Reflections on Philosophy: Introductory Essays

Each chapter ends with a Conclusion, Notes, Questions or Exercises, and “For Further Reading.”

PREFACE.

1. Introduction, Leemon McHenry.
Aim of This Book.
Rationale for Selection of Topics.
What Is Philosophy?
Some Misconceptions About Philosophy.

2. Logic, Takashi Yagisawa.
Introduction.
What Is Logic?
Deductive Arguments.
Arguments and Corresponding Conditionals.
Truth—Functionally Valid Forms.
Fallacies.
Truth—Functional Operators.
Reductio Ad Absurdum.
Necessary Condition/Sufficient Condition.
Quantificationally Valid Forms.
Identity.
Inductive Arguments.
Strong Forms.
Inference to the Best Explanation.

3. Metaphysics, Leemon McHenry.
Introduction.
What Is Metaphysics?
Ontology.
Metaphysics Under Attack.

4. Free Will and Determinism, Alfred R. Mele.
Introduction.
Terminology, Standard Positions, and Luck.
The Experience of Freedom.
The Consequence Argument and Frankfurt's Story.
Alternative Possibilities and Ultimate Responsibility.
A Libertarian Response to Luck.

5. Epistemology, Frederick Adams.
Introduction.
The Analysis of Knowing That.
Reliable Evidence.
Knowing That We Know.
Scepticism.

6. Ethics, Mark Timmons.
Introduction.
What Is a Moral Theory?
Consequentialism.
Deontology.
Taking Stock.
Limited Moral Pluralism.
In Defense of Limited Moral Pluralism.

7. Feminist Ethics, Rebecca Whisnant.
Introduction.
What Is Feminism?
Why Feminism?
Androcentrism in Philosophical Ethics.
Feminine Ethics: Challenging Androcentrism.
Three Challenges to Feminine Ethics.
From Feminine Ethics to Feminist Ethics.

8. Political Philosophy, Brad Hooker.
Introduction.
Utilitarianism.
The Desert Theory.
Rawls's Theory.
The Desert Theory Revisited.
Good Samaritianism and Redistribution.
Your Country and Beyond.

9. Aesthetics, Robert Stecker.
Introduction.
What Is Art?
The Value of Art.

10. Philosophy of Religion, Katherin A. Rogers.
Introduction.
Reasons to Believe in God.
Disproving God.

11. Personal Identity, Gary Fuller.
Introduction.
Body, Psychological Continuity, and Brain Theories.
The Soul Theory.

12. Philosophy of Mind, John Heil.
Introduction.
Mind-Body Dualism.
Idealism.
Materialism.
Consciousness.
Mind's Place in Nature.

APPENDIX: Writing Philosophical Papers, Leemon McHenry.
The Thesis.
Two Types of Philosophy Papers.
Suggestions for Getting Started.
For Further Reading.

GLOSSARY.

NOTES ON CONTRIBUTORS.

INDEX.