Discovering Philosophy, Portfolio Edition

by White, Thomas I.

• ISBN13: 9780132302128
• ISBN10: 0132302128
• Additional ISBN(s): 9780135080030
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-12-27
• Publisher: Pearson
• More Book Details

Summary

Discovering Philosophyis a comprehensive introduction to philosophy that is specially designed for readers who are more comfortable with secondary, rather than primary sources. Using more accessible content that is unintimidating yet intellectually engaging, it relates the philosophical issues to readers'own experiences and challenges them todophilosophy on their own.Presents excerpts from primary sources when appropriate, but relies primarily on summaries, explanations, and discussions of the major arguments on the issues involved; teaches readers not so much about what philosophers think, but how to think philosophically themselves; demonstrates that after understanding a philosopher's position we are supposed toreactto it, not memorize it; explores the major, traditional areas and topics of philosophy logic, free will/determinism, ethics, political obligation, the nature of reality, knowledge, the existence of God, the meaning of life.

Author Biography

Thomas I. White is the Hilton Professor of Business Ethics and the Director of the Center for Ethics and Business at Loyola Marymount.

Table of Contents

Introduction

What Is Philosophy?

Philosophical Thinking

Exploring the Basics of Who We Are and Dealing with Others

The Case for Determinism

The Case for Freedom

Right and Wrong

Why Be Ethical?

Democracy

Fundamental Theoretical Issues

The Nature of Reality

What Is Knowledge?

Does God Exist?

The Purpose of Life: Marx and Buddha

Contemporary Challenges

Scientific Explanations of Reality

Does Gender Affect How We Think?

Is a Dolphin a ldquo;Personrdquo;?

A Final Word

Glossary

Appendix: Writing about Philosophy

Index

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.