The Elements of Philosophy Readings from Past and Present

by Gendler, Tamar Szabo; Siegel, Susanna; Cahn, Steven M.

• ISBN13: 9780195335422
• ISBN10: 0195335422
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2007-12-26
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

This book is a comprehensive collection of historical and contemporary readings across the major fields of philosophy. With depth and quality, this introductory anthology offers a selection of readings that is both extensive and expansive; the readings span twenty-five centuries. With depthand quality, this introductory anthology offers a selection of readings that is both extensive and expansive; the readings span centuries. From two thousand five-hundred years ago to just a few years ago, the selections include whole works or excerpts from such classic thinkers as Plato, Aristotle,Blaise Pascal, John Locke, and John Stuart Mill and such contemporary thinkers as Noam Chomsky, Thomas Nagel, Robert Nozick, Derek Parfit, and Hilary Putnam. The selections are organized topically into five parts: Religion and Belief, Moral and Political Philosophy, Metaphysics and Epistemology,Philosophy of Mind and Language, and Life and Death. The product of the collaboration of three highly respected scholars in their fields - Tamar Szabo Gendler, Susanna Siegel, and Steven M. Cahn - The Elements of Philosophy also includes introductions from the editors, explanatory footnotes, and aglossary.

Table of Contents

Preface

Acknowledgements

About the Editors

Note to the Reader

Note to the Instructor

Introduction

"What is Philosophy?"

""The Elements of Logic""

I. Religion and Belief

Introduction A. Traditional Arguments for and Against the Existence of God

The Ontological Argument--and Replies

""The Ontological Argument""Gaunilo

""In Behalf of the Fool""

""Is Existence a Predicate?""

""Why the Ontological Argument Fails"

"The Cosmological Argument, the Argument from

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