Living Issues in Philosophy

Description

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 introductory philosophy 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 variety of 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 the end-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?
Chapter 1: 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
Part One: The Nature of Human Nature
Chapter 2: 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
Chapter 3: The Self
The Nature of the Self
Denials of the Existence of a Self
Consciousness
Reflections
Chapter 4: The Mind
The Nature of the Mind
Difficulties of Studying the Mind
Theories of the Mind
The Mind-Body Relationship
Parapsychology
Reflections
Chapter 5: The Freedom to Choose
The Philosophical Meaning of Freedom
The Denial of Freedom
Indeterminism
Self-Determination
Reflections
Part Two: The Realm of Values
Chapter 6: The Meaning of Values
Value Judgments
Facts and Values
How Values Are Justified
Values and the Aesthetic Experience
The Selection of Values
Reflections
Chapter 7: 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
Chapter 8: Individual and Social Morality
A Contemporary Challenge
Civil Liberties
Civil Disobedience
The Limits of Liberty
The Enforcement of Morals
Contemporary Moral Issues
Reflections
Part Three: Knowledge and Science
Chapter 9: 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
Chapter 10: 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
Chapter 11: 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
Part Four: Philosophical Perspectives
Chapter 12: Naturalism
Naturalism Defined
Mechanistic Materialism
Dialectical Materialism
Humanistic Naturalism
Reflections
Chapter 13: 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
Chapter 14: Pragmatism
Pragmatism Defined
Charles S. Peirce
William James
John Dewey
Reflections
Chapter 15: Analytic Philosophy
Language and Philosophy
Locke, Hume, and the Traditional Outlook
The Empirical Tradition
Analytic Philosophy and Questions of Knowledge
Reflections
Chapter 16: 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
Part Five: Religion: East and West
Chapter 17: 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
Chapter 18: Belief in God
The Nature of God
Grounds for Belief in God
Grounds for Disbelief in God
Personal Survival after Death
Reflections
Chapter 19: 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