Product Description
Distilled from Donald Palmer's more than 30 years of teaching experiences, this approachable, historically organized text exemplifies Dr. Palmer's very successful light-hearted approach to teaching introduction to philosophy. Through the use of humor, drawings, charts, and diagrams, serious philosophical topics come alive for the readers--without compromising the seriousness of the subject matter. The text can be used as a core text or as a supplement to any reader. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (20)

user friendly
This books makes philosophy understandable to me.I attempted to take philosophy many times before I found a class that used this book.It has understandable explanations of ideas and it coated them with humor so they "go down well".I want this book in my library so I can commit the to the deeper long term memory of me as a person.

Ok, but doesn't do history of philosophy justice
I love reading philosophy and I prefer the method of looking at the origins of a philosophical topic and see its development. The problem of this book is that it tries to cover 4000 years of philosophical history in a thin book, plus the pages are littered with pictures and drawings (something Plato would not appreciate) which cut out space even more.

Having so much history of philosophy crammed into a small book with pictures hardly does the history, nor the philosophy, justice.
With all that is in Plato the book reduces his philosophy to a brief discussion over one kind of Form theory. He's also mistaken in his beliefs that Revelation and the Gospel of John are two different authors (Apostle John and John of Patmos). Also, I felt his work on Kant was very shallow since there's far more in Kant than what a few pages can give. Now I'm not saying he should give all the information on them that there is to give, nor to give us a thesis for each philosopher, but it would be nice to show that these people have far more to say than what the book gives. Perhaps a sneak peek, or a short list of other topics and theories covered?

I gave it two stars because I'm open to the idea that someone might find this to be a good place to start, or valuable to the student who's only taking philosophy as a requirement rather than because of personal interest. However, there are far better intro books and history of books out there. The pictures were simply too much for me.

Lastly, for a book that costs over forty dollars there are better book. It's too much money for such little information on each philosopher.

not bad!
I'm not a very avid reader, but this one is pretty fun to read, and it's pretty basic(definitely not difficult reading!).

I would recommend it! It's pretty nice to get a foundation on some fairly important history.It's relative to other important facts in history or in life.

Philosophy Overview
'Looking At Philosophy: The Unbearable Heaviness of Philosophy Made Lighter' by Donald Palmer lives up to the promise in its title; It is a very brief overview on the history of philosophy, covering most major philosophers through history, starting with the Greek philosophers, and ending with the modern philosophies.

It is an extremely light read. I found myself reading far ahead of the assigned chapters, simply because I was enjoying myself. The illustrations are humorous, though sometimes silly, especially for a text book.

The light reading can also be problematic. I found myself referring to other resources for a full understanding, because the author did not cover (I felt) enough ground on most subjects, leaving me without only a surface understanding of the concepts.

This book would be better suited to a high school class, rather than a serious, college course.

Overall, the text was refreshingly enjoyable, though oftentimes fell short.

Philosophy made easy...
I bought this book for my Philosophy 101 class. I tried to sell it back but the bookstore wouldn't let me. Although I hated the idea that I wouldn't be getting my 30 bucks back, little did I know that this book would serve as an important tool for my Literary/Criticism class (which I am currently taking). It definitely clarifies complicated theories with a touch of humor added to the descriptions. There are also sketches in the book that are also humorous, yet provide the reader with a mental image on the topic at hand. ... Read more

Product Description
Why doesn't Batman just kill the Joker and end everyone's misery?

Can we hold the Joker morally responsible for his actions?

Is Batman better than Superman?

If everyone followed Batman's example,

would Gotham be a better place?

What is the Tao of the Bat?

Batman is one of the most complex characters ever to appear in comic books, graphic novels, and on the big screen. What philosophical trials does this superhero confront in order to keep Gotham safe? Combing through seventy years of comic books, television shows, and movies, Batman and Philosophy explores how the Dark Knight grapples with ethical conundrums, moral responsibility, his identity crisis, the moral weight he carries to avenge his murdered parents, and much more. How does this caped crusader measure up against the teachings of Plato, Aristotle, Kant, Kierkegaard, and Lao Tzu? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Great Aristotle's Ghost!
Want your philosophy but maybe not presented so, well, densely?Then these pop culture and philosophy books are for you.This one, BATMAN AND PHILOSPHY, does a solid job of using everyone's favorite Dark Knight as the connecting conduit for an exploration on a number of subjects.Given the number of essays (20), each written by someone different, it is hardly surprising that some pieces are much better than others.But overall, if you are attracted to this book based on the subject, you probably will not be disappointed by the content.

The book starts off strong with one of the better essays, Why Doesn't Batman Kill the Joker?, exploring the difference between utilitarianism and deontology.The concepts are explained well enough, and applied practically to a situation we can appreciate, to allow us novices to gain at least a working understanding of the major differences between two major and competing views of right and wrong.Broken down into larger sections on concepts of right and wrong, law and justice, origins and ethics, friendship and rivalry, BATMAN AND PHILOSOPHY may have its slow parts (the section on existentialism and Taoism comes to mind) and flat-out bad parts (the essay Could Batman Have Been the Joker? really comes to mind), yet it maintains a standard likely to keep one's attention.

The book ends not only on a strong note, but on a strong foundation.The last section, Friend, Father . . . Rival?The Many Roles of the Bat, contains several particularly worthwhile entries, including a couple in which Superman plays a guest role as a philosophical foil to the Caped Crusader.Philosophy does no good if it just stays in the Ivory Tower, to be discussed by egghead intellectuals all impressed with themselves.It is for everyone.Batman fights for justice.BATMAN AND PHILOSOPHY explores what that means, and more importantly, why that matters, and does so in such a way as to allow us to, maybe, kinda get it.

Fascinating Look at the Bat
After "The Dark Knight" came out and everyone was all in a tizzy about it (including me) I had the awesome and freeing opportunity to write a college-level paper about the systems of justice and order in Batman, particularly "The Dark Knight." Not only is this book a fascinating read for anyone into basic philosophy, comics, both, or just random knowledge, but it's actually chock-full of undergraduate-level philosophic discussions. This book helped me get an A on my paper, and if you ever have the opportunity to write a paper on Batman, definitely check this one out! Even if you don't, pick it up anyway because it's a quick and enlightening read.

Interesting Subject, Mediocre Essays.
"Superman and Batman are the Plato and Aristotle of the comic-book world." (Superheroes and Philosophy: Truth, Justice, and the Socratic Way (Popular Culture and Philosophy), 262).

There are four reasons why we should study Batman--pedagogical, philosophical, existential, and victimological.

First, people read comic books, especially children, and we need to monitor what children read. "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6)

Second, Aristotle observed that poets are more important that historians. The historian deals with particulars, but the poet--the artists and taleweavers--deal with universals, or the ideal. That is why esthetics is a branch of philosophy.

Third, since Batman is a universal idea--an archetype--in a broad sense we are all Batman.

This last one is key. Batman is different from most other superheroes. In fact, he is not a superhero at all. Like the Scarlet Pimpernel or James bond, he is just a normal human who fights with his wits as well as his hands. Superman is too far above us, and, unlike the Green Lantern (all of them) or Iron Man, we do not have power rings or armored suits. We just have our brains, our brawn and nothing else.

The fourth reason is that Batman is a victim. He was a "poor little rich boy" whose parents were murdered in cold blood before his virgin eyes. But the key thing is that he chose not to be a victim. He took his pain, embraced his Jungian shadow, and then sublimated his pain.

In this way he is like Elizabeth Smart (Bringing Elizabeth Home: A Journey of Faith and Hope. Both were rich, both suffered trauma at a young age, and both took command of the situation by becoming missionaries. One a missionary for her church, the other became a Dark Friar for justice.

We all must sublimate our pain; we all must become Batman.

Now to the book.

For he most part, the essays are mediocre. I would rate them B to B+. Sometimes we get non-answers to the questions, as on page 25. Other times we get an eclectic (not exotic!) smorgasbord of points-of-view, like the McLaughlin Group. But we do not come to any hard conclusions. This is ABC Gum philosophizing--we chew the cud and pass it along.

An example of a B paper that could have been an A paper is the essay, "Could Batman have been the Joker?"

What I execrated was a discussion about Bruce Wayne becoming evil and a secondary question, after his accident, could Jack Napier become a hero? What we got was a discussion about identity and names. To be sure, this is an important topic--Thomas Aquinas had a treatise on how words mean--but the deeper question was ignored: how are human nature, good and evil, and choice interrelated.

A better essay was "Why Batman is better than Superman." This essay deals with axiology (value theory), and Foresman does a wonderful job of evaluating both Batman's and Superman's abilities and values. And the conclusion is the right one: Batman is more courageous than Superman because he is, in the words of G. K. Chesterton, more "eatable" (Orthodoxy: Centennial Edition, ch. 8). There is more danger involved.

The later sections, on existentialism and the Tao of the Bat, are better. Again, Batman is the best study in self-determination, since he was a normal man who chose to become a hero.

One subtheme has to do with relationships: Batman and Robins, Batman and Alfred, Batman and Gotham, Batman and Gordon, Batman and Catwoman, Batman and Superman, and Batman and Bruce Wayne. He is a man of complex, though distant, relationships. This makes for an interesting study.

Then there is the relationship of Batman to the Joker. No, Batman is not like the Joker--Batman is not a sadist. The Joker twisted two Robins; one was bludgeoned to death, and the other was twisted to become the next Joker (Batman Beyond Return of the Joker (2001)). For his part, Batman let Grayson spread his own Nightwings. The local errors are "undistributed middle" and "hasty generalization." Shame on you for missing them!

Also there is the question of how sane both men are (Ch 6).This is where most people involved with the Batman franchise get worse than silly.

One ugly idea is that the Joker is "super-sane" (134). Sanity is defined in terms of rationality, and rationality is based on the Law of Identity (The Metaphysics (Philosophical Classics)). Something either is or is not, and cannot be more "is" or supra-"is." Like perfectly round squares, this is linguistic nonsense.

This discussion sanity brings us back to my idea that Elizabeth Smart is Batman. Mitchell is her Joker (this fits better with Burton's version where Napier, and not Joe Chill, murders Wayne's parents). Again, this is why we discuss the archetype and subcreation of Batman--things like Batman and the Joker really exist (Man and His Symbols).

The Batman discussed is the late 1980s reinvention--where Batman became too much like Wolverine. So they discuss his moral code (Ch. 1), and what would happen of Batman and Superman fought (Ch. 18).

(Batman would outsmart Superman and would use Krytonite against him, but both would keep each other alive--Batman keeps crime down in Gotham, and Superman and Shazam keep Darkseid at bay).

What was lacking, however, was a compassion to another low-end hero with a stronger moral code--Daredevil (Daredevil (Two-Disc Widescreen Edition)). He, along with The Savage Tales of Solomon Kane (and Elizabeth Smart The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ), have religious motivations for doing what they do. Batman is focused on a secular justice, having a "fuzzy-grey" relationship with the established civis. He works outside the civis, but ultimately turns the criminals over to the state.

So this book is good for stoking ideas, but I could have been a bit more penetrating. Any weaknesses are not the fault of the subject matter, but the current state of philosophy and philosophers.

Useful bits of Philoposhy explained from Batman's Perspective
Batman and Philosophy, as name suggests, tries to explain things Batman does from a philosophical perspective. What I am trying to say is, in this book you will find a lot of reasoning for the things (good and bad) Batman does through the concepts, ideas and thinking of many great philosophers (Aristotle, Plato, Kant ..etc). Many questions which we had like:

Why doesn't Batman kill the Joker ?
Why really prompted Bruce Wayne to become Batman ?
Why does Batman consider Superman his good friend ?

are answered along the lines of reasoning provided by philosophers. Other than the questions above, there is a lot of good content which you will find really interesting. The entire book is divided into chapters each of which is authored by individuals contributing to the field of philosophy for a long time.

I personally enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to any one who would like to get their feet wet in the incredible world of philosophy and its incredible reasoning to things we do every day.

Exciting depth of knowledge... on both subjects!
If you're looking for a light, cheap (in the intellectual sense) read that doesn't require any thinking, this isn't your book.If you're looking for a book that shows a surprising depth of understanding both about both subjects, one that will make you think about aspects of both Batman you had never considered before and maybe teach you a few (or many) things about philosophy and interpretation of great philosophers along the way, this is definitely the book for you.I highly recommend it for anyone interested in Batman (or anyone involved in his crazy large batfamily!), and anyone versed in or just curious about great philosophers. ... Read more

Product Description
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery. ... Read more

Product Description
An act is more or less voluntary, as it is done with more or less knowledge, and proceeds more or less fully and purely from the will properly so called. Whatever diminishes knowledge, or partially supplants the will, takes off from the voluntariness of the act. An act is rendered less voluntary by ignorance, by passionate desire, and by fear. ... Read more

Product Description
Boethius was an eminent public figure under the Gothic emperor Theodoric, and an exceptional Greek scholar. When he became involved in a conspiracy and was imprisoned in Pavia, it was to the Greek philosophers that he turned. "The Consolation" was written in the period leading up to his brutal execution. It is a dialogue of alternating prose and verse between the ailing prisoner and his 'nurse' Philosophy. Her instruction on the nature of fortune and happiness, good and evil, fate and free will, restore his health and bring him to enlightenment. "The Consolation" was extremely popular throughout medieval Europe and his ideas were influential on the thought of Chaucer and Dante. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (25)

A Rare and Varied Consolation
Boethius's "The Consolation of Philosophy" is a rare and unusual philosophical work in that it continues to be read by many people who are not philosophers or students of philosophy. This is witnessed by the thoughtful reader reviews here on Amazon. The work continues to be read, I think, because Boethius placed his philosophy in the context of his own experience. The book has a personal and immediate tone. Boethius also broadened the book to make his own experience speak to many people of his own and later times. Most readers will find at least some of Boethius's philosophical teachings valuable and persuasive. The book also combines philosophy with a beautiful literary style. Poetry alternates with and supplements philosophy.Philosophy is personified and speaks to Boethius in the form of a beautiful woman.The book is full of allusions to classical Greek and Roman literature.

Boethius (480 -- 524 A.D.) wrote this book near the end of life that was both active and scholarly. He had occupied a high position in the Roman Empire before he was imprisoned for treason. He wrote the book in prison in the months before he was brutally tortured and killed. At the beginning of the Consolation, Boethius is morose and grieving over the injustice of his imprisonment and impending fate. He feels that his life has been meaningless.

When she enters, the figure of philosophy largely recalls Boethius to himself. The discussion proceeds in layers, moving from the concrete and specific to the abstract. Philosophy tells Boethius that she must take him and his situation as she finds them and move gradually to help Boethius understand himself. As the book proceeds, it becomes more of a teaching by philosophy than a dialogue between philosophy and Boethius.Prose and argument take the place of poetry as the book becomes heavily Neoplatonic and theistic in tone.

I understood best the earlier parts of this short works, largely books I -- III of the five books in which it is divided. Here, with philosophy's guidance, Boethius meditates on what makes life worthwhile.He comes to understand that what he had primarily valued in life -- things such as pleasure, power, money, success -- are evanescent and pass away. They do not produce true happiness because they are not part of what a person is and can be taken away.They are inherently changeable and fickle. In an important passage in Book II, philosophy says (p.31):

"Why then do you mortal men seek after happiness outside yourselves, when it lies within you? You are led astray by error and ignorance. I will briefly show you what complete happiness hinges upon. If I ask you whether there is anything more precious to you than your own self, you will say no.So if you are in possession of yourself you will possess something you would never wish to lose and something Fortune could never take away.In order to see that happiness can't consist in things governed by chance, look at it this way.If happiness is the highest good of rational nature and anything that can be taken away is not the highest good-since it is surpassed by what can't be taken away -- Fortune by her very mutability can't hope to lead to happiness."

Boethius introduces the figure of the wheel of fortune which, apart from the personification of philosophy, is the most striking figure of the book. He was not the first to use this metaphor, but he made it his own.The figure of the wheel and the emphasis of change and suffering in life reminded me of Buddhist teachings which I have been studying for the past several years. Boethius does not take his philosophy this way but instead develops a Neoplatonic vision of the One or of God which culminates in a beautiful poem at the conclusion of Book III section 9 of the Consolation (pp 66-67).In the remaining portions of the Consolation, Boethius seeks for further understanding of happiness and of the good. Philosophy's answer becomes more difficult and theological.If focuses on the claimed non-existence of evil, the difference between eternity and time, and the nature of Providence.

In rereading the book, I thought Boethius convincingly presented what people today would call an existential or experiential situation -- he was imprisoned far from home and awaiting a gruesome death. He learns some highly particular and valuable ways of understanding that help him -- and the reader -- with his condition. As he develops his understanding, Boethius and philosophy adopt a Neoplatonic synthesis of Plato and Aristotle that contemporary readers are likely to reject or not understand. There is a further difficult question whether Boethius's teachings are exclusively Neoplatonic and pagan, or whether they are Christian as well. (Christianity and Jewish-Christian texts go unmentioned in the Consolation.)

Thus, I think the Consolation continues to be read and revered largely because of the situation it develops in its initial pages and because of Boethius's poetically moving teaching of the nature of change, suffering and loss. It is valuable to have the opportunity to see these things.With change in times and perspective, not all readers will agree with or see the necessity for the Neoplatonic (or Jewish-Christian, given one's reading of the work) underpinnings with which Boethius girds his teaching of change and suffering. As I mentioned, it is tempting to see parallels with Buddhism.But it is more likely that modern readers will try to work out Boethius's insights for themselves in a framework which is primarily secular. I thought that much of the early part of the book, for example, could well have been written by Spinoza. The Consolation remains a living book both because of what it says and also because it allows the reader to take Boethius's insights and capture them while moving in somewhat different directions.

Robin Friedman

Calm before the storm
Boethius as he is waiting to be unjustly gruesomely tortured writes this classic of Western Civilization. This as well as Aristotle, were two of the major guiding works through the Middle Ages translated by King Alfred and Queen Elizabeth as well.

Consolation for Us All
The Consolation of Philosophy is a work of genius.In the Middle Ages, it was the second most widely read book after the Bible.Combining allegory, poetry, and platonic thought, Boethius (475-525 CE), sought to address philosophical questions that still plague us today:issues of God, time, free will, and justice.And he did it all while in prison, awaiting his execution by the Gothic emperor Theodoric, which makes it all the more immediate, urgent, and absorbing.

Boethius illustrates, among other things, that evil people live in their own hells; that vanity and worldly pursuits are empty; that God is good.And Boethian thought is reassuring and familiar; partly due to the fact that many of us are products of the Middle Ages culture that he helped to create, but also because the Greek philosophy that supports his philosophic contentions is also implicitly pervasive.Whatever the reason, reading him feels like being aquainted with, and being consoled by, an old friend.

Philosophy in Action
The Lady Philosophy appeared to Boethius in a vision while Boethius was in prison for political crimes.This book, while highly entertaining, set the stage for medieval philosophy.Among others, St Thomas Aquinas would be in constant conversation with Boethius.

The first section contains a fiery retort by Boethius concerning his imprisonment.

Eventually he and Lady Philosophy get into a discussion concerning true happiness (which St Thomas would essentially copy several centuries later).They define happiness as participating in the highest good, which is God. All other definitions of happiness cannot simultaneously maintain the qualifications for happiness.

The problem of evil:Boethius follows St Augustine in defining evil as a privation of being.Boethius takes it one step further in saying that evil men do not exist!I will let you figure this one out.

Time and eternity:Boethius defines eternity as the simultaneously possessing the fullness of life without end, always appearing in the present.

Conclusion:A masterful and stirring read.Philosophy at its best.A few qualms:I don't think Boethius fully held together is discussion of fate and free will and providence.Good yes and quite original, but...

Anyway, a wonderful read.

Recovering from amnesia
Each time I teach Boethius' Consolation of Philosophy in my Medieval and Renaissance Philosophy course, I'm struck by what a wonderful text it is.There are at least three reasons for this.

First, it's as good an introduction to the worldview of the late antiquity/early medieval periods as one's likely to find.That worldview is likely to strike contemporary ears as foreign--Boethius' conflation, for example, of the good, happiness, and God in Book III--but it's well worth attending to.

Second, reading Boethius is an education in good argumentation.One can disagree with the premises upon which his arguments rest while still admiring and profiting from the rigor of the arguments themselves.Boethius himself tells us that his method is to "unfold" conclusions "without the help of any external aid"--tradition or authority--"but [instead] with one internal proof grafted upon another so that each [draws] its credibility from that which preceded" (p. 82).And he lives up to his word.

Finally, the existential questions Boethius explores in the Consolation are astoundingly vital today.Here's a guy who was once one of the most powerful men in the Roman empire fallen from grace and facing a very messy death.In writing the Consolation, he tries to come to terms with the fickleness of fortune, the problem of evil (why do bad things happen to good people), the secret of happiness, the issue of free will, and the meaning of human existence.Boethius finally concludes that he, like most humans, had been suffering from what might be called philosophical amnesia.He'd allowed his fast-paced lifestyle to induce forgetfulness of who he was and the way he should live his life.In those final months of his life, living in a solitary jail cell and pondering his own mortality, Boethius begins to remember.Reading his wonderful little book can help us, fifteen hundred years later, to awaken from our own amnesias.

Of all the translations of the Consolation I've read, Victor Watts' is my favorite.But be forewarned:his Introduction to the book will tell you almost nothing about the contents and issues of Boethius' book. ... Read more

Product Description

A philosophical exploration of the entire seven-book Harry Potter series

Harry Potter has been heralded as one of the most popular book series of all time and the philosophical nature of Harry, Hermione, and Ron's quest to rid the world of its ultimate evil is one of the many things that make this series special. The Ultimate Harry Potter and Philosophy covers all seven titles in J.K. Rowling's groundbreaking series and takes fans back to Godric's Hollow to discuss life after death, to consider what moral reasoning drove Harry to choose death, and to debate whether Sirius Black is a man or a dog.

With publication timed to coincide with the release of the movie Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part 1), this book will be the definitive guide for all fans looking to appreciate the series on a deeper level.

• Covers a range of intriguing topics such as the redemption of Severus Snape, the power of love, and destiny in the wizarding world
• Gives you a new perspective on Harry Potter characters, plot lines, and themes
• Makes a perfect companion to the Harry Potter books and movies

Packed with interesting ideas and insights, The Ultimate Harry Potter and Philosophy is an ideal companion for anyone interested in unraveling the subtext and exploring the greater issues at work in the story. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (22)

Wow, Way Too Deep
For serious philosophy majors who also like Harry Potter, because there were very few new insights into the books, but a lot of analytical mumbo-jumbo. Still, some chapters were entertaining.

Like some of it love some of it
This book is clearly a mixed bag for me.This book takes all seven Harry Potter books, and different authors write about a philosophical look at different points throughout the Harry Potter books.I am not a huge fan of philosophy (only because I find aruging certain points boring), but I love Harry Potter.I also thought the permise of the book to be very different and original until I saw that there was a whole 21 books or so already in this series.That makes me wonder about the authors just cranking out chapters like an asembly line.

Anyway...I found I loved all the subject manner, but either loved or just skimmed the chapters based on both the logic and writing of the authors. It didn't matter how much I loved Sirius Black by Eric Saidel, but spending that amount of time diving into whether Sirius was a dog or man didn't suit my fancy.I just found it alittle dry that was all.

This wasn't a book that changed my life, but the Harry Potter is a series that is well suited for such a microscopic look that is done by this book.I see this being text for a classroom, now that would be fun in my opinion.

My favorite parts of the subjects were the most powerful magic of all, the room of requirement,and beyound the veil.

I think this book suits a classroom type of disection rather than light and playful reading, but those who love Harry Potter will love some of these chapters.

...book had me thinking...
I gave this book to my wife and this is what she had to say...
I read all of the books in the Harry Potter series multiple times and thoroughly enjoyed them.I would have considered myself pretty well-versed in Harry's world, but the "Ultimate Harry Potter and Philosophy: Hogwarts for Muggles" book had me thinking about it all in a new way.I don't know much about philosophy, but this book introduced me to several philosophical concepts and tied them to a series I loved.I can't say I understood all of it, but it certainly made me think.I enjoyed a few of the essays more than others, but overall, it was a great (and quick read) that every HP fan should pick up.If you haven't read the books, I'm not sure this book is for you.

A Potterific conversation starter with textbook flavor ... Not for the casual HP reader
This is a fun exploration is theories and observations about the Potter saga, it's possible roots and / or wild speculation.
Much of this book could be conversations I've had (or heard) while waiting on a midnight Potter release (book or film for that matter). That isn't a criticism mind you, although it may be a frightening revelation about my person life.

A Philosopical look at Harry, Hermione,Ron and their peers may seem like a quest in the absurd.But, much of this companion serves to remind fans what make this series unique.The Ultimate Harry Potter and Philosophy covers J.K. Rowling's fabric of characters and concepts, major themes and minor,discussing life,death,morality,debating character specifics on deeper level.

Readers familiar with the genre will not find any particularly original observations, but they are pleasantly collected and certainly worth a read or even if you are looking to strike up a debate or two with some Hogwarts enthusiasts.

As a teacher I think the book is a wealth of lesson starters or essay openers for writing students.

Enjoyable for parents who read along with their kids
I am a dad that likes to read along with his kids.I would not have bothered with this book were it not for them.This was an easy and enjoyable book, especially while reading the Harry Potter series with my kids.Of course, the book is geared toward undergraduates and so it is not written in a style appropriate for ten year olds, but it lets a parent think a tad more deeply about Rowling's literature and it does provide some interesting conversation starters.

Where the book shined was when the authors treated Rowling's books seriously, treated the audience seriously, and used the opportunity to connect it with fundamental philosophical schools and/or contemporary academic controversies.Where the book lagged was when the authors used Potter as a kind of popular polemic or self-help guide.Some of the same authors wrote down to their audience and also made the parochial assumption that their readers were American.

I would have qualms using this for an undergraduate course because I don't find the various treatments sufficiently unified, nor are they sufficiently broad to represent many of the different academic approaches to Harry Potter.But I would readily adopt it for advanced students at the high school level.And I think parents will enjoy this as a quick read to keep them one step ahead of their kids. ... Read more

Product Description
What is science? Is there a real difference between science and myth? Is science objective? Can science explain everything? This Very Short Introduction provides a concise overview of the main themes of contemporary philosophy of science. Beginning with a short history of science to set the scene, Samir Okasha goes on to investigate the nature of scientific reasoning, scientific explanation, revolutions in science, and theories such as realism and anti-realism.He also looks at philosophical issues in particular sciences, including the problem of classification in biology, and the nature of space and time in physics.The final chapter touches on the conflicts between science and religion, and explores whether science is ultimately a good thing. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Begin your quest here
In my quest to broaden my understanding of the philosophy of science, I found this book to be an ideal starting point. Having now read several other books and essays on the philosophy of science, I can say that this book covers the major points well and provides a good foundation to move forward. Also, this book is available in audio format[...]. As a follow-up to this book I found Peter Godfrey-Smith's book, Theory and reality: An introduction to the philosophy of science to be very good. As a matter of fact this book is a great companion to the audio course, Philosophy of Science, by Jeffrey Kasser available from the Teaching Company.

Also may I recommend that you read Thomas Kuhn's classic book, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions which is also available in audio format (Audible) from Amazon.

Short but stimulating
By their very nature, books of the "Very Short Introduction" series cannot possibly deliver an in-depth treatment of any of their subject matters. Then again, this doesn't mean an author cannot use this accessible format to stimulate and inform the reader, while maintaining as much rigor as one can expect from books aimed at a general audience. That is exactly what Samir Okasha manages to do here. The reader will find standard sections on what science is, the basics of scientific reasoning, and the nuances of what counts as an explanation in science. But Okasha also gets into a bit more tricky territory, such as the disputes between realists and anti-realists, and even takes a balanced look at science critics (believe me, it's not easy to be fair and balanced there!). Chapter six, on sample problems in the philosophy of physics, biology and psychology, gives the reader a flavor of what actual philosophical investigation looks like. This is, of course, no substitute for more substantive books on the philosophy of science, but it sure counts as a very good short introduction.

What is a Science?
This book represents really very, very short introduction to the Philosophy of Science. Anyone who is beginner in this field should read this text as it really will help in acquiring basic insights about the most important debates within the history and philosophy of Science. As for me, of the particular interest were the issues of theory construction, hypothesis testing and assessing progress within the scientific fields. Most interesting points are made when discussing the issues of falsificationism and theory construction. Also the book discusses in great details Thomas Kuhn and his contribution to the History and Philosophy of Science.Overall this book is worth reading . . .

Accurate and concise
Philosophy of Science: A Very Short Introduction by Okasha is an informative read on a few of the basics in philosophy of science.In my opinion the author does a decent job of not taking sides in the issues he presents, although I sense he struggles a bit in some places and his biases show, but this is not a weakness.It is very difficult to talk about these issues (e.g., realism, reasoning, and scientific change) without taking sides.He is sufficiently neutral to allow readers to make their own decisions.Good job.

I sensed his biases creep through when talking about the uncertainty in inductive reasoning, particularly with regard to evolution. Evolution is built on inductive evidence; it is an inductive generalization.Given that we cannot be certain when using induction, we cannot be certain of the truthfulness of evolution (i.e., common descent).I agree.But the author asserts that commonly accepted theories like gravity and relativity were also built on induction, and because we have granted them law-like status we should also grant the same law-like status to evolution. This is a sound argument, but there is a major difference between gravity and evolution that he does not mention.The former has been largely confirmed with crucial experiments, the latter (evolutionary change across life forms) has not.I am sure that the author is aware of this fact.

Okasha has a very lucid and concise writing style that I enjoyed. The book is easy to read and follow, thus beginners to the field should find it very useful. The book is also full of examples to help clarify the issues for the reader.

If I had to pick one weak spot, it would be his coverage of the modular mind in the last chapter. This discussion is presented to illustrate a philosophical issue in psychological science. All I can say as a theoretical psychologist, is "Boring!"Rather than talk about the localization of brain functions, he could have addressed more hot topic issues like agency, responsibility, applying the assumptions of the natural science model (naturalism) to humanity, and the mind-body debate.

Nevertheless, a good read, especially for beginners and those wanting a brief review of the fundamental issues.

Review of the book philosophy of science by Samir Okasha
This is a very good introductory book on the philosophie of science.As an inexpert in the area I enjoyed reading this book which does not include nonsense writings and unnecessary lengthy details.It is cheap in price and I recommend it to every scientist.

Tarek musslimani ... Read more

Product Description
The Star Wars films continue to revolutionize science fiction, creating new standards for cinematographic excellence, and permeating popular culture around the world. The films feature many complex themes ranging from good versus evil and moral development and corruption to religious faith and pragmatism, forgiveness and redemption, and many others.

The essays in this volume tackle the philosophical questions from these blockbuster films including: Was Anakin predestined to fall to the Dark Side? Are the Jedi truly role models of moral virtue? Why would the citizens and protectors of a democratic Republic allow it to descend into a tyrannical empire? Is Yoda a peaceful Zen master or a great warrior, or both? Why is there both a light and a dark side of the Force? Star Wars and Philosophy ponders the depths of these subjects and asks what it truly means to be mindful of the "living force." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

A masterpiece !!
I've got this book translated into portugues and it's marvelous, i'm a philosophy lover and besides that a great fan of the Star Wars series.
This book is a big eye opener as it discusses many contemporaries issues, and better than that make us think and ponder, this are some of the goals philosophy intend to wake in us.
This is a light and easy to read book, it also contains a lot of metaphysical and spiritual elements, making this work also a spiritual source of inspiration. The souls of the Star Wars are embodied in this book.
Highly recommended!!

Good book, unil.......
I found this book to be quite entertaining and a good refresher in the basics of Plato and Aristole's writings. The only problem was the one sided view when you got to the "environment" section. The author who wrote this section came across to me as a tree hugging, socialist who would like to see corporation go down. Really a big turn off!!!!! Shame!!! Otherwise, with the exception of this one section, the book was fine. Nothing earth shattering, but neither is the "Jedi's mythology". All it is is an amalgomation of already written and explored mythologies with lightsaber fights and spaceships.

Philosophy and the Force.
I'm kind of a weirdo.

My wife and I went on a trip for our anniversary to a Bed and Breakfast in Thomasville, GA.We just stayed in the room and read the whole time.I read this book in about 1 day.

I have to say that I was more than a little surprised at how good a book it was.I've read other books in the Philosophy and Popular Culture series, but was expecting this one to be kind of lame.Star Wars is my favorite movie series of all time, and I find that it's easy for someone commenting on or writing about the series to provoke my ire.(Dorks hate it when other people get their life's obsession wrong.)

I am by no means a great mind.But I do enjoy the notion that Plato put forth that one cannot avoid popular culture, and it is better to teach by popular examples than by those examples that no one will understand.As a result, I say that this series is a good one if you want to get acquainted with philosophy in a "friendlier" setting than a classroom, though the average reader will still have to think more deeply than they usually do.

Which is why this is a good book.It's an introduction to critical thinking about philosophy.It causes you to question the nature of good and evil. (ie..The notion of Lying Jedi and Truthful Sith).And again, all of it is heavier thinking than the average movie watching TV viewer is used to doing, but it's worth it.It can open your eyes to philosophical notions that you hadn't really fathomed before.(ie...There is a wonderful article on Stoicism as represented by Yoda. I had no idea that stoicism was a philosophical movement, I just thought it described a certain quality.And even that was the vaguest of notions.)

There were certain aspects (philosophical not stylistic) of the book that I didn't really care for, understand fully, or agree with.But to be fair, the editor also put a note in the introduction saying that he didn't really agree with everything in it either.It does, after all, cover a wide berth of philosophical issues.No one can possibly agree with all philosophies.

So if you are like me, and probably watch too much TV, but occasionally let slip the surly bonds of your couch and reach out to learn something new, this is the book for you.

Son of Frost, Siblings of the Force
For those whose Heart burns with the fires of the cosmic energy, and loves Star Wars. This is the book for you.

Philosophy from the Jedi Masters
Certainly Abrams and the contributing writers are strong in the force.I enjoyed this book.While it may not be very deep for the seasoned philosopher, the book serves as a great intro to philosophy in a unique way.The material is clearly well researched, both from the movie and from the philosophies covered, but written in a way that beginners like myself can understand.
A great choice for both Star Wars fans and the padawan philosopher! ... Read more

Product Description

The seminal work by one of the most important thinkers of the twentieth century, Physics and Philosophy is Werner Heisenberg's concise and accessible narrative of the revolution in modern physics, in which he played a towering role. The outgrowth of a celebrated lecture series, this book remains as relevant, provocative, and fascinating as when it was first published in 1958. A brilliant scientist whose ideas altered our perception of the universe, Heisenberg is considered the father of quantum physics; he is most famous for the Uncertainty Principle, which states that quantum particles do not occupy a fixed, measurable position. His contributions remain a cornerstone of contemporary physics theory and application.

Customer Reviews (21)

Just historical
I see people usually like this book. It is remarkable how much history of philosophy Heisenberg knows, however I don't really find a thesis here. Not like the principle of complementarity of Bohr. He makes parallels and shows how August Conte was wrong in the way that he didn't proclaim that science evolved of changes in language.
I does not go far from the standards from today.

Classical Dynamics and Quantum Theory
Werner Heisenberg's classic text on physics and philosophy is a must read for all those in quantum theory today who feel as one of the founders of the Standard Model of Particle Physics; in"Dreams of a Final Theory," Dr. Stephen Weinberg, in some ways very hostile, if that is not too strong a word, towards philosophy (because Dr. Weinberg asserts that philosophy has only obtruded or obscured the quest for the final laws of nature: in surveying the philosophy of science literature today, one gets the bewildering feeling that the only thing that matters is taking an obscure subject matter and turning it into an incomprehensible one.) concedes that "we need to better understand quantum mechanics."
If this is true, and if philosophers of science can assist in the scientific quest (a premise Dr. Weinberg disagrees with, I think) by purifying the reasoning or methodology of the scientific quest, then philosophy of science can be a gaurdian of what W. V. O Quine considered the "queen" of the sciences--i.e., physics. Certain philosophers of physics assure me that this task will be necessary until a final theory is in hand, if ever, after long millenia, it can be in hand. The work of William Lane Craig and Quinton Smith is an excellant example of what philosophy can do for science, the work of Albert William Levi "Philosophy and the Modern World" is a masterful study by a non-scientist of the work of, for example, Albert Einstein and Max Planck and of Alfred North Whitehead. Modern philosophy itself--in its Logical Positivist manifestation--is technological;consider alone the level of attention paid to relativity theory and quantum mechanics by the Vienna Circle.
Heisenberg is very careful in this work to offer an argument for the consistency of modern quantum mechanics with certain elements of Aristotle's concept of potency or potentiiality: He sees the nature of the quantum to lay in a certain manyness-in-oneness, or what is today called the superposition of the quantum wave function; since potency resides in this state, the orthodox Copenhagen School allows only statistical descriptions of the probable, emergent phenomena: these statistics are inherently part of any quantum field, or better expressed, any part of a quantum field when it is subject to the Heisenberg Cut, which is a mesurement of part of the quantum field which causes the collapse of the wavefunction and its superposition; what evolves once the Heisenberg Cut is made does so by a presumable determinism which is indemonstrable within quantum mechanics; and here, I think, is where Heisenberg's text re-pays careful study (I have twice read the book), for he admits a determinism at the scale of, say, planetary bodies or telluric bodies, but he also indicates that classical determinism emerges from the quantum state's potentiality. This whole problem in Modern physics revolves about various questions about the "measurement problem" in quantum physics, and I have already alluded to that; but Heisenberg taught us that just as Newtonian mechanics was eventually shown to be a subset of Einsteinian dynamics, when special relativity was considered, so does classical deterministic evolution of micro-matter occur as a subset of states of the quantum, but these states are the precisely measurable states. They are the product of freely chosen laws to this extent: they were brought into being by measurement, which founds the ensemble (Q. Smith), a micro-world as subset of the total world structure. To recur to Dirac's way of dividing the wave-function, it has two cognate parts, Large Psi, which refers to the entire quantum wave-function, and small psi, which refers to the division of the wavefunction into a proper subset: Here is where the crossroads of a great philosophic/scientific problem is broached, for if Classical determinism prevails at the level of human life or planets, and measurement from the superposition creates such determinism, then what measures into being the measurer? Dreams of a Final Theory: The Scientist's Search for the Ultimate Laws of NatureTheism, Atheism, and Big Bang Cosmology (Clarendon Paperbacks)The Principles of Quantum Mechanics (International Series of Monographs on Physics)Before the Big Bang: The Origins of the Universe

Quantum theory, crossing borders in the higlight of physics
The German physician and philosopher Heisenberg counts together with the German Erwin Schrödinger as founder of the Quantum mechanics. In the year 1927 he formulated the uncertainty relation, German: "Unschärferelation" (also called indeterminacy principle) according to which place and impulse of a subatomic particle cannot be destined at the same time. For his quantum physical research he received in 1932 the Nobel prize of physics.

After the second World War Heisenberg became director of the Max-Planck-Institute. His "Einheitliche Theorie der Elementarteilchen" (unitary theory of elementary particles) from the year 1958 was called "world formula" (although that is just what it is not!) and strengthened Heisenbergs position as one of the most important representative of quantum physics.

In countless lectures and essays he disputed the philosophical implications of quantum physics, among others in "Quantentheorie und Philosophie", "Physik und Philosophie" and "Der Teil und das Ganze".
According to Heisenberg the whole thing is more than the summary of the parts. In this idealism is recognizable as to such a degree that it must be concluded to have created not the theory but vice versa the reality itself. And this would mean, that in the end all things that came into being must be traced back to an immaterial flow of information. But information is a spiritual phenomeneon. The magazine "Der SPIEGEL" called this "God in the quantum chaos", for according to Heisenberg:

"The quantum theory leaves no room for a totally objective description of nature... In the experiments of atomic procedures we have to do with material things and facts, with phenomenons so much real as any phenomenon in daily life. But the atoms or the elementary particles are not equally real. They form much more a world of tendencies and possibilities than a world of things and facts."
Quite a heap of idealism, it seems, but a compelling conclusion from the datum of physics? Does a spiritual principle stick behind the whole cake? The universe as quantum world! A world which is incessantly in movement because she is designed like that. Only by movement is the personality-structure of all proprieties held. Still-stand is death, or better: non-existence. Is there still-stand at all? Nowhere is it visible, nowhere it has space.

Einstein struggled long against the quantum theory. He tried to adopt it to the theoretical fundament of the classic physics and confessed to himself that he failed. There is no solid - you could also say no material - ground on which the order of the world is built! Many years Einstein spent to give the world the knowledge, that there is no chance to pass by the quantum theory, an almost metaphysical theory, when describing reality.
In reference to Einstein`s theory of relativity Heisenberg had called the fact that all physical systems possess either the propriety of a wave or of a particle and that only one of the two is measurable, "indeterminacy principle" or "uncertainty relation". Material, according to Einstein nothing but of time and energy, was robbed of it`s last consistency. Und such thing should have stood in the beginning of the universe?
Impossible since the quantum mechanics stand before. Material needs an idea to start movement. A frontier crossing to the spiritual realm is inevitable!
Interestingly Heisenberg perceived the contradiction of the quantum theory to modern biology. "...most biologists are prepared to confess, that the existence of atoms and molecules can only be understood with the help of the quantum theory, but besides that they have the wish to regard the working material of the chemists and biologists, namely atoms and molecules, as stuff of classic physics, thus dealing with them as with stones or grain of sand."
Creation is, by all appearance, provided that we are ready to believe the quantum physics an artfully, a subtle construction, a "Within" which does not only make an "Outside" thinkable but even demands for it. Any attempt of a world formula" in the sense of Einstein must therefore fail, because it wants to explain the Within without the Outside!
Some may flinch from the title of the book or the name of the author to read the book. The fears are not grounded. Basic knowledge of atomic physics is sufficient to understand what the author is talking about. He uses a clear and simple diction. If one understands his theories is another matter. But this might be indebted to the ideology one tends to hold.

Existence and physical reality according to physicist Werner Heisenberg
At the turn of 20th century when quantum physics was born; the founding fathers of this scientific revolution were thinking deeply about the philosophical consequences of the new physics in terms of existence and physical reality (ontology). The reality perceived through the laws of classical physics provided strong challenges to quantum reality and human knowledge of quantum physical concepts (epistemology). In addition, the theory of relativity, which also came into existence at about the same time, altered the concept of space and time (consequently their relationship to matter, and the concept of gravity) radically from the existing knowledge of Newtonian physics. In this book, physicist Heisenberg gives a brilliant account of physical reality after reviewing the works ofnotable philosophers like; Kant, Descartes, Locke, Berkeley, and Hume. You get to read the physical and philosophical analysis of one of the founding fathers of quantum physics using both classical and quantum physics. His philosophical ideas are summarized below:

Physical theories had to be proposed speculatively and pursued deductively with respect to their many consequences that can be put to theoretical and experimental verifications. It turns out that the theory makes more physical and philosophical assumptions than the facts alone imply. The assumptions could be ontological or epistemological in nature. For example, the concept of space and time (and its relation to matter) is independent of the observer, which would be ontological in nature since the subject matter of scientific knowledge is independent of the perceiver (consequences of relativity). The nature of quantum physics introduces indeterminacy to nature of things which would be epistemological since the experiment performer (and knowledge-seeker) influences the subject matter (the outcome his experiments) by his physical observation. The state of a quantum object is undetermined until an observation is recorded. Hence, the author's argument is that the potentiality is a part of physical reality. Einstein's contention was that the potentiality, probability or chance is due to epistemological limitations of our knowledge in knowing the entire picture, the Omni-complete, and hence misapplied to the object itself. The Omni-complete object is omniferous, omnifarious, omniparous, omnipotent and omniscient and therefore the concept of chance or probability is inappropriate in the description of a real object. Both Einstein and Heisenberg admitted that the experimental data does not lead to concepts of physics, and hence the object of scientific knowledge remains unknown, but it is known through the theoretical constructs or axiomatic postulation verified indirectly by experiments and its deduced consequences. To find the object of scientific knowledge one must go to the theoretical assumptions of a physical law; the concept of probability and chance figures into the definition of the state of a physical system (due to statistical nature of things, and also use of statistical analysis in understanding the results of an experiment) in both classical and quantum physics. In quantum physics it also figures in the subject matter, but not in classical physics. This is the major difference between two disciplines that separated Einstein from Copenhagen school of thought. Author Heisenberg suggests that the concept of potentiality very much a part of subjective reality contrary to classical reality.

The probability function represents a mixture of two things, partly a fact and partly our knowledge of a fact. An atom consists of a nucleus and electrons (wave) moving around the nucleus; from the classical standpoint it is difficult to conceive how an electron orbit around the nucleus without changing its energy. Then again the electron is a wave until detected; therefore the energy is constant as long as it stays in the same orbit. The second point is that the act of determining the position becomes a measurement problem since light quanta is absorbed during its detection and the electron is displaced (change its position) to a higher electronic state. Thus the spacetime descrip¬tion of the atomic events is complementary to their deterministic description. The probability function obeys equations of motion as in Newtonian mechanics; its change in the course of time is completely determined by the quantum mechanical equation, but it does not allow a descrip¬tion in space and time. The observation, on the other hand, enforces the description in space and time but breaks the determined continuity of the probability function by changing our knowledge of the system. The mechanism and the results of an observation of atomic events can be described in classical concepts, but the deductions from observations results in probability functions which combines the statements about possibilities with statements about our knowledge of facts. Therefore we can not completely objectify the results of an observation. What happens between an observation and the next depends on the way we observe or on the fact we observe. This becomes subjectivism. Since the probability function combines objective and subjective elements. It contains statements about possibilities or better tendencies ("potentia" in Aristotelian philosophy), and these statements are completely objective, they do not depend on any observer, but it contains statements about our knowledge of the system, which of course are subjective in so far as they may be different for different observers. In ideal cases the subjective element in the probability function may be practically negligible as com¬pared with the objective one.

1. Heisenberg and the Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics: The Physicist as Philosopher
2. The Physical Principles of the Quantum Theory
3. Encounters with Einstein
4. Philosophical Problems of Quantum Physics
5. What Is Life?: with "Mind and Matter" and "Autobiographical Sketches"
6. Schrödinger: Life and Thought
7. Niels Bohr's Times,: In Physics, Philosophy, and Polity
8. Niels Bohr's Philosophy of Physics
9. Ideas And Opinions
10. From a Life of Physics

His master's voice
Quantum science is without any doubt the greatest breakthrough of science in the 20th century.If you want to know what quantum physics is all about, read this fluently written introduction to quantum physics by one of the founders of the theory himself, Nobel Prize winner Dr. Werner Heisenberg.It is very uncommon that a great scientist is capable to transmit his profound knowledge in such an easy to read book, without a single formula. (For the ones interested in the mathematics behind this theory, he has also written another book : "The physical principles of the quantum theory").In the world of today, Aristotle's deeper understanding that philosophy is the mother of science has been forgotten, something that Heisenberg not only recalls, but actively uses as a guiding principle throughout this book.

Quantum physics is important, since it produced a revolution within the materialistic perspective of classical physics.At elementary level, there is no longer a sharp distinction between matter and energy.Heisenberg says : "The elementary particles are certainly not eternal and indestructible units of matter, they can actually be transformed into each other. As a matter of fact, if two such particles, moving through space with a very high kinetic energy, collide, then many new elementary particles may be created from the available energy and the old particles may have disappeared in the collision. Such events have been frequently observed and offer the best proof that all particles are made of the same substance : energy."

This way he also solves the duality between particles and fields.If energy is the primary substance of the universe, then it will only depend on the experiment how we will observe this energy."What we observe is not nature in itself but nature exposed to our method of questioning."
... Read more

Product Description
The Gambler's Fallacy, the Dirty Hands Argument, Pascal's Wager--philosophical terms can be both intriguing and baffling. Now, eminent philosopher Simon Blackburn offers the most authoritative and up-to-date dictionary of philosophy available in a single volume. Ranging from Aristotle to Zen, the two thousand plus entries cover the entire span of philosophy, from the Vedas (written over three thousand years ago) to the most recent technical terminology, with ample coverage of important themes from Chinese, Indian, Islamic, and Jewish philosophy. Here are all the terms one would expect to find in a comprehensive dictionary of philosophy--idealism and empiricism, ethics and aesthetics, Epicureanism and Stoicism, existentialism and logical positivism, and much more. Blackburn also defines many concepts not normally found in such reference works, including entries for apathy, laughter, and the meaning of life, and he includes relevant terms from disciplines such as mathematics, physics, biology, artificial intelligence, and linguistics. In addition, there are capsule biographies of nearly five hundred individuals, from the pre-Socratics to such contemporary figures as Jacques Derrida, Michel Foucault, Richard Rorty, and Simone de Beauvoir. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Not the exhaustive dictiionary I was hoping for
If you need a pocket dictionary that has basic terms, concepts and philosophers then this is your book.However if you need some more modern terms defined or some meat on the definitions you will find this dictionary lacking.Unfortunatley you dont have much other choices for a portable dictionary as the cambridge is unwieldly.I find it fun to open the book and just begin reading from antwhere but as to its pragmatic value I would say it is limited.

It saved my life...
I was in the midst of writing my midterm when I thought of buying this book. I'm glad I did. I didn't get an 'A', but it did help me seal a 'B'. I'm glad it came in handy, otherwise I would've failed.

Where's the entry for Charles Sanders Peirce?
It is impossible at this point to talk about philosophy without mentioning the extensive (though unpublished until after his death) work of Charles Sanders Peirce.He is mentioned several times in this voluminous text, but there is no formal entry on him, nor is he in the index.A serious deficiency (oversight? or intentional?) of the Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, in my opinion. Otherwise the information is adequate, but not worth buying new.

My girlfriend likes it...
I bought this book as a Christmas present for my girlfriend (a philosophy student).I don't know anything about the subject, but she carries this book around with her everywhere, and is constantly looking things up in it, so I guess that means it's pretty good!=)

Surprisingly Comprehensive, Brilliant Encapsulations
I have long referred to the original Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy (1994) by Simon Blackburn.At that time, it was almost unique as a one-volume dictionary of philosophy.Especially in more recent years, however, it sometimes seemed to come short.Some crucial entries were missing, e.g. deflationary theories of truth, forms of life, or motivation -- and in particular, postmodern philosophers and postmodern terms.

This has all been addressed eleven years later, so that the 2005/2006 editions do not disappoint.It is surprisingly comprehensive, and it brilliantly encapsulates the core meaning of each entry in readily understandable terms.More obscure entries are cross-referenced to other terms, e.g. axiology, ideal language, or retributive justice.

Blackburn states in his preface that he has sought chiefly to write "through my own interests and judgements", keeping "the likely needs of the user in mind" -- while at the same time seeking to "light up the faculties".I would consider that the end result is a very good mix.One might well find all that one needs in this single volume.

This having been said, Blackburn is not known for his affection for postmodernism.Combined with his own special form of panache, this makes the new edition of the Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy a humorous read at times.Foucault, he notes, is said to deal with "subject and abject"; Derrida, on being accused of "a tissue of confusions", responded with a "blizzard of text"; while Levinas is "perhaps beyond the limits of intelligibility".I found myself following the postmodern trail just to find the next joke. ... Read more

Product Description
How ought we to live? What really exists? How do we know? This book introduces important themes in ethics, knowledge, and the self, via readings from Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Hegel, Darwin, and Buddhist writers. It emphasizes throughout the point of studying philosophy, explains how different areas of philosophy are related, and explores the contexts in which philosophy was and is studied. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Helpful book...
My best friend majored in philosophy, and I've long admired the types of questions that occur to him when he's confronted with an issue. Now, having read this book -- as well as a couple from the bibliography -- I'm in the habit of asking myself similar questions. I recommend this book highly.

A Very Short But Very Good Introduction to Philosophy
Philosophy is a large subject which can be made as complex as one wishes, so any introductory philosophy book will struggle with the problem that it simply isn't possible to achieve both breadth and depth, especially when the book is "very short."

Some books aim for breadth, but they generally wind up rushing through names and ideas in a superficial way which is ultimately ineffective and unsatisfying.Other books go for depth by focusing on one or a few topics, but examining selected trees without a sense of the overall forest fails to adequately orient the beginner.

I think that Craig's book actually manages to find a nice balance between breadth and depth, despite being very short.He starts by correctly identifying the three main questions philosophy wrestles with:

- How ought we to live?
- What really exists?
- How do we know?

(Note: I've listed the above questions in the order given by Craig, and this ordering is a practical one which probably corresponds to the sequence in which the questions will naturally emerge for most reflective people.However, if one wishes to take a more theoretical approach, it might make sense to reverse the ordering of the questions.)

Craig discusses various possible responses to these questions (and many related sub-questions) in general terms and using a variety of brief examples, but he also explores a handful of case studies of philosophers and portions of their books in substantial depth, thus showing us what a real work of philosophy looks like and how it can be fairly evaluated.An added and very important plus is that he draws his examples from both Western and Eastern philosophy, and provides insightful comparisons between them; this is rare in introductory philosophy books, especially short ones.

While anyone serious about philosophy will need to put a lot of time and effort into it, everyone has to start somewhere, and this book is about as good a short introduction as I've found so far, so I recommend it.

VERY BORING !
I listened to the unabridged audiobook and congratulate the author for having succeeded in making such an important subject so boring. I usually write much more elaborate reviews but I have nothing more to say about this book.

A Good Start
I will agree with a number of the other reviewers that this book was rather shallow, but that's the way the book was meant.A "very short introduction" is just that -- a quick hit.If you want to know more about philosophy, take this book as point A and use the suggested reading list as point B and then go on from there.The only real problem I have with the book is the author's treatment of C.S. Lewis.He takes a quote from him completely out of context (Lewis wasn't speaking of Darwinism, but basic morality) and then criticizes the misinterpretation.This is really just a cheap jab at christianity and I've sadly come to expect it from most of what I read these days.

A bit selective but clear, brief, and interesting
I agree with much of the positive reviews below, so I won't repeat their points.Edward Craig does an excellent job to familiarize the reader with the discipline of philosophy by way of looking at snapshots of philosophers that represent key aspects of philosophy.What Craig does present, he presents clearly and succinctly, and he certainly stimulates interest in the subject.So the book happily succeeds as an introduction.

While "biased" may be too strong a term to describe the book, it may suffer a bit from being a bit selective in topic coverage, although this is forgivable given the introductory nature of the book.Particularly, the absence of any discussion about the existence of God is striking, as it is a perennial topic in Western philosophy and a very lively one.Someone like Thomas Aquinas would have been a perfect philosopher to reference on this topic, especially given the lack of medieval philosophers represented by Craig.Incidentally, he does quote Aquinas, but it is a statement about animals, which is surely more obscure than his well known arguments for the existence of God.Furthermore, if Craig's goal was to present primarily philosophy that argues from reason rather than sacred texts, Acquinas' and others' arguments for God's existence (as well as detractors' rebuttals) would surely have been a better fit than a Scriptural reference.

All in all, though, Craig's book is only meant to be a sampling of philosophy, and such gaps do not take away much from the overall value of the book because Craig is so good at digesting and summarizing philosophers' thoughts for newbies. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (21)

Monumentally important book, terrible version
Clearly, this is one of the most important books in the realm of education. This edition, however, is simply a bound set of photocopies from an earlier edition THAT WAS MARKED UP! I figured there would be some imperfections, but this is worse than borrowing a handed-down used copy.

Great Book Horrible Print
This print has many pages in which the first letter(s) or last letter(s) are missing from the page.It also has the sloppy markings of a previous reader as part of the reprint.I did verified this was not a used copy by comparing the notes on the pages with a fellow student, and it is part of the book.I recomend this book, just buy a print from a different source/company. There are many prints, I beleive many other students had a simple looking version with a plain white cover.

so-so
This arrived quickly but the quality of the 'printing' is so-so. It is an enlarged photo-stat copy of an old edition and some of the letters did not copy and others are distorted.Text is still readable, but takes some work.

Philosophy of Education
Education is the key to whole development of all societies in this world.Until we provide and give proper importance to education to the humanity we are underdeveloped.We have to spend more money on education, ie, train required teachers not with the existing system, mofifying with all required education to the teachers first,to be included all the relevant books likes this, to be enable the teacher understand the basics (all subjects, wholeness not fragmented) of everything, psychology of the students etc.In this respect, the book is very useful........

don't buy this edition
hey, Dewey is obviously great.But dont buy this edition.it is poorly laid out and has misspellings in a few places. ... Read more

Product Description
The fundamentals of the author's philosophy, namely Objectivism, are set out in three of her other books: "For the New Intellectual", "The Virtue of Selfishness" and "Capitalism: the Unknown Ideal". ... Read more

Customer Reviews (44)

Rand's lectures on philosophy/psychology
Few writers are capable of eliciting as powerful a reaction as Ayn Rand.From abject hatred to total adoration, her writing has stirred both.In this volume, Rand gives readers her opinions on psychology and philosophy.Did you find Anthem and Atlas Shrugged personally moving and inspiring?If so, you will find the same here.Did they inspire less than wonderful feelings?If so, you'll like this volume even less than her fiction.I identify myself as someone who considers Anthem and Atlas Shrugged among the most important books in my life.

A gaping difficulty in this book for me personally, however, was the treatment of B.F. Skinner.The reaction is so obviously emotional, including personal attacks based on inaccurate information, that Rand misses the most crucial aspects of Skinner.She is so horrified by what she believes to be the implications of Skinner's writing that she launches on a personal attack that leaves any vestige of value in Skinner behind, as well as the factual record (to correct just one statement, Skinner and his wife did not raise their daughter in a box).She attacks Skinner for denying the "inner man," but Skinner never denied the existence of thinking.He simply referred to it as "covert behavior," (observable only to the person engaging in it).Skinner's only insistence was that covert behavior followed the same scientific laws as more overt behavior (see About Behaviorism, for example).Research into rule-governed behavior and concept-formation has borne out many of Skinner's fundamental assertions.He didn't want thinking to move over into the mystical, he wanted it to stay in the realm of the natural.Ayn Rand surely would have appreciated this if she had allowed herself to read more deeply into Skinner.

Skinner's writings over a whole career must be examined, as well as the implications of his writings in the decades of actual clinical and laboratory research since then.Skinner was not correct about everything he wrote.Going into the clinical applications of applied behavior analysis, for example, he was initially skeptical of the procedure now known as self-management (see Science and Human Behavior).Nonetheless, self-management techniques do work clinically.Any good scientist has to acknowledge the incorrect theory slain by the fact and assimilate the new information, as Skinner did.Skinner's work has INCREASED autonomy and individual skills and accomplishemnt.Applied behavior analysis, the science that grew from Skinner's writings, is a powerful system of teaching new skills that relies on careful data collection and objective reality.What is so wrong in this?Should we not take careful data and alter our teaching procedures based on data collected?That is all ABA is asking us to do:have a good knowledge of the research base and alter your techniques based on data collected.Sounds more like Hank Reardon than Jim Taggart to me.Human behavior is strongly influenced by the consequences of our actions.Will this be disputed?If not, then it is simply a matter of degree of determinism, and we have to look to the data, to objective reality, for our answers.ABA is a science that has demonstrated in thousands of controlled experiments that careful, data-based teaching can increase skill acquisition (essential for personal autonomy).As MacCorquodale wrote as far back at 1971:"Once the variables that affect behavior are firmly identified in scientific laws, man is free to alter his fate...by manipulating the variables that are already affecting his behavior for better or worse. . .Behaviorism is not really a bleak conspiracy to delimit man's choices and freedom by artificial constraint, any more than physics is a conspiracy against atoms."Did Skinner advocate a system that reduces personal freedom and helps to destroy the individual? Never.Disagree perhaps with his political thoughts, disagree perhaps with Walden Two as being a rural utopia as opposed to the industrial utopia, disagree with social planning as opposed to completely unplanned conditions as being the environment most likely to shape the behavior we are hoping for, but never suggest that Skinner wanted to destroy anyone's freedom. As Rand often writes when confronted with seeming contradiction:check your premises.

Haven't had time yet
I have not yet had time to read this book but look forward to it. I'm quite familiar with her works and plan to read it when work slows down.

An Active Mind is better than an Open Mind
History is vindicating Ayn Rand's warnings, which explains the current popularity of her novel Atlas Shrugged. In this collection of essays, all but one from the 1970s, she explains how philosophy shapes the mind and character of the individual and of nations. Discussing the forms that abstract theory take in daily life, Rand identifies the consequences that flow from ideas by evaluating the hidden premises at work in the life of the mind. The theoretical first part is backed up in the rest of the book by concrete examples of how concepts operate in a culture's subconscious, directing the course of history.

The two introductory essays emphasize the importance of philosophy. They are followed by those dealing with the Law of Identity, the primacy of existence and various analyses of the anti-conceptual mentality. Metaphysics (the study of existence) and epistemology (the means of cognition) are the theoretical foundations of philosophy, whilst ethics (morality) is its `technology' which influences character, determines actions and establishes the values that guide one's choices. Reason is a process whereby perceptual data are integrated into concepts. Recognizing the primacy of reason and applying it consistently is the primary means of survival. She shows how to distinguish truth from falsehood, i.e. intellectual achievement versus intellectual deception.

All evil philosophies are systematic rationalizations of vice characterized by hatred of reality, as Rand convincingly argues in the critical essays on Kant and his heirs like Hegel, John Rawls and BF Skinner. These include Pragmatism which rejects principle and future, Linguistic Analysis (deconstruction) which is not an integrated philosophy and Existentialism that proclaims the supremacy of emotion in a chaotic anti-world. All of these false philosophies, including Logical Positivism, are collectivist propagations of human sacrifice. All of them reject judgment, choice and reason, elevate emotions and accept determinism. The anti-conceptual mentality is tribal although there are anti-conceptualists that are predatory lone wolves intent on manipulating any type of group. Beware of catch-phrases like 'keeping an open mind' that legitimizes the irrational. Cultivate an 'active mind' instead - one that critically examines ideas.

Faith & Force, written in 1960, diagnoses the neurotic anxiety of western culture. This early essay is a lucid analysis of the postmodern mindset and a blistering attack on the worship of self-sacrifice which Rand calls altruism. She calls faith and force the enemies of freedom and reason and the enemies of modernity since they promote the notion of the human being as a sacrificial animal. It's true that religion can be evil but in this regard Rand is a bit biased in my opinion (or perhaps it's a problem of definition) as faith can also be beneficial to individuals and communities and has inspired sublime art and music. The chapters on the Establishment and Censorship demonstrate how statists undermine our cultural life. These two essays investigate the reasons for and results of conformity and timidity, agenda-driven cliques and parasitical groups that leech on taxpayers' money via government grants.

The antidote is discussed in the chapters Fairness Doctrine for Education and What Can One Do? that provide practical advice on how to counteract the destructive forces that undermine our civilization. Rand points out that the battle is primarily intellectual, that politics is merely the last consequence. Her advice for the defenders of freedom is to embrace intellectual honesty, constantly expand their knowledge and stand up for truth under the appropriate circumstances. Remaining silent in the face of lies is lethal; there are times when one has to speak out.

The final chapter discusses the American sense of life as a beacon of hope. The future may to a large extent be predicted by the present course of action, conscious convictions plus the sense of life of nations & individuals. In Europe the prevailing attitude is that man belongs to the state whilst in the USA the primacy of the individual has always been the popular view. Envy and admiration result from these opposing views. The author presciently recognized the 'progressive' coalition of academics and entertainers all those years ago, an unholy alliance echoing the European view that has become more influential in recent years. Rand's advice is to oppose toxic trends by steadfastly promoting the supremacy of reason.

For further information, I highly recommend Explaining Postmodernism by Stephen Hicks, Menace in Europe by Claire Berlinski, Our Culture: What's Left Of It by Theodore Dalrymple, Lives Of The Mind by Roger Kimball, The Unlearned Lessons of the Twentieth Century by Chantal Delsol, Discovery of Freedom by Rose Wilder Lane, The Dragons of Expectation by Robert Conquest and Science, Faith & Society by Michael Polanyi.

Choose Life
As history unfolds Ayn Rand's views are proving to be prophetic, which explains the current popularity of her great novel Atlas Shrugged. In this collection of essays, all but one from the 1970s, she deals with philosophy as the basic force that shapes the mind and character of the individual and of nations. Explaining the forms that abstract theory take in daily life, Rand discusses the profound consequences that flow from ideas by identifying and evaluating the hidden premises at work in the life of the mind. The ideal is to attain a conscious rational philosophy. The theoretical first part is backed up by concrete examples of how concepts operate in the subconscious of a culture and direct the course of history.

The two introductory essays focus on the importance of philosophy. They are followed by those dealing with the Law of Identity, the primacy of existence and various dissections of the anti-conceptual mentality. Metaphysics (the study of existence) and epistemology (the means of cognition) are the theoretical foundations of philosophy, whilst ethics (morality) is its `technology' which influences character, determines actions and establishes the values that guide one's choices. She shows how to distinguish truth from falsehood, i.e. intellectual achievement versus criminality. Reason is a process whereby perceptual data are integrated into concepts. Recognizing the primacy of reason and applying it consistently are the primary means of survival.

All evil philosophies are systematic rationalizations of vice characterized by hatred of reality, as Rand convincingly argues in the critical essays on Kant and his heirs like Hegel, John Rawls and BF Skinner. These include Pragmatism which rejects principle and future, Linguistic Analysis (deconstruction) which is not an integrated philosophy and Existentialism that proclaims the supremacy of emotion in a chaotic anti-world. All of these false philosophies, including Logical Positivism, are collectivist propagations of human sacrifice. All fear judgment, choice and reason, elevate emotions and believe in determinism. The anti-conceptual mentality is tribal although there are anti-conceptualists that are predatory lone wolves intent on manipulating any type of group. Beware of catch-phrases like `keeping an open mind' that lends legitimacy to the irrational. Cultivate an `active mind' instead - one that critically examines ideas.

Faith & Force, written in 1960, diagnoses the neurotic anxiety of western culture. This early essay is a lucid analysis of the postmodern mindset and a blistering attack on the worship of altruism or self-sacrifice. She calls faith and force the enemies of freedom and reason and the destroyers of the modern world that promote the notion of the human being as a sacrificial animal. Religion may be very evil but in this regard Rand is a bit biased in my opinion (or perhaps it's a problem of definition) as faith can also be beneficial to individuals and communities and has inspired sublime art and music. The chapters on the Establishment and Censorship demonstrate how statists undermine our cultural life. They study the reasons and results of conformity and timidity, agenda-driven cliques and parasitical groups that leech on taxpayers' money via government grants.

The antidote is discussed in the chapters Fairness Doctrine for Education and What Can One Do? that provide practical advice on how to counteract the destructive forces that undermine our civilization. Rand points out that the battle is primarily intellectual, that politics is merely the last consequence. Her advice for the defenders of freedom is to embrace intellectual honesty, constantly expand their knowledge and stand up for truth under the appropriate circumstances. Remaining silent in the face of lies is lethal; one has to speak up at the right time, keeping the response brief and rational.

The final chapter discusses the American sense of life as a beacon of hope. The future may to a large extent be predicted by the present course of action, conscious convictions and sense of life of nations & individuals. In Europe the dominant emotional keynote is that man belongs to the state whilst in the USA the primacy of the individual has always been the popular view. From these opposing attitudes flow envy or admiration for success. The author presciently recognized the 'progressive' coalition of academics and entertainers all those years ago, an unholy alliance representing the European view that has become more influential in recent years. Rand's advice is to oppose toxic trends by steadfastly promoting the supremacy of reason.

For further information, I highly recommend Explaining Postmodernism by Stephen Hicks, Our Culture: What's Left Of It by Theodore Dalrymple, Lives Of The Mind by Roger Kimball, The Unlearned Lessons of the Twentieth Century by Chantal Delsol, The Dragons of Expectation by Robert Conquest and Science, Faith and Society by Michael Polanyi.

This is a wonderful book.
Abstract principles are a part of our life whether we acknowledge it or not. That is the message of Ayn Rand's book, "Philosophy: Who Needs It."In a vigorous and thoughtful list of essays, Ayn Rand talks about how we must return to the original abstract principles that animate our thinking.This book is particularly significant today since capitalism is being challenged on a moral basis, especially from the radical environmental movement.This movement is trying to use emotionalism as a method of furthering their socialistic/communist principles.As Ayn Rand mentions, the socialists/communists could not win on a majority vote by providing the public with a clear statement of what their goals are.However, the socialists/communists--which are dressed up in the Green movement--instead confuse the public through evasions, contradictory statements, censorship, brainwashing them through the government-run school system, in order to get the public to subscribe to these views.

What I liked most in particular is Ayn Rand's statement that one has a right to live for one's own sake--and no one else.Rand's view is that capitalism and individualism must be argued on a moral basis, not on an economic one.The economic argument is that capitalism promotes economic growth, and thus, for this reason alone, it must be tolerated.Instead, Ayn Rand's view is that, regardless of the economics, one has a right to live for their own sake, and for the sake of others.A person cannot be compelled to be a slave nor enslave others.(The current welfare system, for instance, requires that one take on unearned obligations to others, and thus, one is living one's life for that of another.)Further, Ayn Rand also discusses how our current mixed economy system (read:Social Security, government-run schools, Medicaid) will eventually result in a dictatorship because in order to keep this sytem going, it requires subjecting the individual to the state.When the individual fails to comply, as is most certainly likely to happen as time goes on, the only way the state will be able to enforce the rule of altruism is at the point of a gun.

IN PRACTICE, Ayn Rand's views have been endorsed by reality.The freest states in America--the ones that believe in individualism, and limited government--have had the highest degree of population growth, economic growth (thus, more productivity from the most productive), and, I dare say, happiness (since they are able to pursue their happiness to the maximum extent, without government-control).
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Product Description
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

Product Description

Product Description
Inspire animated discussions of questions that concern kids—and all of us—with this innovative, interactive book. Open your students' minds to the wonders of philosophy. Allow them to grapple with the questions philosophers have discussed since the ancient Greeks. Questions include: "Who are your friends?" "Can computers think?" "Can something logical not make sense?" "Can you think about nothing?" Young minds will find the range of 40 questions to be both entertaining and informative. If you have ever wondered about questions like these, you are well on the way to becoming a philosopher!

Philosophy for Kids offers young people (ages 10 and up) the opportunity to become acquainted with the wonders of philosophy. Packed with exciting activities arranged around the topics of Values, Knowledge, Reality, and Critical Thinking, this book can be used individually or by the whole class. Each activity allows kids to increase their understanding of philosophical concepts and issues and enjoy themselves at the same time.

In addition to learning about a challenging subject, students philosophizing in a classroom setting as well as the casual reader of Philosophy for Kids will sharpen the ability to think critically about these and similar questions. Experiencing the enjoyment of philosophical thought enhances a young person's appreciation for the importance of reasoning throughout the traditional curriculum of subjects.

The book includes activities, teaching tips, a glossary of terms, and suggestions for further reading.

Grades 4-12 ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

Philosophy for kids.
Have just begun to use the book.The kids seem to be enthusiastic about the topics.Trying to determine the best way to use the material.Very optomistic is all I can say for now.Check in a few months for better evaluation.

Philosophy For Kids: Order it Now!
Having had a personal interest in Philosophy, as well as looking to inspire higher level thinking in the 4th grade curriculum, my search through Amazon's choices brought me to one standout possibility: Philosophy for Kids.After looking it over here on Amazon, I decided it looked very unique and user friendly, which is essential to me as a NYC schoolteacher with little time to spare.

From day one, this book made for a smash-bang hit in my classroom.I was floating on air as the students, most of whom had never heard of Philosophy before, left my classroom absolutely exuberant after its first lesson.They were literally bursting out, "I LOVE Philosophy!", and when I replied, "Well, I love that you love Philosophy", another replied, "I love Philosophy more than you love that I love Philosophy!" (We were already into deep territory!)In addition, I myself was able to enjoy and learn more about one of my favorite topics with the children, adding the experience of rich sharing to yet another subject.

I really appreciate the book's thoughtful and flexible organization as well; my students love the way the exercises that are built into every chapter set us up for the discussion to follow. I have divided my class into "Philosophy Groups" where they can later share their extended reactions. The section in the back of the book for teachers on each chapter is very helpful for me to read just before(or even while!)we have our session.

The parents are absolutely delighted with this being included weekly as enrichment curriculum.My fourth graders continue to be fascinated by the content, and conversations arise that challenge us all and raise the thinking to an almost dizzying level. Philosophers that we study, one by one, are added to our ongoing "Heroes" chart. Plus, it is extremely uplifting to find how often the questions discussed find their way into other lessons; further proving its worth as a critical thinking boost.

I teach in the gifted program, which at times inspires a too-competitive and sometimes stress-inducing component, so I found it of interest that several of the children commented what they really love about it is that they can openly express how they think, and that there is not a "right or wrong" answer.

I also hold afterschool sessions for general education.Those students noticed some of the philosophy material, and expressed an interest. I now provide them with the weekly investigations, and they too are becoming philosophy fans. Let me assure the reader that this material can be exactly what the doctor ordered for all students, regardless of "classification".

In addition, understanding our mutual pressures for time as educators, I want to point out that the philosophical explorations also serve as material for read alouds, listening passage comprehension, guided or shared reading,written responses, and history. Using these selections can be a great enhancement to the quality of your curriculum.Highly recommended for all. Thanks, Dr. White!

Should do the trick
I plan on using this with my Latin I people this coming school year.I think they should have a little Greek philosophy in the culture mix.This looks like it will work well.The lessons are neat little nuggets that I can use independently of each other.

I had trouble last year explaining what a fallacy was.We read the chapter in "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis" called "love is a Fallacy" which I think they enjoyed, but it felt a tad tangential and they STILL didn't really get it.

This is a bit more on subject.

Too open ended for kids
I bought this book to read with my nine-year old daughter. Lots of great questions posed, but we found they weren't explored deeply enough for our satisfaction. One could argue that this is precisely the purpose of the book, ie to encourage further discussion, but we're both quite new to the field of philosophy and lack the training and tools for a deep evaluation of the issues. Another book, Philosophy Rocks (Law), offers far deeper analyses (of admittedly fewer questions), but left us far more satisfied and inspired.

It really is fun!
While I have always been moderately entertained by the metaphysical, it has never been something I would quite describe as 'fun'. Until now that is! The chapter on existentialism tickled me rotten and the 'Wittgenstein game' caused uproar at my son's birthday party! If you want to keep the kids entertained for the day (and simultaneously teach them concepts of modal realism) look no further...
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Product Description
Comprehensive, highly visual, and filled with insightful observations, The Story of Philosophy opens up the world of philosophical ideas in a way that is easily understood by everyone. Bryan Magee embarks on an entertaining and enlightening journey and addresses such influential questions as "What is Philosophy?" "What is being?" and "Can the existence of God be proved?"Amazon.com Review
Bryan Magee has been one of the most successful English-languagepopularizers of philosophy in the 20th century; in this coffee-volume, hepresents a brief but information-packed history of Western philosophy frompre-Socratic Greek philosophers like Thales and Heraclitus to postmodernFrench thinkers like Derrida and Foucault. Illustrations fill every page,offering not only portraits of the major philosophical thinkers butillustrations of some of their key concepts, while ample marginalia providesupplementary information for historical context. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (38)

Hands down the best book I've found on the subject
The Story of Philosophy is a facinating and highly informative introduction to the history of western philosophy.
It is a book that would be fun to read either from start to finish or just skipping around. It is written in a way
that is understandable to readers new to the subject, while not being dumbed down. The book is visually appealing with many
photographs and illustrations, along with sidebars on nearly every page introducing the reader to subjects relating to the main text. My only complaint is that I think the title should be "The Story of Western Philosophy", because it only lightly covers eastern and arabic philosophy, which is rather odd considering that my copy promonently features the Buddha on the cover. However, it does provide a helpful "For further reading" section that includes works on those subjects. Altogether, this is an excellent book that I am glad to add to my library. I also recommend as a good companion to this book DK's "World Religions" by John Bowker.

I love it.
Exactly the right book I was looking for. My class had to switch texts because the newest edition was apparently not available so it was a little tricky finding this text. Luckily I was able to view inside of the book to match the copyright dates and voilà. The book also came in excellent condition for me and interesting packaging methods so I got a good chuckle out of the experience. Thanks.

Excellent
An excellent overview of western philosophical thought, with a brief section on eastern philosophy. Anyone who doesn't come away from reading this feeling enlightened just isn't trying. What Durant was to earlier generations, this book is to the 21st century. The organization, writing, and illustrations are all first rate. I would recommend Cottingham's anthology of philosophy as a companion work.

worked out great
the book was great, just what my son needed for school.The shipping took a little longer than expected.

The never ending quest
I have this book in Swedish, and I agree with the other reviewers. It's not a book for philosophy students or philosophers, being far too simple. However, it's an excellent, popularized introduction to the history of Western philosophy for those who don't know anything at all about the subject (the majority). Besides, I don't think the texts are as short as several reviewers have indicated.

The book is lavishly illustrated, often with reproductions of artwork (not necessarily from the periods in question, however). I take it Bryan Magee is an art lover, or at least his editor is, because many of the artworks are very cleverly chosen. Thus, Kant's philosophy is illustrated by "The Blind Girl" by Millais, and the chapter on existentialism features Edward Munch's "The Scream". Schopenhauer's pessimistic ideas come to life in a dramatic painting of a lion attacking a horse!

Inevitably, some chapters are better than others. The introductory chapters on Greek philosophy in general, and Plato and Aristotle in particular, are quite good. So are the chapters on Schopenhauer, Nietzsche and Kant. The sections dealing with Husserl, Heidegger and Wittgenstein are weak, but then, their philosophies are very difficult to fathom even for advanced students! Most of the other chapters fall somewhere in between. Obviously, all writers on matters philosophical are biased, and so is Magee. He seems to like Nietzsche and Machiavelli, which may be controversial, and he is also fascinated by Schopenhauer, devoting a quite extensive chapter to this thinker, perhaps undeservedly. (Apparently, Magee is an expert on Schopenhauer's philosophy.) His interpretation of Kant is "religious", which could also be controversial. Personally, I think he deals too much with Popper, as if that man was some kind of zenith in the history of ideas. And what on earth happened to the Renaissance?! A positive thing, however, is that the author mention such frauds as Derrida and Foucault only in passing, and Ayn Rand not at all.

Beginners might also feel frustrated by the fact, that the book never answers the eternal questions! The message of this book is rather that philosophy is a never ending quest, perhaps a quest without a termination point.

For popularizing a tricky subject, and for making a coffee table book (!) about philosophy, Bryan Magee and his publisher deserves five stars.

But the quest goes on...

PS. This review is based on the Swedish translation, so it's possible that some of the illustrations are different in the original edition.
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Product Description
Knight's textbook surveys the philosophies and philosophic issues relevant to Christian education. Teachers, students of education, and other readers will find this book a "helpful guide for analyzing educational purposes and practices in the light of their basic beliefs."

Besides investigating the relationship between philosophy and education and discussing how philosophies have affected contemporary practices in the classroom, Knight offers a Christian approach to philosophy and relates such an approach to educational practices.

Philosophy and Education is divided into three sections. Part I deals with basic concepts in philosophy and the relationship between philosophy and education. Part II is a survey of how traditional and modern philosophies have faced the basic philosophic questions and what that has meant for educational practice. Part III discusses the necessity of developing a personal philosophy of education, one possible approach to a Christian philosophy, and some of the ramifications of such a philosophy for educational practice in Christian schools. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Great book
This is a great book even for non-christian.It gives a well-rounded introduction to how the world is viewed by non-christian from a christian standpoint and how one should recognize those non-christian philosophies and apply a christian worldview to those non-christian approaches.Of course, some of the information on the philosophy of education could be useful to all even non-christian as it is general enough for one to merely receive it as a worthwhile information.

Gem of a textbook
A very easy read for a textbook.Knight covers all the major philosophical camps in adequate detail for the novice philosophy student.The text ties each major philosophy to its impact on education.Very Christ centered commentary is included, which I found very enjoyable.A must for Christian educators.

Great Steal.
Fast easy service.Book arrived on time in order to use.New at a low price.No complaints.

Excellent textbook on philosophy
I purchased this book for a class and was very impressed by the thorough and interesting way the material was presented. Many philosophical views are considered and brought to light from a Christian perspective as well. It is a great resource tool for me to use in the future.

Philosophy & Education
Wow!I always thought philosophy to be boring however, this book made the subject matter clear and very comprehensible.I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and expanding my knowledge.If you have always had an adverse reaction to philosophy then this is the book for you.Happy reading! ... Read more

Product Description
Revised and updated, this bestselling reference is a step-by-step guide through this sometimes abstract discipline. The philosophers/authors make their subject matter lively and comprehensible as they delve into such areas as Ethics, Political Philosophy, Metaphysics, and Logic. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Great Introduction
I took two philosophy courses about 15 years ago when I was doing my undergraduate work. When I became interested in philosophy recently I found Philosophy Made Simple. For a mere ten dollars this book gives one a terrific introduction to philosophy. Don't think just because it has "Made Simple" in the title that it is somehow overly dumbed down for the readers. The book conatains quite a few excerpts from some of the major thinkers in the history of philosophy. This book also gives one an overview of a number of different areas of philosophy which will be great for someone like me, who doesn't even know where to start. You can then easily pull names of philosopers from whatever area you are interested in out of the book and begin reading their individual works as I have. Overall a great read.

Only problem....
The only problem I have with my order is that the seller did not list the edition/year of publication on my order.I ordered a book with several editions available, but the seller did not list the edition on the book.It turned out to be over 40 years old.The book was in good condition and arrived quickly; I just wish the seller had listed the edition.It would have made a difference to me.

Very useful survey of Philosophy
I am reading Philosophy Made Simple for a discussion class on the basics of philosophy.The book covers the fundamentals of philosophy over the centuries in simple straight-forward language.It is easy to understand.Although it covers most all the big names in philosophy, occasionally some fairly important people are not mentioned.It is not comprehensive.It does have a nice breezy (but not condescending) tone.I will keep it for my library.

Understanding philosophy
The main aim of the author is to introduce philosophy to the reader by simply showing him/her that philosophy is really just what a person "thinks" about something. He then talks about different issues and states what different philosophers "think" about these issues. I think this is a very effective way of introducing philosophy to those that have not studied it. However, the title of the book is misleading because it is very hard to introduce Kant's ideas (for example) in a simple way. This is not due to some fault of the writer, but because of the fact that some philosophers thought of things in a very complicated way. I didnt give it five stars because there are a number of important philosophers that the author never mentions. Maybe he was trying to keep it as brief as possible, but an extra thirty pages wouldnt have done any harm!

Philosophy made simple.
'Philosophy made simple' is one of the better texts I have read. ... Read more

Product Description

Expanded and up-to-date-the ultimate guide that explores meaning and philosophy of all six seasons of Lost

Lost is more than just a popular television show; it's a complex examination of meaningful philosophical questions. What does good versus evil mean on the island? Is it a coincidence that characters John Locke and Desmond David Hume are named after actual philosophers? What is the ethics of responsibility for Jack?

An action-adventure story with more than a touch of the metaphysical, Lost forces viewers to ask difficult questions of themselves just as the story asks difficult questions of its characters. Ultimate Lost and Philosophy helps you explore the deeper meaning and philosophical questions hidden within every complex twist and turn in the historic show's entire six-season run.

• Includes every season of Lost, including 2010's final, highly anticipated season
• Connects events on the show to core philosophical issues such as truth, identity, and morality
• Explores a host of intriguing topics such as time travel, freedom, love, and loss

For fans of Lost who are interested in what the show reveals about ourselves and the human condition, Ultimate Lost and Philosophy is an entertaining, informative, and enlightening resource. ... Read more