and-coming younger scholars who collectively examine the main areas of the subject - the nature of evolutionary theory, classification, teleology and function, ecology, and the problematic relationship between biology and religion, among other topics. Up-to-date and comprehensive in its coverage, this unique volume will be of interest not only to professional philosophers but also to students in the humanities and researchers in the life sciences and related areas of inquiry. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

For those who care to pay attention....
The preceding review of this book is so silly, glib and off the mark that it requires some form of response. First, note that the title of the book is the Cambridge COMPANION to The Philosophy of Biology, which is indicative of its purpose as a supplementary collection of scholarly essays, each of which sets out to discuss particular contemporary issues internal to the philosophy of biology, of which there are many. It is not a book of biology. It is not a book about Philosophy with a capital 'P'. It is a book about biology and it's philosophical commitments. The idea that this book does or must take as its primary task the debate between Creationism/Intelligent Design and Evolution, or more generally the tension between biology and religion is absurd. This is not an introductory or popular book on evolution, biology, philosophy, Darwinism, or even the philosophy of science specifically. Nor should it be taken as weighing in (with anything approaching consensus) on issues associated only with Darwinism contra the previous reviewers assertions. The evolution/creationism debate, contrary to some popular opinion, is NOT the sine qua non of biology as a science, nor the philosophical issues associated with it. If nothing else this book illustrates that fact (The essay by Pennock being the only one in the collection that discusses the debate specifically). It is an anthology specifically tailored to a sub-discipline of the philosophy of science, concerned with identifying and evaluating conceptual assumptions and methodological practices in biology, as well as its historical and cultural development amongst other things. It has no unifying theme beyond this specificity of subject; it is intentionally broad in scope so as to touch on a variety of issues within the discipline. In other words, and apparently this bears repeating, it is about the philosophy OF biology; if you were previously unaware that such a discipline exists as a robust research program in contemporary philosophy, you are not likely to enjoy this book (yet!). It is a collection of specialized scholarly material and should be treated as such, and to that end, it succeeds. Some familiarity beyond book store browsing in both the philosophy of science and biology is presumed, and there is nothing clandestine about this. For those looking for an introduction to this discipline consider an introductory text along the lines of Sterelny and Griffith's 1999Sex and Death: An Introduction to Philosophy of Biology (Science and Its Conceptual Foundations series) , or Sober's 2000Philosophy of Biology, 2nd Edition (Dimensions of Philosophy). Readers interested in more 'grandiose' or less specialized scholarship, or for an introductory biology or philosophy text should obviously look elsewhere. If, alternatively, you are in the market for another book that spins some variant of "God smells and Darwin rules; QED", or you think that this is the only real question of interest regarding biology, do look elsewhere. Perhaps in a deep and remote cave.

Neither p nor b
The reader is bound to ask after reading this book, "What did the editors have in mind when they chose the title?" I would go further and ask what agenda they had in mind when they selected the articles presented? "Adaptation", which is a major aspect of evolutionary science was not written by an evolutionary biologist. Hence it was not surprising that the writer concluded with this statement: "...far from expressing enmity between modern biology and natural theology, explanatory adaptationism is testimony to the fellowship between the two traditions." Similarly, the writer of the article on "Population Genetics" concluded with no conclusion. Another philosopher tackled the biological study of "Macroevolution, Minimalism, Radiation" and choosing a narrow aspect of "paleobiology" takes us, from the writer's point of view, to a dead end. The same conlusion, or rather, non-conclusion, was the end of Jane Maienschein's "What is an 'Embryo' and how do we know?. Ronald Dworkin, and Lawrence Tribe have written some very helpful articles and essays on the beginning of life. The selection of the articles under the grandiose name of "Philosophy of Biology" was off the mark because neither Philosophy nor Biology was clearly elucidated, and where questions of philosophy were raised, stronger opposing views were not sought. So Robert Pennock concluded his article by saying, "Did God create nature, or did nature create God? Suffice to say, neither biology nor religion is yet in a position to claim the final answer." This conclusion is fine if both sides were fairly represented. They were not.

It will be apparent by now, that the thrust of the book was to neutralise the statements of Darwinism so that theology and creationism is given an escape route. The answer to religion is not biology alone, but the impression that this book seems to create is that the flipside of the religious coin is biology. That is clearly misleading. On the other side of the religious coin is found reason, evidence, science (including biology), and all the inherent contradictions in religious texts. Perhaps the editors were bent on being so conciliatory - "Never a cross word was exchanged between us" as the editors wrote about their own contributors, that they deliberately excluded pointed but more accurate and profound writers of philosophy and biology. That, as a result, rendered this book superficial and inadequate. This review does not criticise the conciliatory approach; one ought always to be polite even to those whose views one disagrees with. The criticism is against the vagueness of purpose. If all that the book seeks to do was to show that the possibility that all life was created by a force that no one knows or can identify, then that is all it needs to say and no biologist will disagree with that statement. If it wishes to say that that force is or can be a personal, supernatural being that takes an interest in its creation, then that statement needs to be justified. There is nothing in biology to refute. The onus lies with the maker of that proposition. Biologists and philosophers have an intellectual duty to expose any allusion and hint of such mysterious creator, sometimes coming in various disguises such as "intelligent designer", "god", "creator" etc where no precise definition of its features and nature has been offered for proof or disproof. In such situations, there is nothing wrong in taking a strong stance. As Abraham Lincoln said, "To sin by silence when they should protest makes cowards of men." ... Read more

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Philosophy: The Essential Study Guide is a compact and straightforward guide to the skills needed to study philosophy, aimed at anyone coming to the subject for the first time or just looking to improve their performance. Nigel Warburton clarifies what is expected of students and offers strategies and guidance to help them make effective use of their study time and improve their marks.

The four main skills covered by the book are:

Reading philosophy - both skimming and in-depth analysis of historical and contemporary work, understanding the examples and terminology used

Listening to philosophy - formal lectures and informal classroom teaching, preparation, picking up on arguments used, note taking

Discussing philosophy - arguing and exploring, asking questions, communicating in concise and understandable ways

Writing philosophy - planning and researching essays and other written tasks, thinking up original examples, avoiding plagiarism

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A current and highly readable new translation of a primary text in Western philosophy. Introduction, notes, glossary and complete translation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Hegel's philosophy on government and laws
I read this book for a class on the philosophy of law.The German philosopher, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, in his book "The Philosophy of Right" has a keen observation on the subject of how constitutions are formulated."A constitution is not something that is just made; it is the labor of centuries, it is the idea, the consciousness of rationality, so far as that consciousness is developed within a particular people" (214).Hegel observes that the danger in judges relying on constitutional comparativism (judges referring to foreign law in interpreting a nation's own laws and or constitution), is that the judge is probably not fully conversant on the surrounding history and jurisprudence involved in a particular foreign ruling.Hegel makes a very prescient observation relating to judges who have resorted to constitutional comparativism in their written opinions when adjudicating cases before them.Hegel is skeptical of the methodology used by judges who refer to foreign law in interpreting a nation's laws.Hegel understands that in a democracy, laws and constitutions are an outgrowth of a group of people who share common customs and values.

Recommended reading for those interested in philosophy, history, and political science.

The Best Translation in English
White's edition of Hegel's monumental work on politics is excellent: useful to first-time readers and specialists alike.It is the best English translation of this work to date: accurate down to small details of the German, and highly readable.The Introduction, Notes, and Glossary provide just the right amount of information and, more importantly, provoke philosophic reflection.
Several translation decisions are worthy of special attention.The most daring, and most helpful, is White's translation of the central term Fursichsein, normally translated "being for itself," as "being as itself."White, drawing on Hegel's Science of Logic, makes a convincing case for this decision.This departure from literalness gets at what Hegel means by the term and makes many crucial passages come out with more concreteness and clarity.Beisichsein gets the concrete (and accurate) rendering "being at home with oneself.""Conveyance" rather than "alienation" for Entausserung helps to stave off confusion.Another noteworthy rendering is "worldly being" for Hegel's Existenz, which allows "existence" to translate Dasein.The ubiquitous "aufheben" is rendered "suspend" (after the suggestion of W. A. Suchting).These are but a few of the intelligent departures from both tradition and literalness that bring the reader closer to Hegel's meaning.
White's edition is especially appropriate to first-time readers of Hegel.The Introduction brings out what is at stake in Hegel's project, now as much as then; and the Glossary provides a reader-friendly introduction to Hegel's often-confusing language.One rejoices in a translation that gives students and teachers access to a profound and difficult work that can provoke the most searching examination of modern political assumptions. ... Read more

Product Description
This companion to the highly successful Philosophy: A Guide through the Subject, (recently reissued as Philosophy 1) is a lively and authoritative guide through important areas of philosophy that are typically studied in the later parts of an undergraduate course. Thirteen extended essays have been specially commissioned, each introducing a major area and giving an accessible and up-to-date account of the main debates.The first seven cover the philosophies of language, psychology, religion, and the natural and social sciences. The second part of the book completes the guide through the history of philosophy begun in the first volume, covering later ancient philosophy, medieval philosophy, Kant, continental philosophy from Hegel, Frege, Russell Wittgenstein, and Indian philosophy. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent introduction and review 2
Everything I said about the first book applies to this book as well. Grayling does a fine job of collecting excellent summaries of important topics that keep a level of sophistication lost in many other works. This book, like the one before it, finds a balance between explaining philosophical problems to a novice in a comprehensible manner and providing someone in the field with a valuable resourse. Every philosophy student should have this book.

I'm hoping for Philosophy 3. ... Read more

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While few soldiers may have read the works of Epictetus or Marcus Aurelius, it is undoubtedly true that the ancient philosophy known as Stoicism guides the actions of many in the military.Soldiers and seamen learn early in their training "to suck it up," to endure, to put aside their feelings and to get on with the mission.
Stoic Warriors is the first book to delve deeply into the ancient legacy of this relationship, exploring what the Stoic philosophy actually is, the role it plays in the character of the military (both ancient and modern), and its powerful value as a philosophy of life. Marshalling anecdotes from military history--ranging from ancient Greek wars to World War II, Vietnam, and Iraq--Nancy Sherman illuminates the military mind and uses it as a window on the virtues of the Stoic philosophy, which are far richer and more interesting than our popularized notions. Sherman--a respected philosopher who taught at the US Naval Academy--explores the deep, lasting value that Stoicism can yield, in issues of military leadership and character; in the Stoic conception of anger and its control (does a warrior need anger to go to battle?); and in Stoic thinking about fear and resilience, grief and mourning, and the value of camaraderie and brotherhood. Sherman concludes by recommending a moderate Stoicism, where the task for the individual, both civilian and military, youth and adult, is to temper control with forgiveness, and warrior drive and achievement with humility and humor.
Here then is a perceptive investigation of what makes Stoicism so compelling not only as a guiding principle for the military, but as a philosophy for anyone facing the hardships of life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

It never really comes together
With this book Dr. Sherman has taken on a vitally important and difficult task - an exploration of the philosophical and psychological underpinnings of military mind and culture.In my opinion what is best about this book is the thorough and expert scholarship.What is lacking, perhaps, could be integration.The views of the Stoics are carefully and faithfully represented.Some insightful accounts of military culture and the psychology and behavior of soldiers are provided.Sometimes, it is pointed out, the two match up pretty well.Other times, it is argued, they probably shouldn't match up (even if they do in fact).What I took away from this book was a better understanding of Stoicism as a philosophy, some interesting insights into military life, and a sort of hazy idea of what they have to do with each other.I found this book interesting and informative, but not very compelling.

IMPROVING THE MINDS OF RULERS
The Capacity to Govern: A Report to the Club of Rome

Crazy States: A Counterconventional Strategic Problem

This book is strongly recommended for all political leaders. Its big advantage is that the book deals with the "mind", behavior coming second. This is correct because the mind of leaders is what matters and what shapes behavior, while being neglected and also ignored by most books presuming to advise leaders.

The book focuses on issues of character and ethics in both a profound and practical way, thus being both enlightening and educational.

Based on close readings of some of the main stoic thinkers in Rome who had political experience makes the book all the more relevant to present political leaders, while demonstrating that study of some of the classics is more relevant to real contemporary issues than many "current affairs" books.

The one chapter with which I partly disagree is the last one proposing respect of enemies as human beings. This is true when "ordinary" enemies are concerned. But the author fails to address the real problem how to cope with totally evil actors, such as Nazi genocide managers and fanatics on the way to mass killings. Had the author taken up that issue than the last chapter would be deeper and more realistic.

Yehezkel Dror
The Hebrew Univesity of Jerusalem
msdror@mscc.huji.ac.il

Good topic, solid anecdotes, great concept, moderately executed
Great concept, as I was lured to this book while buying some Seneca and a past history of military study, but comes up a bit short on readability. Though I want to like the anecdotal pieces about Stockdale and others, for instance, the academic sections don't mesh well with the military stories and analogies.

Stoic Warriors is not Stoic
This book is interesting, and far more readable than most books on philosophy. But, for those who have actually studied Stoic philosophy, there is a problem. Thatproblem is that the book does not do a very good job of presenting the teaching of Stoicism, and it is difficult to avoid the conclusion that the author does not much like Stoicism.

A major problem is that the author, Nancy Sherman, is an Aristotelian, and clearly has little sympathy for, or understanding of, Stoic philosophy. For instance, she many times criticizes Stoic teaching on emotions, such as anger, as impossible to apply to the problems of military personal. But she neglects to mention that the Stoics never claimed that Stoic philosophy was a simple pill that could quickly solve problems without the time necessary for real change, and a re-evaluation of values.

It seems, in fact, that Ms Sherman may not have taken enough time to understand Stoic philosophy in depth.

An academic attempts to comprehend the soldier's nature
Being fair to Professor Sherman is important in the context of reading and reviewing this exercise in academic philsophical thought. One has to rid themself of the image of a smug academic, wrapped in the iron belief of her own infinite knowledge, holding forth on a subject she can only describe as an outsider.

Thus, "Stoic Warriors" must be viewed, I believe, in the same vein as a treatise on brain surgery I might write should be viewed: the account of an observer with no actual experience and subject to errors of perception. Think the Lilliputians as they attempt to comprehend Gulliver.

Sherman somehow came to occupy the Distinguished Chair in Ethics at the United States Naval Academy for two years. Her attempt is to view the modern American soldier in light of Stoic philosophy. It would have helped immensely if Prof. Sherman had left all the leftist views common to academia at the door when she began her quest.

As she puts it, "so much of [her] understanding of the military has come from storytelling of military men and women." And those stories may have been true or not. More importantly, Sherman's focus might have been sharper on any story that reflected badly on the military or current administration. While Sherman is not as blunt as some othe academics, her very basic contempt for military force as an instrument of natioynal policy is evident. This makes reading her dissertation , well, an academic exercise, with little inherent value. But it must be said that Prof. Sherman does try. Unfortunately, in my eyes, she is far, far away fros understanding the Stoicism she attempts to apply. You cannot be one of the "touchy-feely" generation and understand Stoicism. Marcus Aurelius, I think, would have doubled over in laughter at this attempt.

Where convenient to her point, Sherman simply tosses aside Stoic doctrine. For example, in her chapter "Permission To Grieve," Sherman can't abide the idea of a soldier not feeling deep grief at the loss of comrades, so she simply dismisses her conflict with the ancient Stoics by dismissing even a watered down doctrine as demanding too much control of us. I guess philosophy is like the fabled Chinese restaurants of old: pick one from Column A, one from Column B. If the very words of Marcus Aurelius and Cicero don't support your allegedly expert point of view, just tell the original Stoics to take a hike. Academia: you simply gotta love it.

Her hostility to the conflict in Iraq does not lend credibility to her argument. One of her late chapters concerns the so-called scandal at Abu-Gharib. You can practically see her salivating at the prospect of administration officials being hauled away in chains. Unfortunately her description of events turns out to be markedly different than what appears to have actually occurred, but if you'll recall, The New York Times ran story after story about the Ugly Americans at Abu-Gharib without restraining themselves. Sherman obviously consumed such stories. She repeats the canard that now Attorney General Alberto Gonzales "approved" the use of torture. She also falls for the common misapprehension of the left that the Geneva Conventions capture all combatants in a conflict of any kind. She is mistaken on this.

As I said, Sherman makes an earnest effort to apply the bits and pieces of Stoic philosophy to the American military. She fails, but her attempt is not uninteresting nor entirely without merit. Despite all of her failings, she has produced a work of interest to the military historian, but it is not because she reaches her intended objective: rather it is because she does include a number of interesting stories which she then interprets to conform to her views.

Jerry

... Read more

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So many questions, such an imagination, endless speculation: the child seems to be a natural philosopher--until the ripe old age of eight or nine, when the spirit of inquiry mysteriously fades. What happened? Was it something we did--or didn't do? Was the child truly the philosophical being he once seemed? Gareth Matthews takes up these concerns in The Philosophy of Childhood, a searching account of children's philosophical potential and of childhood as an area of philosophical inquiry. Seeking a philosophy that represents the range and depth of children's inquisitive minds, Matthews explores both how children think and how we, as adults, think about them.

Adult preconceptions about the mental life of children tend to discourage a child's philosophical bent, Matthews suggests, and he probes the sources of these limiting assumptions: restrictive notions of maturation and conceptual development; possible lapses in episodic memory; the experience of identity and growth as "successive selves," which separate us from our own childhoods. By exposing the underpinnings of our adult views of childhood, Matthews, a philosopher and longtime advocate of children's rights, clears the way for recognizing the philosophy of childhood as a legitimate field of inquiry. He then conducts us through various influential models for understanding what it is to be a child, from the theory that individual development recapitulates the development of the human species to accounts of moral and cognitive development, including Piaget's revolutionary model.

The metaphysics of playdough, the authenticity of children's art, the effects of divorce and intimations of mortality on a child--all have a place in Matthews's rich discussion of the philosophical nature of childhood. His book will prompt us to reconsider the distinctions we make about development and the competencies of mind, and what we lose by denying childhood its full philosophical breadth.

Customer Reviews (1)

children deserve respect
I loved this inspiring book about the true character and intelligence of children, largely unnoticed and under appreciated because of adult misconceptions (reinforced by flawed scientific studies by Piaget, Kohlberg, etc., as this book demonstrates). Chapter 8, Childhood and Death, will be especially interesting to parents of children with terminal leukemia, as we were because of our Jonnie, but this is not a book about death. It is about the ability children have to come to terms with all of life and it's mysteries in fresh and creative ways beyond the abilities of adults. We truly need to learn to respectfully listen to our children, to give our time to watching them and learning from them rather than always trying to teach them. We can't afford to miss their valuable childhood wisdom and insight or to underestimate their contribution to a richer, more complete philosophy of life. Besides, you cannot truly love a child unless you can also respect him. Another inspiring book is How Children Learn by John Holt. ... Read more

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Mount up and prepare to get some bugs in your teeth. In Harley-Davidson and Philosophy words like Sturgis, Hollister, and panhead will share the page with Marx, Hobbes, and ethics. Fourteen badass contributors, all biker-philosophers, give you a piece of their minds in these provacative essays. Here, you will encounter bad attitudes. We'll stick it to the man, we'll wale on helmet laws, and we'll put advertisers and cage-riders through the wringer. You'll also get some exciting biking adventures, a few jokes, and even a cool picture or two. A Harley-Davidson motorcycle, legendary symbol of the outlaw and American individualism, is the ultimate ride for cool people. This book is the ultimate read for cool people. If you've ever admired a gleaming Harley or envied its rider or even if you just thought Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance was profound, this book is for you. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Harley-Davidson and Philosophy
This is volume 18 in a series called Popular Culture and Philosophy. I've seen titles from this series in bookstores and never looked beyond the cover, thinking them likely shallow, muddle-headed, oh-so-hip, and probably written by the kind of authors who like to use words like 'valorize', 'privilege' (as a verb, along with its adjectival form: 'privileged'), 'deconstruct', 'hegemony', and 'aporia'. (Almost none of those words appear in this volume, so I was at least partly wrong.) I bought it because I got it for two bucks, and I read it because I was already reading Daniel Wolf's The Rebels: A Brotherhood of Outlaw Bikers, and I thought it'd be an interesting accompaniment. Wolf's book, incidentally, isn't mentioned in this one.

The book has fourteen essays and there isn't space to discuss them in detail. The authors are: Graham Priest, Randall Auxier, Jonathan Goldstein, Bernard Rollin, Alan Pratt, Fred Feldman, Craig Bourne, Graham Harman, Steven Alford, Suzanne Ferriss, Gary Kieffner, and David Jones.

It starts out with Graham Priest (who rides a Harley - he says he 'drives' it) trying to hook into Robert Pirsig's Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance; I suppose because that's the one famous book about motorcycles that uses them as a hook into an area of philosophy. Pirsig is concerned with the notion of Quality, if I remember right, and Priest, in his eight page essay never mentions that. Instead, he goes on in a simple way about "ultimate reality and the conceptual grid" (reality has no structure or difference, structure and difference being an imposition of mind, itself of reality) and how that relates to riding a motorcycle, specifically a Harley; remarks (dubious, I think) which he could have made without mentioning Pirsig.

Randall Auxier (who rides Hondas) wants to talk about Heidegger and Husserl (he merely name drops, then drops them altogether), and whether Bruce Springsteen would ride a Honda. He means the iconic Springsteen and the iconic Honda. He has some good lines: "[A] Harley is not first and foremost a bike or even a machine. A Harley is a decision about life and what makes it valuable, and how it needs to be lived. When that decision comes to be embodied and epitomized in a machine, we call it a Harley." (20) In other words, as he reminds us: "It's not just a bike, it's a choice."

Auxier follows his first essay with another where he gives a typology, based on schools of ancient philosophy, of bikers in the biker bar. He has more good lines in this essay: "Does anyone want to die on a Honda? The Honda conserves itself, and those who ride them do not give themselves to the world in a reckless quest to love life and be loved in the midst of it. Hondas bespeak good sense, but Harleys are for people who can understand that he who would save his life must be willing to lose it." (45)

Jonathan Goldstein (who owns a 1958 Harley FLH, a 1973 Norton, and a 1986 BMW) invokes Hegel and Marx and the dialectic process in a discussion of tensions within the disparate motorcyclist community: "the commodification of the motorcycle leads to major divisions among bikers." (55)

Bernard Rollin (who rides a 1986 FXRS) writes the fifth essay and the tenth. The fifth uses the Guggenheim Museum's 1998 exhibition (a misprint subtracts ten years) on "The Art of the Motorcycle" as an impetus to discussing theories of art and why a motorcycle might be art; and the tenth is on helmet laws and personal freedom. Rollin mentions, among others, Heidegger, John Dewey, Giles Deleuze, Plato, Karl Popper, and Robert Wolff. "Excessive emphasis on safety, health, and "welfare" as dictated by "experts" is turning American society from a society of reckless adventurers, risk-takers, ocean and continent crossers, and zealous protectors of individual choice to a nation of helmet wearers." (142) He could just as well have said "a nation of cowards".

Alan Pratt (who rides with eighteen-inch ape hangers - so let's hope it's a Harley) writes on "motorcycling, nihilism, and the price of cool". He mentions Freud, Nietzsche, Camus, biker movies, and prepackaged FTW outlaw biker fashion. He doesn't mention, but should have, the now fully appropriated by conventional culture and thus now vacuous symbol of outlaw rebellion: the tattoo.

Fred Feldman (who rides "a nearly stock 1986 FXRT") ponders the association of Harleys with freedom. He summarizes notions of freedom in order to understand what the freedom associated with Harleys might be. He finds the association mistaken. I'll give him a hint: the horse.

Craig Bourne (who rides a Ducati) discusses "the aesthetics of motorcycles", having a preference for Italian bikes, but singling out the Harley V-Rod as "a stunning looking machine." His essay could have followed Rollin's on the same topic. They both mention the Guggenheim Museum's 1998 exhibition and both are concerned with how a motorcycle can be categorized as a work of art. Neither essay is satisfactory, but Bourne's is closer to the topic. He lands on a self-serving Bauhaus aesthetic. Already inclined to the design of the Ducati, he rationalizes his taste by declaring that the Ducati 916 and the Harley V-Rod both "express their own construction". In the Ducati more than in the V-Rod, "the styling and the functionality go hand in hand, satisfying the Bauhaus requirements well." (116) Mentioned in the essay are Hume, Kant, Richard Wollheim, Gregory Currie, Herbert Gans, and Arthur Danto.

Graham Harman (he doesn't say if he rides or has ridden a motorcycle), who gets a raspberry for being the first writer in the book to use 'privileged' (he says it twice), looks at "Easy Rider and the Life of Harleys". He mentions Richard Dawkins, Mary Shelley, Nietzsche, Hegel, Descartes, Kant, Whitehead, and Bruno Latour. "In Easy Rider, we encounter a world of infantile or senile humans who are both cared for and ultimately euthanized by machines, which are the true actors in the film. Easy Rider marks the triumph of the power and rigor of Harleys and other inanimate objects over the libertine transgressions of 1960s dropouts, and in this way marks the collapse of all dominance of the transcending human subject in the manner of philosophers René Descartes and Immanuel Kant." (126)Ya think? Here's another: "Objects may sometimes be wiser than humans, because they are more attuned to the deeper realities of the world." (132)

Steven Alford (who rides a Honda and a Triumph, "but not at the same time") contrasts Hobbes and Rousseau in a discussion of the primitive and the biker as a modern embodiment of it. "This primitive man, simultaneously a threat to society and its salvation, offers a useful conceptual framework for envisioning the motorcyclist, since contrasting our civilized values and behaviors with those of the primitive is a fundamentally ambiguous act." (152)

Suzanne Ferriss (who rides a Yamaha FZ1) gets a raspberry for using 'privilege' as a verb. Her essay, envisioned through Freud and Marx, is on biker fashion and the sexual allure of leather. "The black leather jacket has become a fetish object." (160)She means by a fetish "an object that we make and endow with magical properties. The magical properties of the fetish protect us against our fears. There are two forms of fetishism: psychosexual and commodity fetishism. The biker's leathers are caught up in both definitions." (160)

Gary Kieffner (who rides a 1992 Harley XL and a Volkswagon Trike he built) intones Foucault throughout his essay and writes about "how the world of motorcycling has become sexually charged largely because of how larger societal explanations, studies, and descriptions of biker sexuality have exerted their influence." (167)Relying on Foucault's ideas of discourse, sexuality, power and social control, Kieffner is concerned with the various social power structures that seek to control the motorcycle rider's cultural image. He speaks of 'objectification' but surprisingly avoided 'valorize' and 'hegemony'. This is the essay most like what I expected the entire book to be like.

David Jones (who rides a Harley Sportster) writes "A Dao of Riding". It is formed around a solitary, pensive ride in Hawaii. "[T]he accomplished rider is like the shengren, the Daoist sagely ruler, who is the rhythmic expression of the pulsing dao, the way, that ebbs and tides as it gives expression to the yin and yang of the natural world." (188) I suppose this essay is intended to complement the first essay and its zenish oneness of all in the Harley riding experience.

Overall, the topics of the essays are interesting, but the ways they are discussed are not.

I Kid You Not
I saw about a dozen of these remaindered in the philosophy section of a used book store, so I picked one up for examination.
Did you know that there are only two motorcycles? Harley-Davidson's and Honda's. (A friend of mine was a member of The Wrecking Crew, racing for Harley-Davidson in the twenties, he said the factory always insisted that they say Harley-Davidson, not just Harley.) All other manufacturers don't really count because after all Suzuki and Yamaha actually just make Honda's and Triumph, Norton and BMW actually just make Harley-Davidson's. I kid you not, that is what it says in this book.
I thought about this profound idea for a moment in time and then I set the book down and left.
I own eight bikes, my brother has two and his boys have one each. We vacation on motorcycles. I had just been to Vintage Days at Mid-Ohio for three days.
I could go on but hey, if Paul Senior says it is a good book then it must be a good book, right? His thoughtfulness and vocabulary indicate that he is well read, right?

Philosophical Musings
The book is really not a bike book, just uses bikes as a take off point to discuss philosopy. One or two chapters related to bikers but most are generalizations. I will say I read the whole book in a couple of sittings as it was an interesting comment on society at large.

Philosophy Major and Harley Rider Loves this Book
I was an undergraduate philosophy major with all of the earnestness and seriousness that implies. Years later, after getting my MBA, starting and running a successful business, and buying a Harley to ride, I came on this book. It reminded me of all of those seminal college conversations late into the night with girls I was trying to score with and to impress.(Usually the girls were not impressed!)

Thisbook is fun because it does not take itself too seriously and is written by philosophers-riders who can relate the topic of philosophy to a motorcycle, especially a Harley. The book is funny, irreverent, and a little Monty Python-like. It helped me to remember all of those philosophical issues I had thought I'd forgotten over the years -- e.g., what is the best way to live one's life? -- and it started me thinking about philosophy while riding my Harley.

Brings the staid practice of philosophy to life
One doesn't usually associate bikers with philosophy - but here are twelve bikers who also happen to be philosophers to refute the image of the biker as uneducated or unthinking. In associating philosophy with recognizable, everyday concerns, HARLEY-DAVIDSON AND PHILOSOPHY: FULL-THROTTLE ARISTOTLE brings the staid practice of philosophy to life, joining others in the publisher's series to attract new generations to a practice often presented as a dry art of past thinkers.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch
... Read more

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Offering a unique pedagogical apparatus, A Historical Introduction to Philosophy: Texts and Interactive Guides provides selections from the most influential primary works in philosophy from the Presocratics through the twentieth century, integrating them with substantial commentary and study questions. It offers extensive treatment of the Hellenistic and Renaissance periods--which are typically given only minimal coverage in other anthologies--and devotes substantial chapters to nineteenth- and twentieth-century philosophy. The selections are organized historically and are presented in short and manageable sections with organizational headings and subheadings; archaic and difficult material has been adapted for clarity. Accompanying commentaries simplify difficult passages, explain technical terminology, and expand upon allusions to unfamiliar literature and arguments. Study questions are interspersed throughout the chapters in "Ask Yourself" boxes and vary with respect to format and level of difficulty. They require students to reconstruct arguments, summarize passages, complete blanks in statements and arguments, evaluate the success or viability of a philosophical point, or draw contemporary parallels and applications. The questions are carefully framed so as to avoid commitment to any particular side in controversies. Instructors can assign those questions that will best suit the aims of their courses and aid their students' comprehension of the primary source material. A Historical Introduction to Philosophy is enhanced by a comprehensive time line, a glossary, and lists of suggested further readings for both primary and secondary sources. This rich and flexible anthology and interactive textbook is ideal for introduction to philosophy and history of philosophy courses. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

archaic and difficult
The way the editorial review summarized the material in this textbook as "archaic and difficult" pretty much says it all.If you are an instructor looking for a Philosophy textbook for an introductory Philosophy class please keep looking!This is by far the worst textbook I have seen out there.Other texts do a better job of explaining and summarizing the ancient texts than this textbook does, as well as providing a simpler and more concise historical background. ... Read more

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Widely acclaimed as the most authoritative and accessible one-volume dictionary available in English, this second edition offers an even richer, more comprehensive, and up-to-date survey of ideas and thinkers written by an international team of 436 contributors. This second edition includes the most comprehensive entries on major philosophers, 400 new entries including over fifty on preeminent contemporary philosophers, extensive coverage of rapidly developing fields such as the philosophy of mind and applied ethics, more entries on non-Western philosophy than any comparable volume, and increased coverage of Continental philosophy. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (31)

Great book to use while reading philosophy
This is a great book. I use it all of the time. I have it sitting by my couch to reference whilst I'm reading philosophy books. I've majored in philosophy (35 years ago) but still can't get enough reference. It seems to have everything I need. I find myself getting off of the subject I'm reading and heading onto "other branches of the tree". I just found out that a student at Univ. of Washington was told to buy this book for his political philosophy book. That doesn't surprise me. I checked out a few of these types of books from the library to see which one was best and I picked this one. You can't go wrong.

The Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy
Excellent reference book and well organized. A great read. It is a large book and easy to read.

About as good as you can do
Any 'dictionary' like this is only as good as its contributors, and for the most part, the contributors to The Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy are well enough versed in their field to be able to give clear, concise synopses of the topics addressed. That's not to say that the dictionary does not have its more obtuse passages, where--either because the material is simply not able to be made more digestible or because the writer is unable to make it so--things get dense, and the purpose of a dictionary like this--to make a thinker or idea quickly accessible to the novice who has stumbled upon them (usually in some tangential capacity) in their own work--is thwarted. Unfortunately (for someone like me who works in modern theology), the time-period most commonly left complicated by this dictionary is modernity. If you're interested in post-Cartesian philosophy, it might be worth checking out a few other options. But if you're confident in your reading and abstract thinking abilities, this is an otherwise fine, mostly comprehensive work.

Wonderful resource for students and laypersons
This is easily the most used book in my collection. I mostly use it as a reference when reading philosophical texts, but I also enjoy it on its own. I am extremely curious, and the helpful cross references allow me to follow my thoughts wherever they take me. The entries on logic can be quite opaque for those not already trained in symbolic logic, but the rest are accessible to the educated layperson. Entries on specific philosophers are well organized and masterfully summarize biography and theory. If you are trying to immerse yourself in philosophy or contemporary social theory, this book will be of immense help.

Good for Analytic, but Oxford Companion is Better
I have used both the Oxford Companion to Philosophy and this dictionary. I prefer the Oxford Companion because it contains more definitions and clearer expositions. But both books neglect recent Continental types of philosophy; yet, the Oxford fares much better in this regard than the Cambridge. ... Read more

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Color is an endlessly fascinating subject to philosophers,scientists, and laypersons, as well an an instructivemicrocosm of cognitive science. In these two anthologies,Alex Byrne and David Hilbert present a survey of theimportant recent philosophical and scientific writings oncolor. The introduction to volume 1 provides a philosophicalbackground and links the philosophical issues to theempirical work covered in volume 2. The bibliography involume 1 is an extensive resource for those doingphilosophical work on color. The scientific selections involume 2 present work in color science that is relevant tophilosophical thinking about color; the material iscomprehensive and sophisticated enough to be useful to thescientific reader. The introduction to volume 2 is anoverview of color science; the volume also containssuggestions for further reading. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

"Readings on Color v.1-2"
This two volume set is an overview of modern color theory. Volume two, "The Science of Color" is useful to me today. The amount of empirical data in volume two surpassed anything I had learned before, whilethe suggested reading list opened the door to still better sources ofinformation.Volume one is less useful to me, on a practical level, butprovided thought provoking reading. I favor Edward Wilson Averill'snonanthropocentric account of color, which addresses color as a secondaryquality of objects.Where volume one is psychological, volume two isscientific; and though they address different issues, each book illuminatesthe other. I reccommend buying both of them. ... Read more

Product Description
A HISTORY OF WESTERN PHILOSOPHY examines the nature of philosophical enterprise and philosophy's role in Western culture. Jones and Fogelin weave key passages from classic philosophy works into their comments and criticisms, giving A HISTORY OF WESTERN PHILOSOPHY the combined advantages of a source book and textbook. The text concentrates on major figures in each historical period, combining exposition with direct quotations from the philosophers themselves. The text places philosophers in appropriate cultural context and shows how their theories reflect the concerns of their times. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Received book in great shape!
Thanks for sending this used book in such good condition.It was, as advertised, like new, and the price was great.

Even more modern...
This book, 'The Twentieth Century to Quine and Derrida', is the revised fifth volume of a five-volume series on the history of Western Philosophy by W.T. Jones, professor of philosophy in California.For this edition of the fifth volume, Robert Fogelin helped in the recent revision.This series is a very strong, thorough introduction to the course of Western Philosophy, beginning at the dawn of the philosophical enterprise with the pre-Socratics in ancient Greece to the modern thinkers such as Wittgenstein and Sartre.It has grown, over the three decades or so of its publication, from one to four then to five volumes.It has remained a popular text, and could serve as the basis of a one-year survey of philosophy for undergraduates or a one-semester survey for graduate students.Even advanced students in philosophy will find this valuable, all major topics and most minor topics in the course of philosophy are covered in these volumes.

Jones states that there are two possible ways for a writer to organise a history of philosophy -- either by addressing everyone who ever participated in philosophy (which could become rather cumbersome if one accepts the premise that anyone could be a philosopher), or to address the major topics and currents of thought, drawing in the key figures who address them, but leaving out the lesser thinkers for students to pursue on their own.Jones has chosen the latter tactic, making sure to provide bibliographic information for this task.

This volume, 'The Twentieth Century to Quine and Derrida', starts where the last volume leaves off, as philosophy enters the turbulent twentieth century.The first major philosophical school Jones looks at is the idea of Process philosophy, which tends to take a nod from science and modern ideas of how we know things, and a realistic idea of what we do not, and perhaps cannot, know.Process philosophy often tends to get ignored now, save in theological circles, where the work of Whitehead have been taken on board.

Other philosophers covered in this volume on the twentieth century include Dewey, Bergson, Moore, Frege, Russell, Husserl, Heidegger, Sartre, Wittgenstein, Quine and Derrida.One of the primary fields of philosophy is epistemology -- how we know what we know, and do we know anything?All major philosophers have dealt with this, as metaphysics tended to take a back seat, and fields such as politics, ethics, and religion retreated to the background, at least as far as philosophy is concerned (the fields of political theory, etc., gained much ground in the twentieth century as separate from philosophy).

Wittgenstein is the point at which Jones opted to end the series originally, as it becomes difficult, from an historical standpoint, to decide what of the past few decades should be incorporated.Philosophy is a slow-moving enterprise, and the 'hot' publications and thinkers today may fade quickly tomorrow, so predicting who will stand the test of time is difficult.Wittgenstein is also an appropriate philosopher to end with, given that when he wrote his magnum opus, the Tractatus, he thought he had finally resolved all major philosophical problems; reflecting later in life, he realised he was not correct, and this in and of itself may represent the embodiment of the philosophical project.However, as this volume shows, enough time has passed to make the explorations of language itself as a medium of philosophy an important part of the philosophical discipline, necessitating the addition of chapters on language and the philosophers Quine and Derrida (others who might have been included are Paul Ricoeur, among others).

Each volume ends with a glossary of terms, and a worthwhile index.The glossary warns against short, dictionary-style definitions and answers to broad terms and questions, and thus indicates the pages index-style to the discussion within the text for further context.The one wish I would have would be a comprehesive glossary and index that covers the several volumes; as it is, each volume has only its own referents.

This is minor criticism in a generally exceptional series.It is not easy text, but it is not needlessly difficult.The print size on the direct quotes, which are sometimes lengthy, can be a strain at times, but the reading is worthwhile.

An excellent synthesis of philosophy and history
This book is wonderful, as are all in the series by Jones. He makes philosophy come alive by placing it in the context of it's contemporaneous civilization. The great questions asked by humanity, to which philosophy addresses itself, do not come out of thin air (please excuse the cliche.) These questions are born of the search for meaning, whether it be metaphysical, epistemological, ontological, ethical, political, or so forth. The sociocultural and political milieu beg questions of meaning and truth to each generation and individual, and each must answer for themselves. Jones places twentieth century philosophy in perspective. He scrutinizes, defines and explains the great philosophical movements of our century in the context of the times. The trauma of two world wars, the challenges of scientific discovery, the alienation of the individual, the seeming futility to grasp ultimate reality are inherent in our culture, and our great philosophers have attempted to formulate theories to make sense of these phenomena. A great book which puts flesh and breath into philosophy. ... Read more

Product Description
If you think Saddam and Satan are a kinky couple, wait ‘til you get a load of South Park and Philosophy. Like Mr. Hanky at Christmas, this is a book whose time has come. On the cheesy poof-stained pages within, 22 philosophers address perennial questions such as, Is Dan Rather real? Should Big Gay Al be allowed to marry Mr. Slave? And, of course, what does philosophy have to do with flatulence? M’kay. Current concerns are also considered. Are American voters inevitably forced to choose between a turd and a douche? Does South Park’s blasphemous humor go too far? If it’s OK to ridicule Islam, is it OK to skewer Scientology? How does Cartmanland raise the problem of evil?

If you like Chef’s salty balls, you’ll love this book—unless of course you’re a damn hippie. In which case, you go to hell… you go to hell and you die! So get your Big Wheels ready and, whether you’ve got one or four assess, we’re goin’ for a ride! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

South Park and Philosophy: You Know I Learned Something Today! More than just a book.
The Book-South Park and Philosophy: You Know I Learned Something Today! This book is humor, philosophy and a great reason to own a comprehensive dictionary. As a couch potato this book now is an accompany to my time at the fitness center while on a treadmill or doing numerous sit ups. My assessment of this book could not be fair since I am not someone who reads more than 3 hours a day. There are books that envelope most of my day but either way "South Park Philosophy" is entertaining and educating and this particular book is a testament for free speech and how an animated adult comedy addresses situations that have probably been around since written history. -Craig Barr.

Screw you guys I'm going home
Who would have thought that a show about four boys from a redneck hick town in Colorado would be around 11 years after offending it's first audience? Let alone spark scholarly conversation and debate.

You don't need to adjust your computer monitor, I did just mention South Park in the same breath as intellectuals. The show that spurned every ethnic group from Mormons to Christians, social and disabled groups and drove Chef to quit with their infamous Scientology episode has sparked a series of philosophical debates in South Park and Philosophy, You Know I Learned Something Today.

In 22 separate essays, philosophers and sociologists churn up reasoning from Freud to Socrates to give reason to a show that often lacks a moral conscious.

The essay that I found most fascinating was Vote or Die Bitch by John Scott Gray. Part of the reason that it stood out so much was that I read it during the election. In the end all of our choices turned out to be, in Stan's words between a turd sandwich and a douche. The rational by Gray actually showed that in a roundabout way, change is really just something old coming back into fashion. Much like those awesome sweaters that you have hiding in storage.

While the book was a quick read, some of the discussions were over the head of philosophical novices like myself, I would suggest checking it out if you are a fan of the show.

I did learn something
Great book and intro to philosophy.While a bit heavy in parts, it does get you to think and gives you some material for defending the greatness that is South Park to its critics.

eh
More focus on philosophy than South Park--- not that there's anything wrong with that, but it makes for rather dry reading. I prefer "South Park and Philosophy" as edited by Richard Hanley. Much lighter, and often laugh-out-loud funny.

You know, it COULD'VE been better...
But then so could a lot of other things. Like the government... people's attitudes... the taste of a lot of tacos...

You can't really help it; some things fall expectations.

When you look at this book's cover, you brace yourself for hilarious comedy. If you read enough you know that there was a book for the Simpsons relating the show to philosophy. It was just South Park's turn.

Now, it's true that the individual writers could've gone more in depth with a few topics. Personally, I feel like the "gender and sexuality" chapter should've been MUCH longer. But it did explain relevant aspects of philosophy in terms the layman could understand. I mean, come on, what better concept is there than using South Park to relate to philosophy? It bares the bones on a lot of terminology and historical (as well as contemporary) figures in the field and it even lets you feel like you're smart for watching South Park (because it's SO philosophical, really!)

I may sound sarcastic, but I'm a fan of the show. There's a reason why they resort to that humor a lot of the time - you've just got to poke fun at both sides in the most extremist of fashions.

The book is divided into chapters, whereupon those chapters are written by different people, Arp himself included. Different writing styles, different lengths to the chapters, and always a unique voice that keeps in mind how absurd the series is - and loves it.

If you're a fan and you'd like to know more about philosophy, pick up the book - it wouldn't hurt. Philosophy majors might see things wrong with the book, but come on, 261 pages can't honestly harness all philosophy has to offer. And it's South Park. There's only so much material you can milk out of it to compare to Nietzsche.

All in all, it was a good book. Entertaining. Certainly not a textbook on the subject but then again, it's not meant to be. It's comparing a cartoon show in which a character dies at every episode and comes back to life mysteriously in the beginning of the next with no questions asked.

Pick it up! ... Read more

Product Description
Eastern philosophy is the most ancient form of thought known to man. More and more people are turning towards the integrated approach of Eastern thought, but often in a vague and generalized way. "Introducing Eastern Philosophy" focuses on India and China, the two oldest and most influential origins of Eastern thought. It brilliantly explains the complex branches of Indian Buddhism, the traditions of Confucius and the Tao in China, and demonstrates their fundamental differences to Western notions of truth. It makes clear the Eastern view of ultimate reality, the emphasis on selfless ethics and the quest for Enlightenment. This is an ideal guide for the Western reader to the historical and philosophical basis of Eastern cultures. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Surprisingly excellent
Like all books in this series, this book has a sort of cartoon format, so the amount of text equals only about 50 pages.As a result, I expected this book to be fairly superficial, like its Western philosophy counterpart, Introducing Philosophy (Introducing...(Totem)).I was therefore surprised to find that Osborne has impressively achieved considerable breadth and depth in this book, which goes to show what a skilled writer can do with few words when he really knows his subject.

Osborne provides a nice balance between history, names and terminology, and philosophical concepts, and he integrates it all very well.He also makes many insightful and very helpful connections between Eastern and Western philosophy, implicitly revealing how many Western ideas were probably derived from prior Eastern ones.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in Eastern philosophy.The book will serve as an excellent introduction for beginners, though they should probably plan to read it more than once, since the content is too rich to be adequately absorbed in one pass.And readers who have studied Eastern philosophy for a while will also benefit from the book, since it will serve as a nicely coherent review, as well as a means to deepen their understanding.

Very well done
Good overview of the different aspects and schools of Eastern philosophy.Some of it is overlap from other books like "Introducing Buhhha", but this book is good on it's own.
... Read more

Product Description

Philosophy of education is a study both of the aims of education and the most appropriate means of achieving those aims.  This volume contains substantial selections from those works widely regarded as central to the development of the field. These are the "essential texts" that lay the foundation for further study. The text is historically organized, moving from classical thought (Plato, Aristotle), through the medieval period (Augustine), to modern perspectives (Locke, Rousseau, Wollstonecraft), and twentieth-century thinkers (Whitehead, Dewey).  Each selection is followed by an extended interpretative essay in which a noted authority of our time highlights essential points from the readings and places them in a wider context.

Exhibiting both breadth and depth, this text is ideal as a reader for courses in philosophy of education, foundations of education, and the history of ideas.

Product Description

What can the film Hoosiers teach us about the meaning of life? How can ancient Eastern wisdom traditions, such as Taoism and Zen Buddhism, improve our jump-shots? What can the "Zen Master" (Phil Jackson) and the "Big Aristotle" (Shaquille O'Neal) teach us about sustained excellence and success? Is women's basketball "better" basketball? How, ethically, should one deal with a strategic cheater in pickup basketball? With NBA and NCAA team rosters constantly changing, what does it mean to play for the "same team"? What can coaching legends Dean Smith, Rick Pitino, Pat Summitt, and Mike Krzyzewski teach us about character, achievement, and competition? What makes basketball such a beautiful game to watch and play? Basketball is now the most popular team sport in the United States; each year, more than 50 million Americans attend college and pro basketball games. When Dr. James Naismith, the inventor of basketball, first nailed two peach baskets at the opposite ends of a Springfield, Massachusetts, gym in 1891, he had little idea of how thoroughly the game would shape American -- and international -- culture. Hoops superstars such as Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Yao Ming are now instantly recognized celebrities all across the planet. So what can a group of philosophers add to the understanding of basketball? It is a relatively simple game, but as Kant and Dennis Rodman liked to say, appearances can be deceiving. Coach Phil Jackson actively uses philosophy to improve player performance and to motivate and inspire his team and his fellow coaches, both on and off the court. Jackson has integrated philosophy into his coaching and his personal life so thoroughly that it is often difficult to distinguish his role as a basketball coach from his role as a philosophical guide and mentor to his players. In Basketball and Philosophy, a Dream Team of twenty-six basketball fans, most of whom also happen to be philosophers, proves that basketball is the thinking person's sport. They look at what happens when the Tao meets the hardwood as they explore the teamwork, patience, selflessness, and balanced and harmonious action that make up the art of playing basketball.

Customer Reviews (1)

excellent
great book. very thought provoking and enjoyable. it consists of several short and powerful essays. tremendous insight from many contributors. if u are interested in the game of basketball and have a cerebral inclintaion u will love this book. i paln to seek out other books like it. u won't be disappointed. ... Read more

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Clear and concise, this brief guide will help you write a successful paper-even if you have no previous formal background in writing philosophy papers. Contents include topic selection, outlines, drafts, proper and improper quotation, argument development and evaluation, principles of good writing, style, criteria for grading student papers, and a review of common grammatical and dictional errors. In addition, the book devotes several chapters to basic concepts in logic, which have proven invaluable for philosophy students like you in the course of critically considering and writing about the ideas and arguments they encounter. ... Read more

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This is the best general book on philosophy for university students: not just an introduction, but a guide which will serve them throughout their studies. It is intended to orientate, assist, and stimulate the reader at every stage in the study of the subject. Eleven extended essays have been specially commissioned from leading philosophers; each surveys a major area of the subject and offers an accessible but sophisticated account of the main debates. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Balanced and stimulating
Grayling, the editor, appears to be the successor of Scruton at Birkbeck College. I find him supremely fitted to put together such a tour d'horizon of contemporary philosophizing, albeit happily restricted to the analytic tradition. The articles are largely bereft of Continental mambo-jumbo, and refreshingly competent across the board; therefore, the two volumes may serve as a major reference work on any shelf, as well as an apt introduction and stimulation for serious college students.

Good Introduction
"Philosophy 1" is a good introductory survey text.While it is somewhat more technical than what the casual reader may want, my goal was to learn something about "real philosophy, not simplified philosophy."The book hit the mark on this account.

I was drawn to the text because of another (popular) book by A. C. Grayling.Each chapter of the text, however, is written by a different author.Consequently, the chapters vary in style and, to some extent, quality.I particularly enjoyed the chapters on methodology, the rationalists, the empiricists (by A. C. Grayling), and aesthetics.

It took some effort for this casual reader to get through the text, but it was well worth it.

Ironically not for the beginner.
As a graduate student I have taught newcomers to philosophy and I would not recommend this book to them. I agree with the other reviewers that the scope of the book is impressive. But the writing is unnecessarily complicated. Scott Sturgeon's attempt to explain issues in epistemology by use of the biconditional left me dumbfounded. It makes what can be quite a fun topic a dreadful chore and far more difficult to get one's head around than it need be. I found this to be a general flaw with the book. It may be that some people will enjoy the writing in this book but I doubt it. I fear that most people who turn to this book for an introduction to philosophy will be turned off the subject.

I should say that there are exceptions to what I have written above. The most notable one being Tim Crane who always puts a priority on clarity of exposition. But in general the ideas are more obscurely presented than is necessary. For those who are coming to philosophy for the first time I would recommend any of the following:

John Hospers, An Introduction to Philosophical Analysis.
Nigel Warburton, Philosophy: the basics.
Philosophy made simple, (sorry can't recall the authors).

Bottom line: if you are new to philosophy and are thinking of buying this book, then first of all you should read some of it to see if the writing is to your liking.

Grayling (ed) Philosophy: A Guide Through the Subject
This thorough introduction to the core areas of philosophy is written by some of the leading figures in their specialisms, and it is remarkable for its lucidity and comprehensiveness, and for the excellent bibliographies attached to each chapter. The volume, covering Epistemology, Metaphysics, Ethics, the Philosophy of Mind, History of Philosophy and other core subjects, is the first of two companion volumes: the second volume covers mopre advanced or specialised areas of philosophy, like Medieval Philosophy., Indian Philosophy, the Philosophy of Psychology, the Philosophy of the Social Sciences, Frege Russell and Wittgenstein, and much more. Both volumes are outstanding pedagogical collections, and their editor, AC Grayling of London University, has ensured that between them they provide what is perhaps the highest quality pacakge of introduction-to-philosophy literature available anywhere in the world today. I found it especially helpful, in my own studies and in guiding students, to have such full material on all the branches of philosophy available together in the two volumes, because it made for ease of cross-reference, and topics that were mentioned in certain of the chapters were fully explored in others. You could say that the two volumes together are a complete introduction to contemporary analytic philosophy, and there is nothing comparable to them for scope, depth, or clarity in the literature for students and teachers of philosophy now available. Dr Vere Ayer

An Introduction and Guide Through the Study of Philosophy
This book is a great guide and introduction through the study ofphilosophy. A.C. Graylinghas edited the work and included the essentialaspects of the study of philosophy. The book covers in great detail thephilosophical studies of Epistemology, Logic, Philosophy of Science,Metaphysics, Philosophy of Mind, Ancient Greek Philosophy (Pre-Socratics toAristotle), Modern Philosophy (Descartes to Kant and the empiricists),Ethics, and Aesthetics. The only downside to this work is the fact thatGrayling does not cover the Medieval period (which all too common in thesetype of books). However, for what the book does cover, it is thorough, veryhelpful, and very detailed, which makes this book a great introductory bookto the study of philosophy. ... Read more

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Product Description
After World War II, philosophy in France entered a rich period whose influence is still strong today. New styles were invented, new problems were formulated, and new critical functions were engaged, reaching into many domains around the world.

French Philosophy Since 1945, the final volume in the four-volume New Press Postwar French Thought series, provides a fresh map and analysis for understanding this singular period in the history of ideas. Organized around a series of interconnected questions, featuring many different and sometimes opposed voices, French Philosophy Since 1945 brings together the writings of both celebrated and unknown French philosophers for the first time.

With new translations by Arthur Goldhammer, the material is contextualized within a larger intellectual and political history and chronology. Indispensable for understanding the development of postwar French philosophy as a whole, this anthology also includes a comprehensive chronology.

Product Description
This revised and considerably expanded 2nd edition brings together a wide range of topics, including modal, tense, conditional, intuitionist, many-valued, paraconsistent, relevant, and fuzzy logics.Part 1, on propositional logic, is the old Introduction, but contains much new material. Part 2 is entirely new, and covers quantification and identity for all the logics in Part 1. The material is unified by the underlying theme of world semantics. All of the topics are explained clearly using devices such as tableau proofs, and their relation to current philosophical issues and debates are discussed. Students with a basic understanding of classical logic will find this book an invaluable introduction to an area that has become of central importance in both logic and philosophy. It will also interest people working in mathematics and computer science who wish to know about the area. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Be careful to get the second edition
Unfortunately, the same produce description and reviews turn up for both editions.

The product description for the kindle edition describes it as "This revised and considerably expanded 2nd edition".However, the book I received was definitely not the second edition: the second edition has 24 chapters, and the kindle edition had only 12 chapters.

The book itself is a wonderful, unusually valuable discussion of non-classical logic, and it is a pity that the second edition is not available for kindle.
... Read more