Ultimate Questions : Thinking about Philosophy

by Rauhut, Nils Ch.

• ISBN13: 9780321412980
• ISBN10: 0321412982
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2011-01-01
• Publisher: Prentice Hall

Summary

This inexpensive and brief text offers careful explanations of how problems are connected to our thinking about the universe, then uses vivid and engaging examples to further enhance this up-to-date examination of the main problems in contemporary philosophy. More than 100 "Food for Thought" exercises elicit reaction to philosophical problems, give readers a chance to test whether they have grasped important philosophical concepts, and offer opportunities for genuine conversations about philosophy.Readers interested in contemporary philosophy.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. x
What Is Philosophy?	p. 1
Making Sense of the World	p. 1
The Relationship Between Science and Philosophy	p. 7
The Main Branches of Philosophy	p. 11
Philosophical Tools	p. 16
Logical Consistency	p. 16
Logical Possibility	p. 19
Definitions	p. 21
Counterexamples	p. 25
The Basic Structure of Arguments	p. 26
Putting Arguments into Standard Form	p. 28
Deductive and Inductive Arguments	p. 30
Evaluating Deductive Arguments: Validity and Soundness	p. 32
Evaluating Deductive Arguments: Logical Form	p. 35
Evaluating Inductive Arguments: Probability	p. 38
What Do We Know?	p. 44
What Is Knowledge?	p. 44
Three Different Theories of Knowledge	p. 50
Skepticism	p. 51
The Case for Skepticism	p. 51
Descartes' Quest for Certainty	p. 54
Empiricism	p. 61
The Case for Empiricism	p. 64
Problems with Perception	p. 65
The Problem of Induction	p. 70
Rationalism	p. 73
The Case for Rationalism	p. 77
Problems for Rationalism	p. 79
Final Remarks on Epistemology	p. 82
The Problem of Free Will	p. 84
Why Is There a Problem with Free Will?	p. 84
The Case for Hard Determinism	p. 89
Can Indeterminism Save Free Will?	p. 93
Soft Determinism	p. 96
Traditional Compatibilism	p. 97
Deep Self-Compatibilism	p. 100
A Fundamental Problem for Soft Determinism	p. 105
Libertarianism	p. 106
The Case for Libertarianism	p. 106
Problems for Libertarianism	p. 108
Final Remarks on the Problem of Free Will	p. 111
The Problem of Personal Identity	p. 113
Do We Always Remain the Same?	p. 113
The Illusion Theory of Personal Identity	p. 118
The Case for the Illusion Theory	p. 118
Problems for the Illusion Theory	p. 120
The Body Theory of Personal Identity	p. 122
The Case for the Body Theory	p. 122
Problems for the Body Theory	p. 124
The Soul Theory of Personal Identity	p. 125
The Case for the Soul Theory	p. 125
Problems for the Soul Theory	p. 126
The Memory Theory of Personal Identity	p. 127
The Case for the Memory Theory	p. 127
Problems for the Memory Theory	p. 129
Final Remarks on Personal Identity	p. 135
The Mind/Body Problem	p. 137
What Is the Problem?	p. 137
Possible Solutions to the Mind/Body Problem	p. 141
Substance Dualism	p. 144
Arguments for Substance Dualism	p. 144
Near-Death Experiences	p. 144
The Conceivability Argument	p. 147
Intentionality	p. 150
Arguments Against Substance Dualism	p. 150
The Problem of Interaction	p. 150
Do Dualists Commit a Category Mistake?	p. 153
Varieties of Physicalism	p. 154
Behaviorism	p. 155
Logical Behaviorism	p. 156
Arguments Against Logical Behaviorism	p. 158
The Identity Theory	p. 159
Arguments Against the Identity Theory	p. 161
Functionalism	p. 162
Functional Concepts and "Stuff" Concepts	p. 162
Functionalism: Mind as Software	p. 163
Functionalism and Artificial Intelligence: The Turing Test	p. 164
Arguments Against Functionalism	p. 165
The Chinese Room Argument	p. 165
Problems with Qualia	p. 167
Eliminative Materialism	p. 169
Final Remarks on the Mind/Body Problem	p. 170
Does God Exist?	p. 173
God, Faith, and Reason	p. 173
What Do We Mean by the Word "God"?	p. 174
Arguments in Defense of Classical Theism	p. 178
Arguments from Religious Experiences	p. 178
Cosmological Argument	p. 182
Design Arguments	p. 187
The Ontological Argument	p. 195
Pascal's Wager	p. 200
What Is the Effect of These Arguments?	p. 204
Arguments Against Classical Theism	p. 204
The Logical Problem of Evil	p. 205
The Evidential Problem of Evil	p. 207
Final Remarks on the Problem of God's Existence	p. 211
What Ought We to Do?	p. 214
Moral Intuitions and Moral Principles	p. 214
A Fundamental Challenge: Relativism	p. 216
The Case for Subjective Relativism	p. 218
Problems for Subjective Relativism	p. 219
The Case for Cultural Relativism	p. 221
Problems for Cultural Relativism	p. 223
Final Remarks on Cultural Relativism	p. 226
Some Important Ethical Theories	p. 227
Divine Command Theory	p. 228
The Case for the Divine Command Theory	p. 229
Problems for the Divine Command Theory	p. 229
Utilitarianism	p. 231
The Basic Idea	p. 231
Pleasure and Happiness	p. 234
Problems for Utilitarianism	p. 237
Duty-Based Theories	p. 240
The Importance of a Good Will	p. 240
Advantages of Kant's Ethics	p. 246
Problems for Kant's Ethics	p. 247
Virtue-Based Theories	p. 248
The Importance of Moral Character	p. 248
Advantages of Virtue Ethics	p. 252
Problems for Virtue Ethics	p. 254
Final Remarks on the Problem of Morality	p. 255
Index	p. 257
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