Philosophy A Text with Readings (with InfoTrac)

by Velasquez, Manuel

• ISBN13: 9780534561819
• ISBN10: 0534561810
• Edition: 8th
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2001-10-05
• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing

Summary

Combining clear, accessible prose and many primary sources, Velasquez provides a complete introduction to philosophy in an engaging and meaningful way. The text brings attention to topics not always covered in other texts, including human nature, feminist theory, continental philosophy, diversity, and aesthetics. The chapter organization encourages critical thinking and studying in amounts students can master while examples and questions help connect philosophy to their personal experiences. In addition to the chapter-end readings, which permit students to work with primary source material, "Historical Showcases" readings put development of ideas into context for a "big picture" view.

Table of Contents

Preface to the Eighth Edition	vii
PART I Introduction	1	(174)
The Nature of Philosophy
Introduction: What Is Philosophy?	4	(7)
The Traditional Divisions of Philosophy	11	(7)
An Example of Philosophy: Socrates	18	(14)
The Value of Philosophy	32	(8)
Chapter Summary and Conclusions	40	(2)
Historical Showcase: The First Philosophers	42	(5)
Readings	47	(4)
Appendix: A Look at Logic	51	(21)
Suggestions for Further Reading	72	(4)
Human Nature
Introduction: Why Study Human Nature?	76	(5)
What Is Human Nature?	81	(23)
How Do Mind and Body Relate?	104	(14)
Is There an Enduring Self?	118	(12)
Are We Independent and Self-Sufficient Individuals?	130	(10)
Chapter Summary and Conclusions	140	(4)
Historical Showcase: Plato, Aristotle, and Confucius	144	(18)
Readings	162	(10)
Suggestions for Further Reading	172	(3)
PART II Metaphysics	175	(182)
Reality and Being
Introduction: What Is Real?	178	(4)
Reality: Material or Nonmaterial?	182	(18)
Reality in Pragmatism	200	(5)
Reality and Logical Positivism	205	(6)
Antirealism: The New Idealists	211	(7)
Encountering Reality: Phenomenology and Existentialism	218	(13)
Is Freedom Real?	231	(10)
Is Time Real?	241	(6)
Chapter Summary and Conclusions	247	(3)
Historical Showcase: Hobbes and Berkeley	250	(11)
Readings	261	(11)
Suggestions for Further Reading	272	(4)
Philosophy and God
Introduction: What Is Religion?	276	(4)
Does God Exist?	280	(13)
Atheism, Agnosticism, and the Problem of Evil	293	(9)
Traditional Religious Belief and Experience	302	(7)
Nontraditional Religious Experience	309	(16)
Chapter Summary and Conclusions	325	(3)
Historical Showcase: Aquinas, Descartes, and Conway	328	(16)
Readings	344	(11)
Suggestions for Further Reading	355	(2)
PART III Epistemology	357	(150)
The Sources of Knowledge
Introduction: Why Is Knowledge a Problem?	360	(6)
Is Reason the Source of Our Knowledge?	366	(12)
Can the Senses Account for All Our Knowledge?	378	(15)
Kant: Does the Knowing Mind Shape the World?	393	(9)
Does Science Give Us Knowledge?	402	(13)
Chapter Summary and Conclusions	415	(3)
Historical Showcase: Hume	418	(7)
Readings	425	(9)
Suggestions for Further Reading	434	(2)
Truth
Introduction: Belief, Knowledge, and Truth	436	(5)
What Is Truth?	441	(23)
Does Science Give Us Truth?	464	(7)
Can Interpretations Be True?	471	(10)
Chapter Summary and Conclusions	481	(3)
Historical Showcase: Kant	484	(10)
Readings	494	(10)
Suggestions for Further Reading	504	(3)
PART IV Values	507	(210)
Ethics
Introduction: What Is Ethics?	510	(5)
Is Ethics Relative?	515	(4)
Do Consequences Make an Action Right?	519	(12)
Do Rules Define Morality?	531	(23)
Is Ethics Based on Character?	554	(11)
Can Ethics Resolve Moral Quandaries?	565	(11)
Ethics and Moral Responsibility	576	(6)
Chapter Summary and Conclusions	582	(2)
Historical Showcase: Nietzsche and Wollstonecraft	584	(11)
Readings	595	(8)
Suggestions for Further Reading	603	(3)
Social Philosophy
Introduction: What Is Social Philosophy?	606	(2)
What Justifies the State?	608	(19)
What Is Justice?	627	(19)
Law and Civil Disobedience	646	(11)
Chapter Summary and Conclusions	657	(4)
Historical Showcase: Marx and Rawls	661	(13)
Readings	674	(7)
Suggestions for Further Reading	681	(3)
Postscript: Art and Meaning
Introduction	684	(2)
What Is Art?	686	(16)
Does Life Have Meaning?	702	(12)
Chapter Summary and Conclusions	714	(1)
Suggestions for Further Reading	715	(2)
Glossary	717	(6)
Index	723	(16)
Art Acknowledgments	739