Philosophical Dilemmas

Description

Lucidly written, this extensive and very original introduction to philosophy features over fifty brief, jargon-free essays arranged in pairs. Each pair answers one of the principal philosophical questions, such as "Does God exist?" or "Are we free?", with two opposing points of view. On the topic of relativism, for example, one essay argues that morality is created by society and relative to it, while the other claims that moral standards are absolute and universal. Each essay takes a definite stand and promotes it vigorously, creating a sharp contrast between the two positions. While the essays often employ standard arguments of great philosophers, they present the ideas in contemporary language with vivid examples. The accessible style and conflicting answers engage students and promote class discussion. While other anthologies present a series of excerpts and theories without attempting to coordinate them into a larger picture, Philosophical Dilemmas encourages students to think for themselves and to begin constructing their own worldview. It also incorporates numerous pedagogical features, including an introduction to each issue, key terms, critical questions following each essay, discussions of thinking skills relevant to the answers, and a glossary. An annotated bibliography of historical examples for each issue and useful contemporary sources further enhance the utility of the text.

First Sentence

All the questions that philosophers ask are important, but of all their questions, this one is probably the most important.

Excerpt

All the questions that philosophers ask are important, but of all their questions, this one is probably the most important.

Subjects

Other Editions

• Philosophical Dilemmas: Building a Worldview (Philosophy of Mind Series)Oxford University Press, USA1996-09-05
• Philosophical dilemmasOxford University Press1997-01-01
• Philosophical DilemmasOxford University Press, USA2000-12-11
• Philosophical dilemmasOxford University Press2001-01-01
• Philosophical DilemmasPaperbackOxford University Press, USA2007-11-16
• Philosophical dilemmasOxford University Press2008-01-01