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Cover

Pathways in Philosophy

An Introductory Guide with Readings

Dale Jacquette

Publication Date - 18 September 2003

ISBN: 9780195131314

574 pages
Paperback
7-1/2 x 9-1/4 inches

Description

Pathways in Philosophy is a unique introductory text that features both a historical and a topical approach to the central problems in the field--questions regarding existence, knowledge, and moral and political value. Organized into two parts, "Metaphysics and Epistemology" and "Ethics and Political Philosophy," the text addresses these problems by providing a guided tour through ten classic philosophical readings. Offering detailed critical commentary, Jacquette carefully explains and analyzes seminal works by Plato, Aristotle, Ockham, Descartes, Berkeley, Kant, Mill, Nietzsche, Moore, and Rawls. He applies the "pathways" metaphor to the various intersecting and overlapping lines of thought represented by this selection of authors, drawing surprising connections between their ideas. This approach enables students to appreciate the relationships between what may otherwise appear to be disparate strands of thought in great works of philosophy and in different traditions of philosophical thought. By following the historical and philosophical narrative in each chapter, students learn how to interpret and critically evaluate difficult philosophical writings in their historical contexts--how to identify concepts, questions, definitions, arguments, and major components of philosophical reasoning in a systematic way.
Offering a combination of historical coverage and rigorous critical evaluation, Pathways in Philosophy is ideal for courses in introductory philosophy. The text is enhanced by study questions, key terms, and suggested readings at the end of each chapter, as well as a glossary at the end of the book.

Table of Contents

    Preface
    Acknowledgments
    Introduction
    PART ONE: METAPHYSICS AND EPISTEMOLOGY
    1. The Soul and Its Wisdom
    Plato's Meno
    2. Substance and the Changing World
    Aristotle's Metaphysics
    3. Universals, Particulars, and the Concept of Truth
    Ockham's Summa Logicae I
    4. Reason, Knowledge, and Certainty
    Descartes's Meditations on First Philosophy
    5. Existence and Nature of God
    Berkeley's Three Dialogues Between Hylas and Philonous
    PART TWO: ETHICS AND POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY
    6. Moral Rights, Obligations, and Responsibility
    Kant's Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals
    7. Consequences of Actions in Ethical Conduct
    Mill's Utilitarianism
    8. Individual Values and the Will to Power
    Nietzsche's On the Genealogy of Morality
    9. Philosophical Analysis of the Concept of Good
    Moore's Principia Ethica
    10. Justice and the Social Good in Political Decision Making
    Rawl's A Theory of Justice
    Glossary
    Index

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