Professor Hales has here provided a textbook that presents philosophy in a way that students will find compelling and readily accessible. This is Philosophy strikes the right balance in approaching traditional philosophical problems from a contemporary perspective.
-Anthony Kreider, Miami Dade College
This Is Philosophy succeeds in a quite difficult task: to simultaneously engage the reader with clear exposition of a philosophical topic while providing a foundation for classroom discussion. The reader is led to focus on a single question at a time, and so is not overwhelmed, yet connections are drawn between various questions to show how issues are related. This is an excellent and welcome new text.
-Jay Newhard, East Carolina University
This is a terrific book. The writing is not only extremely clear, it is downright gripping – with relevant and detailed examples at every turn. Steven Hales has produced not just a great little introduction to philosophy – he has produced a great little book in philosophy period.
-Michael Lynch, University of Connecticut
Understanding philosophical ideas and arguments can be a daunting undertaking—but it doesn’t have to be. This Is Philosophy: An Introduction offers an engaging introduction to the subject that brings difficult, abstract concepts down to earth in straightforward language. Topics covered include ethics, the existence of God, free will, personal identity, philosophy of mind, epistemology, and more. While covering traditional topics, the discussion is also connected to relevant developments in nearby disciplines, such as how empirical psychology is related to virtue ethics, and neuroscience to philosophy of mind.
The book is enhanced by a wealth of supplementary online materials—links to free online primary sources and reference materials, witty takes on philosophical puzzles, and a host of extras on the companion website, including notes on philosophical method, a glossary of terms, an extensive test bank, and more. With examples that are more Dave Matthews Band than Verdi, more beer than Brunello di Montalcino, the great debates of philosophy are made accessible, yet never watered down. This Is Philosophy: An Introduction not only brings philosophy to life—it will leave beginning students wanting more.
From the Back Cover
Understanding philosophical ideas and arguments can be a daunting undertaking—but it doesn’t have to be. This Is Philosophy: An Introduction offers an engaging introduction to the subject that brings difficult, abstract concepts down to earth in straightforward language. Topics covered include ethics, the existence of God, free will, personal identity, philosophy of mind, epistemology, and more. While covering traditional topics, the discussion is also connected to relevant developments in nearby disciplines, such as how empirical psychology is related to virtue ethics, and neuroscience to philosophy of mind.
The book is enhanced by a wealth of supplementary online materials—links to free online primary sources and reference materials, witty takes on philosophical puzzles, and a host of extras on the companion website, including notes on philosophical method, a glossary of terms, an extensive test bank, and more. With examples that are more Dave Matthews Band than Verdi, more beer than Brunello di Montalcino, the great debates of philosophy are made accessible, yet never watered down. This Is Philosophy: An Introduction not only brings philosophy to life—it will leave beginning students wanting more.
About the Author
Steven D. Hales is Professor of Philosophy at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania. He has been a Visiting Professorial Fellow at the Institute of Philosophy, School of Advanced Study, University of London, and is a past winner of Bloomsburg University’s Outstanding Teaching Award. Dr. Hales’s books include Relativism and the Foundations of Philosophy, A Companion to Relativism, and Beer & Philosophy.
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