Living Issues in Philosophy

by Titus, Harold; Smith, Marilyn; Nolan, Richard

• ISBN13: 9780195155099
• ISBN10: 0195155092
• Edition: 9th
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1994-07-12
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• More Book Details

Summary

Used by more than one million students around the world since its original publication, this introductory philosophy text makes accessible a wide range of philosophical issues closely related to everyday life. Emphasizing personal and immediate questions, the authors approach introductoryphilosophy through basic human questions rather than focusing on methodology or the history of thought. The text presents vital questions of contemporary interest in an overall framework of enduring concepts, interweaving coverage of various topics in art, history, and education. It covers a varietyof types of philosophy in depth, and both western and eastern perspectives are represented. Ideal for students who have no background in philosophy, Living Issues in Philosophy, 9/e simplifies technical language wherever possible; unfamiliar terms are clearly defined upon first appearance and in theend-of-chapter glossaries. Additional pedagogical features include exercises, chapter summaries, and annotated bibliographies at the end of every chapter. The text also features photo biographies of major philosophers and short excerpts from philosophical classics.

Table of Contents

Each chapter ends with Glossary Terms, Chapter Review, Study Questions and Projects, and Suggested Readings sections

Introduction: What is Philosophy?

The Task of Philosophy

The Meanings of Philosophy

Why We Need Philosophy

Traditional Branches of Philosophy

Philosophical Methodology--Socratic Dialectic

The Uses of Philosophy

Values and Education

Philosophy Today

Reflections

The Nature of Human Nature

Human Nature: What Is It?

Metaphysics and Human Nature

Is There a Human Nature?

How Humans Differ from the Rest of Nature

Images of Human Nature

Reflections

The Self

The Nature of the Self

Denials of the Existence of a Self

Consciousness

Reflections

The Mind

The Nature of the Mind

Difficulties of Studying the Mind

Theories of the Mind

The Mind-Body Relationship

Parapsychology

Reflections

The Freedom to Choose

The Philosophical Meaning of Freedom

The Denial of Freedom

Indeterminism

Self-Determination

Reflections

The Realm of Values

The Meaning of Values

Value Judgments

Facts and Values

How Values Are Justified

Values and the Aesthetic Experience

The Selection of Values

Reflections

Ethics and Morality

Moral Judgments

The Moral Situation

Ethics: The Study of Morality

A Variety of Ethical Standards--Normative Ethics

Approaches to Ethical Standards

Contemporary Principles

Reflections

Individual and Social Morality

A Contemporary Challenge

Civil Liberties

Civil Disobedience

The Limits of Liberty

The Enforcement of Morals

Contemporary Moral Issues

Reflections

Knowledge and Science

The Sources of Knowledge

Central Questions in the Theory of Knowledge

Tradition and Common Sense

Obstacles to Clear Thinking

The Possible Sources of Knowledge

Reflections

The Nature and Tests of Knowledge

Basic Issues in the Nature of Knowledge

Subjectivism

Objectivism

The Nature of Knowledge: Further Considerations

The Tests of Knowledge

Three Tests of Truth

Reflections

Science and Philosophy

The Development of Science

Philosophy of Science: Basic Issues

Scientific Methods

The Nature and Role of Models and Paradigms

A Method of Acquiring Knowledge

Limitations of Scientific Methods

Philosophy and Science: Agreements and Contrasts

Scientfic Views of the Universe

The Origin and Nature of Life

Human Beings and Evolution

Reflections

PartFour: Philosophical Perspectives

Naturalism

Naturalism Defined

Mechanistic Materialism

Dialectical Materialism

Humanistic Naturalism

Reflections

Idealism and Realism

Contrasting Philosophical Movements

Idealism Defined

Types of Idealism

Implications of Idealism

Realism Defined

Types of Realism

Implications of Realism

Evaluation of Idealism

Evaluation of Realism

Pragmatism

Pragmatism Defined

Charles S. Peirce

William James

John Dewey

Reflections

Analytic Philosophy

Language and Philosophy

Locke, Hume, and the Traditional Outlook

The Empirical Tradition

Analytic Philosophy and Questions of Knowledge

Reflections

Existentialism, Phenomenology, and Process Philosophy

Some Characteristics of Existentialism

Some Existentialist Thinkers

Some Characteristics of Phenomenology

Some Phenomenological Thinkers

Some Characteristics of Process Philosophy

Two Process Philosophers

Reflections

Religion: East and West

The Nature of Religion

What Is Religion?

The Nature of Religion

The Origin and Growth of Religion

Myth in Sacred Literature

Religious Experience

Three Universal Religions: Judaism, Christianity, Islam

Current Religious Issues

Reflections

Belief in God

The Nature of God

Grounds for Belief in God

Grounds for Disbelief in God

Personal Survival after Death

Reflections

Asian Thought

The Nature of Asian Religion

The Hindu Tradition

The Buddhist Quest for Enlightenment

Confucius and Lao-zi

Mao Ze-dong

The Value System of the Japanese

Reflections

Concluding Reflection

Glossary

Picture Credits

Index

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.