Product Description

This book carefully introduces and analyzes the basic philosophical ideas, theories, and arguments of the most important philosophers of China, Japan, and India–from ancient times to the present. It provides insights into the different ways in which fundamental philosophical questions have been considered in Asia, and the basic ideas and values that enable us to understand the life and culture of the people who inhabit it. Three-part coverage looks at the historical perspectives–and much more–of Indian, Buddhist, and Chinese philosophies. For individuals interested in Asian philosophy and theology.

Customer Reviews (5)

Ok
Book was in ok condition, the corner of the cover was bent back, but that may have been due to shipping...

Excellent Read!
This book is certainly not a comprehensive item, but for those relatively new to Asian thought, it's a great start. As a matter-of-fact, it acknowledges this expected shortfall by providing suggested reading to expand on ideas presented in the book. It very directly presents and addresses key points and concepts within each of the major systems. I highly recommend this book for anyone that wants a little insight and a basic starting point towards understanding our Asian counterparts.

Required
This was a required textbook for one of my college courses.It proved to be informative and interesting, but is certainly set up in textbook style.

Great book in moderately thin volume
GENERALLY
This book is nicely put together and covers most of the major religions in Asia.
I was somewhat sceptical when I saw the book at first, but pleasantly surprised when I started to realise that mr Koller had been able to squeeze down so much of well thought and worked through philosophies in this relatively thin book.


CONTENTS
However, the bigger attention is put on Indian philosophies (including sum of Vedic scripts, Jainism, Hinduism, Buddhism and much more). Then again it makes sence if you go through all those different philosophies, as one can find few familiar elements here and there in philosophies/religions that come after Indian ones.

Maybe about 2/3 of the book is about (originally) Indian religions, including then also Buddhism in other countries. For example one of the chapters included there is about Japanese Zen Buddhism.
Another third is about Chinese religions as Confucianism and Taoism.

There is also one chapter about Islam. Maybe not really fair amount comparing with other religions, but still gives basic idea about it.

Couldn't find much, if anything, about Sikh religion... even if it might have been mentioned in few places. Even if not major religion, would have still been interesting to find at least a page about it.


STYLE
As for me, I rather think (concidering previous review) this book could be said have been writen from "believers" or even emic perspective.
It can slightly seam as the author could be potential follower of all those philosophies/religions, and this feeling of inside perspective is one of the best things about this book.
You can feel the respect by the writer for those philosophies he describes, and becouse of that this book is deffinetly not just another average dull philosophy book.
The philosophies come alive.

It is in same time clearly more than just some nice little philosophy book with basic facts, pretty pictures and friendly feelings, but without any depth.
There might be couple of the spots where you really have to think little extra, but this is only part of the fun when you figure it out.
If you really like philosophy, specially Asian, this is distinctly THE book to have.


RECOMMENDATIONS
This nice work has been one of my philosophy class books (yes, it does have questions after each chapter but it can be ignored or used for challenging oneself).
Nevertheless, I have been recommending it to everybody who might be interested of this kind of material and definitely going to continue with it.


Hopefully my review didn't become too long after all and can help you somehow.
If you get it: enjoy!! :)

An Academic Collection
This collection of information on Asian philosophies, from the earliest Hindu verses to the latest modern spins on Buddhism and Confucianism, is for students, not enthusiasts. It is competent, well-researched, contains ample material for personal study, but, as the discussion questions at the ends of chapters indicate, is a college textbook.

The drawback of this, is a dispassionate, sometimes tedious delivery. The discussions of the various schools of Hinduism, are mind-boggling in their implications, but also difficult. The advantage of this, is the direct converse. The subject matter demands careful attention, not adulation.

I recommend this book for students and perhaps those with an interest in culture, but especially for those who think Western thought is too logical and lifeless. Asian philosophies have a rigor all their own, and this book should tease the proselytes from the enlightened. ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description

Philosophy of Probability: Contemporary Readings is the first anthology to collect essential readings in this important area of philosophy. Featuring the work of leading philosophers in the field such as Carnap, Hájek, Jeffrey, Joyce, Lewis, Loewer, Popper, Ramsey, van Fraassen, von Mises, and many others, the book looks in depth at the following key topics:

• subjective probability and credence
• probability updating: conditionalization and reflection
• Bayesian confirmation theory
• classical, logical, and evidential probability
• frequentism
• physical probability: propensities and objective chances.

The book features a useful primer on the mathematics of probability, and each section includes an introduction by the editor, as well as a guide to further reading. A broad-ranging and highly accessible exploration of the subject, Philosophy of Probability is ideal for any student of formal epistemology, philosophy of science, metaphysics, or philosophy of mathematics.

Product Description
This anthology on philosophy of religion is unique in that it reflects the multicultural and global realities of religious pluralism. In addition to readings dealing with Judeo Christianity, Kessler includes Native American, African, Hindu, Islamic, Confucian, and Taoist thought. Feminist, African-American, atheist, and Latin American viewpoints are also included. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Good enough!
I needed it for a class of mine in college. I am satisfied with it due to its low, low price. A bit messy here and there but no worries.

Missing Pages!
I received the book in a timely manner, but the book is missing the ENTIRE introduction as well as the first 5 pages of Ninian Smart's essay, "The Nature of Religion."The introduction and essay are part of my very first reading assignment and I now have to go out and buy another copy of this book because the seller sent me a damaged copy.

Brilliant philosophy book, just could be a little less wordy.
I am using this book for my Philosophy of Religion course, my last class before my Bachelor's Degree.The book is well put together and offers a host of viewpoints from different religions and religious scholars (of both major and minor religions).My only problem is that the philosophy sometimes gets cyclical or the philosophers get so wordy that you feel inclined to submit to their point just because they are double-talking so far over your head that you can no longer keep up.If I wanted to be overrun with long-winded, incomprehensible double-talk, I would go into politics.

I would recommend to anyone that is using this book for a class that you take it in short spurts, one essay at a time, and make sure to re-read each one as they tend to make a bit more sense the second time around.

Complete and Comprehensive
Although my professor didn't teach using this book to it's fullest potential- it's a great textbook nonetheless.No, there isn't much explanation but just a collection of various philosophers' writings.This book covers a great deal of territory and I only wish my prof. could have used more material from it.The questions before each reading are quite thought provoking and aren't simple yes/no questions, which I enjoyed. ... Read more

Product Description
Without scientific theory, the technology developments of recent years would not have been possible. In this exceptionally clear and engaging introduction to philosophy of science, James Ladyman explores the scope of natural science and its implications for human life. With the focus firmly upon realism, he discusses how fundamental philosophical questions can be answered by science and how scientific theory can confirm and inform our basic and intrinsic knowledge. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Realism vs. Antirealism
James Ladyman's book is an excellent introduction to philosophy of science, though at times (especially in the latter part of the book) it becomes too sophisticated for a lower division course. Still, Ladyman covers the basics and then some using a clear style that engages the reader, bringing her gradually closer to some deep questions about the nature of science. The book starts with the standard topics of induction (and the corresponding problem pointed out by David Hume), moving to Popper's falsificationism, originally proposed as a solution to the problem of justification of inductive inference. After having explained why falsificationism in turn didn't work very well, Ladyman proceeds to Kuhn and the idea of paradigm shifts in the history of science. The difficult part comes in the second section, which is entirely devoted to the still ongoing debate between realists and antirealists in science. The reader is slowly but surely walked through increasingly complex rebuttals and counter-rebuttals articulated by major players in this high-level intellectual dispute, encountering fundamental concepts in modern philosophy of science throughout the ride. We learn about the underdetermination of theories by data, inference to the best explanation, constructive empiricism, the Duhem-Quine thesis and theories of explanation. The reader never gets to a final answer, which of course is not the point, but with a bit of effort it should be possible to follow Ladyman all the way to the end. The last two short sections, on idealisation and structural realism, are a bit too short to be effective; they should be either cut out or expanded in future editions. Still, I'm planning to use this book next semester in a 300-level class on philosophy of science, and I'm looking forward to the puzzled reactions of my students when they'll begin to appreciate how little we understand about how science works.

a component of a system of philosophy...
This book is unique among textbooks about the philosophy of science. It sets the stage for more serious investigations. I have read many books on the philosophy of science, and this is the only one that opens outwards onto a carefully crafted and cutting-edge metaphysics of science.

The author is an authentic advocate of the ideals which can be realized by means of coordinated efforts by individuals dedicated to objective methods. He demonstrates his credentials as a thinker and as a logician, as well as as a concerned human being. He cares very much about the future of our species. He shows how we can make our way into a future worth having.

Ladyman is relatively young (born 1969) and quickly dismisses vast regions of irrelevant philosophy which have been cherished by generations of "old school" philosophers. This could explain some of the negative reactions the book is bound to provoke. Revolutions in understanding are like that.

I believe sincerely that this author is forging a new pathway for philosophy. And there is no better place to start understanding the scope of the current revolution than right here with this book.

excellent introduction
This is an introductory book, and as to be evaluated as such. Thus it is nonsense to say "Don't read this; read Popper, Duhem, etc. instead". And as an introduction to the philosophy of science this book is great, because it does what it is supposed to do: it covers most of the main issues, and it discusses the main theories in a very clear and structured way.

Not a good introduction
At first sight, Ladyman's book looks like a solid introductory book -- nothing exciting, no brilliant new ideas, but at least a good survey of the field. On closer inspection, however, there are numerous omissions, not least when it comes to problems of apportioning credit for good ideas... Old examples get recycled (fair enough), but their original authors don't even get credit (intolerable). The author seems not to care about related work in history and sociology of science, which renders the book useless for anyone with a broader interest in science.

Read some real classics instead...
There is no shortage of introductory philosophy books, and over the last ten years or so numerous books for undergraduates / beginning grad-school students have appeared, all of which claim to offer 'the' definitive survey of philosophy of language, metaphysics, epistemology... Well then, here is another introduction to philosophy of science -- no more, no less. Just like all other introductory texts, there are some omissions (some more serious than others), some errors and some unbalanced passages. However, the core problems are presented in a clear, though rather conventional way. If anyone with a serious interest in studying philosophy of science is reading this (let's call him 'Student' or, since analytic philosophers seem to enjoy abbreviations, 'S'), please let me say the following words: 'Dear S. Thank you for your interest in philosophy of science and in this book. Please don't waste your time reading *another* introductory textbooks. Go to your library, check out that Reichenbach, Duhem, Popper, Feyerabend, Hempel, Salmon, Achinstein, and *read the classics!*' They are infinitely more rewarding than this (or any other introductory) book. But if you feel you must add this book to your shopping cart -- who am I to stop you?? ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (4)

Deserves a dual location on philosophy and sports shelves
Soccer and Philosophy provides an unusual pairing: soccer notes by philosophers - and offers insights on ethics, metaphysics, and issues of beauty and form in the soccer environment. By blending philosophical principles and inquiry with soccer specifics, this will reach an audience not ordinarily attracted to philosophy books, and deserves a dual location on philosophy and sports shelves alike.

Wonderful, Whimsical and Cogent
First, ignore the comments on the back cover. They are banal clichés (See Chapter 3: The Boy Done Good? Football's Clichés). I doubt the comments were written by people who actually finished the book.

Second, although this is a book about soccer, the analysis and conclusions may be applied to all sports. (See Chapter 8: What's Luck Got to do with it?).

Third, think about how sports overlap with life and demand the attendance of prominent politicians - to toss the first ball, etc. (See Chapter 24: When a Soccer Club Becomes a Mirror).

Fourth, think about how the officials on the field, in the ring or on the court influence the outcome of the game. (See Chapter 28: The Loneliness of the Referee).

Fifth, Consider whether prayer before, during or after the game influences its outcome. (Chapter 29: God is not a Referee)

This enumeration of thoughts about soccer could to go on without end, just like a 0 to 0 soccer game, requiring a shoot out (see Chapter 27: It's a Lottery!: Penalties and the Meaning of Winning). Oh, did I tell you about the wonderful creative writing in Chapter 26: Kierkegaard at the Penalty Spot?

This is a wonderful, whimsical and cogent book for soccer fans and soccer players, particularly those who enjoyed their philosophy courses in college. The book has multiple authors with uneven writing, but the good writers more than make up for the others.

Soccer in Football Country (Florida)
A great book with a different bent. An easy read even if you don't know a lot about either soccer or philosopy. I recommend it highly.

What a great collection!
What a great book!A collection of different philosophical treatments of the beautiful game from the sublime to the humorous.And just in time for the World Cup too! ... Read more

Product Description
The Elements of Philosophy: Readings from Past and Present offers an extensive collection of classic and contemporary readings, organized topically into five main sections: Religion and Belief, Moral and Political Philosophy, Metaphysics and Epistemology, Philosophy of Mind and Language, and Life and Death. Within these broad areas, readings are arranged in clusters that address both traditional issues--such as the existence of God, justice and the state, knowledge and skepticism, and free will--and contemporary topics--including God and science, just war theory, vegetarianism, and time travel. Carefully chosen selections from a wide range of pre-20th-century philosophers are paired with writings from more than fifty leading contemporary philosophers and thinkers. The traditional philosophers represented range from Plato and Aristotle to Immanuel Kant and A.J. Ayer; the contemporary philosophers include Saul Kripke, David Lewis, Thomas Nagel, Derek Parfit, Hilary Putnam, Robert Nozick, Judith Jarvis Thomson, John Rawls, Bernard Williams, and Susan Wolf. Also included are selections from linguist Noam Chomsky, physicist Albert Einstein, and psychologist William James.
Edited by a team of scholars who are also highly esteemed instructors, The Elements of Philosophy is uniquely student-friendly. A team of undergraduate philosophy majors played a central role in helping to select topics, choose readings, and identify terms likely to require clarification. In response to their suggestions, the volume includes detailed introductions to each section, explanatory footnotes that define unfamiliar terms and concepts, an extensive glossary, and a guide to further resources. A companion Instructor's Manual, available on CD, offers article summaries, suggested essay questions, reading guides, model handouts, and sample syllabi. One of the most extensive and expansive anthologies available, The Elements of Philosophy is an ideal choice for both general and targeted introductory philosophy courses. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Decent book, but extremely dry and boring
The book takes excerpts from various philosophers and their most famous works. However, don't expect some explanations at the end, this book is designed for philosophers who understand the philosophy that's written easily, even when the language used is very cryptic. It's meant to be used as a reference for certain speeches or essays by philosophers, it isn't to be used as a way to understand philosophy.

The Elements of Philosophy: Readings from Past and Present
good book for a cheap price, it is a college text book that many schools use. only would buy because i have to ... Read more

Product Description
In Philosophy: The Quest for Truth and Meaning, Andrew Beards introduces readers to some key philosophical ideas the mind s ability to know truth and reality, metaphysics, ethics, and questioning life s ultimate purpose in order to guide them in philosophical reflection. By examining the development of philosophy, Beards demonstrates and makes a case for the interplay of faith and reason. ... Read more

Product Description
A concise selection from the standard philosophical works written after the death of Aristotle to the close of the third century, which includes the writings of seminal figures from early Christian thought. Eminent scholar Jason Saunders shows how philosophers from the Hellenistic Age greatly influenced early Christian teachings. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Ancient Greeks Still Relevant
As religious fanaticism makes a big comeback in the US it is important to remember that rational understanding has a longer tradition in the West than the popularity of the current most widespread organized supersitions. This book gathers under one cover most of the major philosophical systems of the Hellenistc Greeks-- the Epicureans, Stoics and the Skeptics (always valuable to read as an antidote to dogmatism). Neo-Platonists (from whom the Christians copped their theology) are also represented--i.e., Philo and Plotinus. There is also a section on early Chrisitan "thought"-- "With our faith, we desire no further belief"-- Tertullian ( of 'credo quia absurdum' fame). Having all this variety of philosophy and anti-philosophy in one book will give you a good mental workout.

A Handy Resource, Marred by Some Antique Translations
For people like me, books like this are a great benefit. I'm not a philosopher, but I frequently run across references to ancient philosophers in my reading. At the same time, reading pre-digested summaries or histories is usually not as interesting or challenging as reading extended, essential exerpts first-hand. "Geek and Roman Philosophers After Aristotle" covers Hellenistic philosophy from ca.322 BCE to ca.300 CE. The book is divided into six sections: I.Epicureanism, II.Stoicism, III.Skepticism, IV.Philo of Alexandria, V.Plotinus, and VI.Early Christian Thought. There is a 12-page general introduction, and a short introduction for each of the six sections. Jason Saunders lets the philosophers speak for themselves, sometimes at length, particularly Lucretius, Philo and Plotinus. The book may seem to some to be overly Christian, but that's at least partly why I wanted it. The translations vary from the classic (McKenna) to clunky antiques, but as noted above, it's a handy, concise, 360-page collection, so my thumb is up.

Needs greater philosophers
I gave this book a very condiscending review a couple of years ago, and I admit I was far too critical... It does have its flaws, but I reviewed it without a thorough enough reading of it, and the faults are not with the author, but with the simple fact that there just weren't any really forceful philosophers living in this age.I give it three stars instead.I offer my aplogies to the author, and anyone else who may have been mislead by my previous rview.I give it three stars. ... Read more

Product Description
The most well known and enduring of Maritain's many books. It offers a clear introduction to philosophy and theology from the archaic era through to the Ancient Greeks right up to the 20th Century. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Solid philosophy introduction
Although concentrated on Western philosophy, this book will bring a good basic understanding of philosophy as a whole

Perfect place to start...
If one needs an introduction to the field of philosophy, they could no better than to start w/ Maritain's text. Concise, insightful, and clear, it summarizes the aspects of philosophical inquiry in less than 200 pages. As to the Catholic "slant" that a few might find troubling, one must recall the words of Evelyn Waugh when he noted the Catholic Church constituted, "a coherent philosophical system with intransigent historical claims." Here is the doorway into that system; enter a see...

Beware an offensive and misleading anachronism
This book is not an introduction to philosophy as such, but rather to the philosophy asserted by its French author, Jacques Maritain (1882-1973), who converted to Catholicism in 1906 when he was in his mid twenties.Originally interested in the philosophy of Benedict de Spinoza (1632-1677), then in the philosophy of Henri Bergson (1859-1941), the author became a devotee of St. Thomas Aquinas (c. 1225-1274) two years after his conversion to Catholicism, and eventually renounced his previous interest in Spinoza or Bergson.

It is no coincidence that Maritain advocates Thomism, the philosophy and theology of St. Thomas Aquinas.Aquinas is a doctor of the Catholic Church, specifically known as "The Angelic Doctor."The Catholic Encyclopedia states that doctors of the Church are "writers [who] have received this title on account of the great advantage the whole Church has derived from their doctrine."In fact Thomism was so valuable to the Catholic Church that in 1879, just three years before Maritain was born, Pope Leo XIII ordered that it be taught in all Catholic schools as official Church doctrine.This order was issued in an encyclical titled "Aeterni Patris" ("Eternal Fathers"), about which the Catholic Encyclopedia writes that "Its purpose was the revival of Scholastic philosophy, according to the mind of St. Thomas Aquinas."

The Catholic Church exercised editorial control over the content of this book.In 1917, as Maritain finished a year lecturing at the Petit Séminaire de Versailles, he was commissioned by the Church to write a series of philosophy textbooks for Catholic secondary schools, colleges and seminaries.One result was this book, which received an Imprimatur from the Church -- as must all Church textbooks.The word 'Imprimatur' is Latin for "let it be printed."An Imprimatur is granted by a Catholic bishop to indicate that the text has been thoroughly reviewed by a Church panel and deemed to contain nothing contrary to Catholic faith or morals.

Therefore the title of this book is misleading, because it has been translated into English without qualification as "An Introduction to Philosophy."In the context in which this book was originally published in France in 1920, as "Introduction générale à la philosophie," it was assumed that the reader was a Catholic student, and that he already knew the philosophy in question was Thomism and that it was official Church doctrine.Hence there was no need to add any qualifier to the original title in French.But for us in the English-speaking world 85+ years later -- and many of us will not be Catholic, and will have no interest in becoming such -- we cannot assume knowledge of the context and purpose of this book.

However, the problems with this book do not end with the title.The book's manner of exposition itself is offensive.In Chapter One, Egyptian and Semitic cultures are needlessly denigrated as "scornful of human wisdom and the achievements of pure reason." Buddhism is unnecessarily attacked as "cowardice" and "an intellectual plague to humanity."Hinduism is "counterfeit."Chinese culture and history is "diseased."Zoroastrianism is a "failure."It is only in ancient Greece, and ancient Greece alone, claims Maritain, that "the wisdom of man found the right path."The Greeks are "the chosen people of reason."Having read this, how can one expect Maritain to do justice to those with whom he disagrees?

This book lacks critical reflection about its subject matter.Maritain lauds Aristotle (384-322 BCE),claiming that "he founded for all time the true philosophy."Aristotle "saved whatever was true and valuable, not only in Plato, but in all the ancient thinkers of Greece."But to my knowledge Maritain says nothing of Aristotle's claim that the Earth is the center of the universe, or that rocks have an innate desire to move to the center of the Earth.And nowhere does he appear to discuss the limitations of Aristotelian syllogistic as a vehicle for mathematical reasoning.How can a syllogism demonstrate that 1 + 1 = 2?These are serious, long-recognized problems for Aristotle.Maritain discusses none of them, to my knowledge.

This book ignores significant facts about its subject.What about those ancient Greek philosophers whom Maritain does not cover?The Hellenistic philosophers?The Stoics, Epicureans, Cynics, and Skeptics?The Megarians, who developed a propositional logic long before George Boole did in the 19th Century?Maritain remarks tersely that they "in essentials would deform philosophy."This is needless insult for legitimate, Socratically inspired philosophical traditions which have much to offer.How can we trust someone like this to speak with authority about philosophy as a whole?

This book misrepresents its subject.For Aristotle, theology is not a separate discipline from philosophy.But we are never told this in this book.For Maritain, contrary to Aristotle, philosophy is subservient to what Maritain calls "supernatural theology."Maritain had converted to Catholicism, had embraced the official philosophy and theology of the Church, was on faculty at a Catholic university, and intended this book for Catholic students.It received an Imprimatur from the Church.He obviously is not talking about Hindu, Jewish, Islamic, Protestant, or even Orthodox supernatural theology.In other words, for Maritain the Catholic Church ought to have absolute veto authority over all philosophy, as the Church did in fact have veto authority over the content of Maritain's book.This is an extremely controversial claim with which probably the majority of philosophers disagree -- including Aristotle himself.Ignoring these facts, Maritain asserts without argument that philosophy must reject "as false any philosophic affirmation which contradicts a [supernatural] theological truth" -- i.e. alleged truth, as to assume it's true is to beg the question.

Maritain calls such alleged truth "science" -- a use of the word completely alien to modern ears and again seriously misleading.Maritain means "science" in the medieval Scholastic sense of the Latin word "scientia" and the Greek word "episteme," i.e. a system of allegedly self-evident axioms plus the theorems derived from them by means of Aristotle's syllogistic. He does not mean "science" in the sense of empirical conjecture, falsifiability, and probabilistic reasoning which we in the 21st Century call genuine science."Certain knowledge of causes is termed science," writes Maritain, contradicting hundreds of years of experimental scientific practice which has provided us with probabilistic, but not certain, truths about the universe that were unimaginable to Aristotle or Aquinas.Indeed, this conflict between "science" as understood by the Church, and science as practiced by scientists, led the Church to burn Giordano Bruno at the stake in 1600 for heresy, to condemn Copernicus posthumously in 1616 for heresy and ban his writings, and to imprison Galileo for life in 1633, as well as condemn him for heresy and ban his work.

Perhaps we can excuse this book's hostility to other traditions, and its lack of critical reflection about its own tradition, by attributing it to the prevailing prejudice of French Catholicism 85+ years ago.But it is not 1920.And this book has been translated into English and republished for a wider audience, among whom will be many who are actively offended or misled by the content of this book.

In summary, this book is misleading and offensive.It ignores certain significant and relevant facts, while misrepresenting others.It needlessly insults other cultures and religions.It does not even attempt to give an unbiased account of philosophy.Nor does it appear aware of the limitations of its own prejudice.I find it useful primarily as an antiquated Catholic account of the history of philosophy.If you want to get an idea of St. Thomas Aquinas's philosophy, without Aquinas's logical rigor, then this book might be useful, but only if you can put up with the author's unwarranted prejudice, his explicit hostility to other traditions, and his lack of critical reflection about his own tradition.Maritain is no Aquinas, and this book is no state-of-the-art introduction to philosophy or its history.It is an 86-year-old French Catholic textbook, written under contract with the Church in the wake of a 19th Century Papal encyclical, exclusively advocating a 13th Century worldview which contradicts modern science.Caveat lector!

NB: An excellent intro to Thomist philosophy
In November 2005 Sheed and Ward reprinted Jacques Maritain's An Introduction to Philosophy. This primer, which Maritain first published in 1931, is a bit different from standard introductions to philosophical thought such as Will Durant's Story of Philosophy, Bryan Magee's Story of Philosophy, or Frederick Coppleston's exhaustive multivolume History of Philosophy. Maritain's focus is to explicate a particular view of the endeavor of philosophy and to point out the cornerstones of his thought.

To start with, Maritain is a Thomist, following in the intellectual traditions of St. Thomas Aquinas, who in turn draws upon Aristotle. Maritain's approach in this book is to first trace this history of philosophy up to Aristotle. For this, he posits primitive traditions, discernable from both theology and a reasonable induction from historical evidence, which contain wisdom that is common to all mankind globally. He seeks remnants of these traditions in pre-Greek Indo-European civilizations: Persian, Indian, and Chinese. After surveying these, he proceeds to Greek thought: the pre-Socratics, the Sophists, Socrates, Plato, and finally Aristotle. Maritain sees the ancient Persian, Indian, Chinese, and pre-Socratic Greeks as derived from healthy primitive traditions (although in corrupted form). The work of philosophy, in part, is to recover the ancient wisdom and ground it in a system of reason and dialectic.

Upon stating in brief form what he sees as Aristotle's achievements are, Maritain changes his method. He does not follow, as most historical texts would, with a discussion of late antiquity and modern philosophers. For example, do not get a sketch of Descartes in historical context. Rather, Maritain discusses the structure of philosophy as a body of knowledge. That structure is itself determined by Thomist philosophy. Maritain discusses the boundaries of philosophy -- how it is distinct from the empirical sciences, for example, and how it relates to them. He contrasts the Thomist view on philosophy with alternatives in modernity. He then gives an account of the fields of philosophy:

I. Logic (a sort of preamble to philosophy proper)
II. Theoretical philosophy (speculative, related to understanding of the world)
---1. Philosophy of mathematics and nature
---2. Epistemology
---3. Ontology and metaphysics
---4. Natural theology
III. Practical philosophy (related to human action)
---1. Philosophy of art and technology
---2. Ethics

Walking through these fields (philosophical categories which themselves follow from his Thomism), Maritain points out both the Thomist and Aristotelian positions, and the modernist positions, which are usually contradictory extremes which the Aristotelian mean reconciles.

It's a very rigorous and systematic book with a good deal of common sense. It explains a lot of Thomism in a very detailed way and makes an excellent reference for those looking to understand this point of view. Thomism can be a bit dry. Maritain goes a long way to guiding the reader to see motivations and connections. For example, one can struggle Aristotle for years and not find as clear an explication of metaphysical terms such as essence (being inasmuch as it can be understood), substance (being inasmuch as it primarily is), and act and potentiality (being inasmuch as it is the subject of change and motion). For anyone interested in Thomism, this book is a find.

The best intro to philosophy text I have ever seen
I have been teaching intro to philosophy for five years, and Maritain's book is the best I have ever seen. In the first four chapters, Maritain lays out the development of philosophical thought from various schools of thought around the world in ancient time, through the pre-Socratics and through Aristotle. Then in the next four chapters he shows what philosophy is, how it is related to the special sciences, to theology, and to common sense. That is all part one of the book. In part two of the book, he examines and explains each of the main divisions of philosophy inluding: logic, philosophy of mathematics, philosophy of nature, epistemology, ontology (to which he devotes four chapters), and the philosopy of art (i.e. ethics).

The chapter on the relation between philosophy and the special sciences (i.e. physics, chemistry, biology, etc.) is by itself worth the price of the book. Maritain does an excellent job showing that philosophy (per se, not de facto) is a science, and that by its very nature, the science of philosophy should govern the special sciences. Maritain here provides the antidote to the 'scientism' that is so prevalent in academia. Here we learn why ontology is not at the mercy of the special sciences, and thus why we need not be reductionists, physicalists, or eliminativists. This was standard fare many years ago, but has largely been lost in the aftermath of positivism. Ironically, if I had to pick any one book that I think would be most helpful to the Western philosophical community, it would be Maritain's _An Introduction to Philosophy_. So many of the debates in contemporary philosophy are founded on errors that are pointed out in this intro book. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (1)

Philosophy of fear by Lars Svedsen
Thank you for a prompt delivery. I have not read the book yet but am looking forward to the pleasure ... Read more

Product Description
Identifies the philosophical problems that science raises through an examination of questions about its nature, methods and justification. A valuable introduction for science and philosophy students alike. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Excellent Introduction; 4.5 Stars
This is a fine introduction to philosophy of science.Rosenberg discusses why philosophy of science is such an important part of philosophy and how philosophy is connected to a number of deep and traditional problems of philosophy, particularly epistemologic questions.Scientific explanation, the nature of scientific laws and concepts of causation, the nature and role of theories, some of the traditional models of scientific explanation and progress like the D-N model and Popper's notion of falsification, challenges to traditional empiricism such as Kuhn's model and Quine's analysis of underdetermination are all covered very well.These are often difficult topics but Rosenberg is a good writer and the explanations are generally clear.Each chapter has a nice summary and guide to the literature.The prevailing impression left by the text is the inadequacy of contemporary philosophy of science to really understand science and explain its successes.

Critical Thinking and Reability
This book emphasizes problems in the philosophy of science over answers.It is specifically and effectively written as an introduction for beginning students.Thus, it proceeds mainly by identifying philosophical problems, thinking through potential answers, and then identifying problems with those potential answers.To other reviewers, this approach seems to have given the impression of unnecessary or unexpected digression, although I did not find the approach burdensome.

Introductory education is as much about exposure to a range of issues and practice with ways of thinking as it is about specifying facts; the book balances these needs well.It provides the main persons and terms of which a philosopher of science should be able to speak, but it does so in the context of critical consideration rather than simple cataloging.

I have to admit that I was a little surprised by how good the review questions were at the end of the chapters in prompting me to digest and articulate the ideas in the book, without seeming tedious or heavyhanded.The questions further emphasize critical thinking, often by requesting the reader to adopt different perspectives in approaching an issue.Many of the questions also make space for the student to bring into the discussion additional ideas not found in the book.

The book succeeds in its goal of being an introduction to the field, but as a result of its specialization the book is not well suited for two related tasks often (and not without reason) expected of introductory books.First, it is not a handy desk reference, because it is neither properly structured nor sufficiently comprehensive for a reader to turn to a page and find a straightforward summary of any topic.Second, the book will not provide sufficient reading material for a semester-long university course, although it will provide the backbone to a course.

The book approaches philosophy of science with a rather philosophical emphasis.Although early in the book Rosenberg notes a clear sense in which science requires philosophy, he has not written a book of answers to the kind of philosophical issues that typically pop up in the work of a research scientist.Indeed he occasionally notes that major issues discussed in the book are (seen as) irrelevant within the practice of research scientists.This is most true of the topic he pursues at greatest length: Kuhn's concept of scientific paradigms and the legacy of Kuhn's insight.While it might actually be extremely useful for researchers to consider the role of "normal science" in determining their research, Kuhn's legacy is mainly in the practically irrelevant idea that scientific research does not actually provide an increasingly close approximation of objective natural reality.This is a philosophically (and socio-historically) important issue, but scientists have no reason to attend to it (and every reason not to).

Although I was amenable to this esoteric/non-applied philosophy approach, on a perhaps-related note I was disappointed by the relative paucity of concrete examples in a discussion of evidence/epistemology.The one topic I wish had been pursued more was the notion of observable vs. unobservable things in nature, as this distinction was used in a commonsense way without being defined or justified.Indeed, an argument of Locke's mentioned in the book seems to invalidate this distinction, but this was not discussed.

Ultimately I think any reader/reviewer will wish some topic had been explored farther, but as the identities of these issues seems to vary from person to person, I think this indicates success rather than deficiency.This book is an introduction to questions, not a compendium of answers.The book is concise, and as I mentioned above I think a course based around this book would have room for additional reading.Thus, students would be able to pursue interests sparked but left unfulfilled by the book, or instructors could fill in deficiencies they find in the book's coverage.For similar reasons, this book is a good read for informal students or readers with specialized interests, who want to obtain a grounding in the philosophy of science without being inhibited with an overly comprehensive volume.

.

(This is a review of the first edition.)

Decent introductory textbook for students
Rosenberg's introduction is well-structured and covers all the main points that would feature in an introductory philosophy of science course. It even goes beyond some of the more traditional topics, including chapters/sections on science studies and the semantic (model) view of scientific theories. However, while the book is better than some of its competitors (e.g., Ladyman's 'Understanding Philosophy of Science'), it still leaves a lot to be desired. The writing is at times awkward (commas are distributed more or less at random across the page), which makes for tedious reading. Also, the argument isn't always very clear and the author gets sidetracked quite often. Gross oversimplification may be inevitable in a textbook for students, but in this book it doesn't always make things any clearer. Given the success of the book, the author should take the time to make some serious revisions -- the second edition has not improved as much as it could have. A major positive point is the existence of a corresponding anthology (Balashov/Rosenberg) of classic texts from the philosophy of science.

Time arrival in good condition
The book arrived on time in good condtion. I appreciate the quality of the book and speedy delivery. Tnanks.

A review of the first six pages and the table of contents
I do not have this book. I wish I did. I read the first six pages of the book which explains how various scientific disciplines have in the course of History broken off from Science, and come to constitute fields of learning of their own, and understood that this is a very clearly written and informative book. I am sure that it will lay out clearly the major questions raised today in the Philosophy of Science. As I understand it one major idea of the work is that there are philosophical questions that Science cannot answer . Or to put this in another way that Philosophy in a sense sets the limits of scientific inquiry.
What strikes and troubles me in terms of the relationship of Philosophy and Science is that the latter produces in many cases testable conclusions, and thus has the authority of providing us ' truth'. And this when as far as I can tell or feel ' philosophical discourse ' is like discourse in the humanities, ' interpretative'. And it thus does not provide us with what is testable, objective, and ' communally held'. Of course I know that one of the questions of Philosophy of Science is whether there is such a 'thing' as ' objective truth'. But clearly in common sense terms, and in terms of the way most people think and act in the world of the mind ' scientific results' do have a quality in truth, that ' philosophical arguments ' do not.
I am curious as to how this volume deals with these questions.
I apologize for taking the reader's time. My sense is that this is a very good introduction to the whole subject. ... Read more

Product Description
Gender scholarship during the last four decades has shown that the exclusion of women's voices and perspectives has diminished academic disciplines in important ways. Traditional scholarship in philosophy is no different. The _recovery project_ in philosophy is engaged in re-discovering the names, lives, texts, and perspectives of women philosophers from the 6th Century BCE to the present. Karen Warren brings together 16 colleagues for a unique, groundbreaking study of Western philosophy which combines pairs of leading men and women philosophers over the past 2600 years, acknowledging and evaluating their contributions to foundational themes in philosophy, including epistemology, metaphysics, and ethics. Introductory essays, primary source readings, and commentaries comprise each chapter to offer a rich and accessible introduction to and evaluation of these vital philosophical contributions. A helpful appendix canvasses an extraordinary number of women philosophers for further discovery and study. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Thought provoking and informative
The book juxtaposed better known male philosophers, with often less well known women thinkers. I found the women often showed more emotional groundedness in their philosophical stances. The men sometimes came off as ivory tower types who didn't live their own perspective in the nitty gritty of their own lives. But this is no mere "feminist reconstruction" of the past. I found the editor and the writers of individual chapters to be honest and fair in what they wrote. This is exactly what I was looking for to help flesh out the early lectures in a History of Psychology course I was teaching. Very interesting. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (1)

Great book!
This is a great book. Required for my class. You can probably find this book a few bucks cheaper. I rather pay the extra dough and save on time and hassle wasted like waiting in line during the beginning days of school or waiting for the auction to end or hoping the seller ships your book to get it beforethe beginning weeks of class. Just save time and sanity and purchase from amazon. ... Read more

Product Description
Antoine Arnauld and Pierre Nicole were philosophers and theologians associated with Port-Royal Abbey, a center of the Catholic Jansenist movement in seventeenth-century France. Their enormously influential Logic or the Art of Thinking, which went through five editions in their lifetimes, treats topics in logic, language, theory of knowledge and metaphysics, and also articulates the response of "heretical" Jansenist Catholicism to orthodox Catholic and Protestant views on grace, free will and the sacraments. This edition presents a new translation of the text, together with a historical introduction and suggestions for further reading. ... Read more

Product Description

Has any film director had a greater impact on popular culture than Steven Spielberg? Whether filming Holocaust heroes and villains, soldiers, dinosaurs, extraterrestrials, or explorers in search of the Holy Grail, Spielberg has given filmgoers some of the most memorable characters and wrenching moments in the history of cinema. Whatever his subject -- war, cloning, slavery, terrorism, or adventure -- all of Spielberg's films have one aspect in common: a unique view of the moral fabric of humanity. Dean A. Kowalski's Steven Spielberg and Philosophy is like a remarkable conversation after a night at the movie theater, offering new insights and unexpected observations about the director's most admired films. Some of the nation's most respected philosophers investigate Spielberg's art, asking fundamental questions about the nature of humanity, cinema, and Spielberg's expression of his chosen themes. Applying various philosophical principles to the movies, the book explores such topics as the moral demands of parenthood in War of the Worlds; the ultimate unknowability of the "other" in Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Schindler's List; the relationship between nature and morality in Jurassic Park; the notion of consciousness in A.I.: Artificial Intelligence; issues of war theory and ethics in Munich; and the foundation of human rights in Amistad. Impressive in scope, this volume illustrates the philosophical tenets of a wide variety of thinkers from Plato to Aquinas, Locke, and Levinas. Contributors introduce readers to philosophy while simultaneously providing deeper insight into Spielberg's approach to filmmaking. The essays consider Spielberg's movies using key philosophical cornerstones: metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, axiology, aesthetics, and political philosophy, among others. At the same time, Steven Spielberg and Philosophy is accessible to those new to philosophy, using the philosophical platform to ponder larger issues embedded in film and asking fundamental questions about the nature of cinema and how meanings are negotiated. The authors contend that movies do not present philosophy -- rather philosophy is something viewers do while watching and thinking about films. Using Spielberg's films as a platform for discussing these concepts, the authors contemplate questions that genuinely surprise the reader, offering penetrating insights that will be welcomed by film critics, philosophers, and fans alike.

Customer Reviews (1)

Deep insight
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R322VWR9AVWC1P Very deep insights into Spielberg's work and its affect on society. ... Read more

Product Description
Incorporating the insights of new coeditor Lewis Vaughn, Classics of Philosophy, Third Edition, is the most comprehensive anthology of writings in Western philosophy in print. Spanning 2,500 years of thought, it is ideal for introduction to philosophy and history of philosophy courses. It features more than seventy selections by forty philosophers--along with fragments from the Pre-Socratics--offering students and instructors an extensive and economical collection of the major works of the Western tradition. This volume contains the most important writings from Thales to Rawls; twenty of these are complete works, while the others are judiciously abridged so that little of value to the student is lost. A lucid introduction, including a brief biographical sketch, accompanies each of the featured philosophers.

NEW TO THE THIRD EDITION:

* Selections from philosophers who were not included in the previous edition--Maimonides (Guide for the Perplexed) and Schopenhauer (The World as Will and Representation)--along with Kant's Critique of Pure Reason

* Expanded readings: Aristotle's Posterior Analytics, On the Soul, Metaphysics, and Nicomachean Ethics; Berkeley's Of the Principles of Human Knowledge; and Hume's Treatise on Human Nature

* Review questions for each chapter and illustrated portraits of many philosophers

* A Companion Website at www.oup.com/us/pojman featuring resources for students (self-quizzes, flash cards, chapter review questions, a timeline, and helpful web links) and instructors (brief reading summaries, essay questions, test questions, and PowerPoint-based lecture slides)

Classics of Philosophy, Third Edition, provides students with an extensive view of the major stages of growth in Western philosophy--including its birth with the Pre-Socratics and its contemporary developments--in an accessible format and at an affordable price. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

the only philosophy textbook you need
Select works of several prominent philosophers ranging from antiquity (Plato) to modern times (Bertrand Russel) are presented in a highly readable, user-friendly manner with concise notes from the authors explaining key concepts at the beginning of each larger section of text. Two-column layout makes it easy to find a passage. Explanations are very brief but informative. An overview of each philosopher and the context of his work is presented before his writing.

Thin, non-glossy pages are readable in any lighting. Book is paperback and bulky, so covers will bend and corners will quickly deteriorate if the book travels at all. Because of the thickness, photocopying is impossible unless the spine is broken at the precise section to which one wishes to open the pages, but the pages are approximately the right size to fill a photocopied page without much "black space" if one is determined to do so.

The used textbook arrived in very good condition
The textbook arrived in very good condition for a used book. I have ordered books through amazon before and it used to take less time for them to arrive. This one arrived in about 9 days.

Classics to Philosophy
I was afraid this would be the wrong book for my class.. but I compared this book with the book in the bookstore on campus, and its the exact same. Plus this was my first time using amazon and I saved a lot for a new book on here than I would in the bookstore.

It would be a mistake to make students buy this.
This book is a waste of your money.Like two other reviewers said, this text offers nothing useful but the primary texts--a closet full of context-absent clips of writings from philosophers ranging many centuries, but nothing useful on any author, movement, or issue.Since that is the case, the only question that would remain is whether it is worth fifty-four bucks for these primary texts.It is not; not in the slightest!

One can buy all the direct reading an "intro" student should ever do, via a handful of approx. ten dollar books, and come up with better readings, better introductions, more to read, and twenty bucks left over.For instance, if you want to cover the presocratics, then get a seven dollar book with all of their works.If you want to add Plato or Aristotle, again, a seven dollar book would match the quality of the primary texts here, plus have good introductions and a more complete collection.You can say the same for the empiricists, or anything else.

To add insult to injury, the book takes up space with original philosophical writings by the authors themselves and their friends--works by nobody you nor anyone else will ever care about.

Is the point of an "intro" class to get you to misunderstand as many philosophers as possible in a misunderstood context?If so, and you want to waste money, then this is your book.Otherwise, avoid this textbook.

Great
This is a massive and invaluable book for the student of philosophy. It has over twenty complete works of classical philosophy. Including many of the great works by Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Kierkegaard, Hume, Mill and many, many more. And it also includes fragments from the presocratics and careful abridgments of over forty more works from a full spectrum of philosophers, ancient to modern. All of this comes in one large yet manageable volume. So it is ideal for a student or someone who wants a single volume philosophy reference. I highly recommend it. ... Read more

Product Description
The works translated here deal with two major themes in the thinking of St Augustine (354-430): free will and divine grace. On the one hand, free will enables human beings to make their own choices; on the other hand, God's grace is required for these choices to be efficacious. 'On the Free Choice of the Will', 'On Grace and Free Choice', 'On Reprimand and Grace' and 'On the Gift of Perseverance' set out Augustine's theory of human responsibility, and sketch a subtle reconciliation of will and grace. This volume is the first to bring together Augustine's early and later writings on these two themes, in a new translation by Peter King, enabling the reader to see what Augustine regarded as the crowning achievement of his work. The volume also includes a clear and accessible introduction that analyzes Augustine's key philosophical lines of thought. ... Read more

Product Description
The first look at the philosophy behind the Iron Man comics and movies, timed for the release of Iron Man 2 in March 2010

On the surface, Iron Man appears to be a straightforward superhero, another rich guy fighting crime with fancy gadgets. But beneath the shiny armor and flashy technology lies Tony Stark, brilliant inventor and eccentric playboy, struggling to balance his desires, addictions, and relationships with his duties as the Armored Avenger. Iron Man and Philosophy explores the many philosophical issues that emerge from the essential conflicts found in the decades of Iron Man stories in comics and movies. What kind of moral compass does Tony Stark have? Is Iron Man responsible for the death of Captain America after the Marvel Universe “Civil War”? Should people like Stark run the world? How does Tony’s alcoholism impact his performance as Iron Man, and what does it say about moral character? Ultimately, what can Iron Man teach us about the role of technology in society?

As absorbing as Iron Man comic books and movies, Iron Man and Philosophy:

• Gives you a new perspective on Iron Man characters, story lines, and themes

• Shows what philosophical heavy hitters such as Aristotle, Locke, and Heidegger can teach us about Tony Stark/Iron Man

• Considers issues such as addiction, personal responsibility, the use of technology, and the role of government

Whether you've been reading the comic books for years or have gotten into Iron Man through the movies, Iron Man and Philosophy is a must-have companion for every fan. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

not like the movie at all
the book wasnt that bad. it just wasnt like the movie at all. if you liked the movie dont waste your money and read this book or vise versa. ... Read more