Free Downloads Philosophy: The Quest For Truth
Praised for its accessibility and comprehensiveness, Philosophy: The Quest for Truth provides an excellent selection of classical and contemporary readings on nineteen key problems in philosophy. Louis Pojman has carefully organized the essays in each section so that they present pro/con dialogues that allow students to compare and contrast the philosophers' positions. Topics covered include the nature of philosophy, the existence of God, immortality, knowledge, the mind-body question, personal identity, free will and determinism, ethics, political philosophy, and the meaning of life. The fifth edition offers selections from Plato, René Descartes, John Locke, David Hume, William James, Bertrand Russell, John Hick, John Hospers, and James Rachels--as well as essays by Aristotle, Thomas Aquinas, Blaise Pascal, Thomas Hobbes, George Berkeley, Immanuel Kant, Gilbert Ryle, Albert Camus, Jean-Paul Sartre, Friedrich Nietzsche, Alvin Plantinga, and many others. In Philosophy: The Quest for Truth, 5th edition, Pojman offers substantial introductions to each of the nineteen philosophical problems. In addition, each of the seventy-three readings is accompanied by an individual introduction with a biographical sketch of the philosopher, study questions, and reflective questions that challenge students to analyze and critique the material. Short bibliographies following each major section, an appendix on how to read and write philosophy papers, and a detailed glossary further enhance the text's pedagogical value. Invaluable for introductory courses in philosophy, this highly acclaimed text inspires and guides students' quest for wisdom. The fifth edition adds new study questions and nine new articles: * Father F. C. Copleston and Bertrand Russell: "A Debate on the Argument from Contingency" * Corliss Lamont: "Freedom of the Will and Human Responsibility" * Richard Taylor: "Fate" * Louis Pojman: "A Critique of Ethical Egoism" * Robert Paul Wolff: "In Defense of Anarchism" * Brian Barry: "A Cosmopolitan Theory of International Society" * Thomas Nagel: "The Absurd" * Thurgood Marshall: "The Death Penalty Is a Denial of Human Dignity" * Burton Leiser: "The Death Penalty Is Permissible"
Paperback: 640 pages
Publisher: Oxford University Press; 5 edition (February 21, 2002)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0195156242
ISBN-13: 978-0195156249
Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 0.9 x 7.3 inches
Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds
Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #430,928 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #156 in Books > Textbooks > Humanities > Philosophy > Epistemology #357 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Philosophy > Epistemology #925 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Philosophy > History & Surveys
I have used this test as a college philosophy instructor. Overall, I think it is one of the better introductory philosophy anthologies available. With a few exceptions (some noted below), the readings are well-chosen and reflect a balanced approach to controversial issues. The section introductions, reading summaries, and study questions for each of the readings are generally quite good.My only substantive complaint, and it is one that applies to every other introductory philosophy anthology I have looked at, is that the selection of readings could in a few cases have been better. The essay on libertarian free will by Corliss Lamont is particularly weak and would be better replaced with a classic essay by Chisholm or a selection from Van Inwagen. Also, there are some significant lacunae in the philosophy of religion section. For example, there is no mention of the distinction between the deductive and the evidential problems of evil. Nor is there any treatment of important post-Paley theistic arguments such as the kalam cosmological argument and the cosmic fine-tuning version of the design argument.On a positive note, I am pleased that Pojman included a recent defense of substance dualism by J.P.Moreland. Most anthologies only give a selection from Descartes' Meditations. Moreland's case is better than Descartes and sets up a good discussion of mind-body issues vis-a-vis the selection from materialist Paul Churchland.
The selection of the reading seems to be good. Some interesting stuff.I agree that the glossary is weak and pretty much useless for most of the definitions that I went to look up.There are no side notes or explainations either. I had to buy an addtional book to get the definations of most of the words & concepts. This should not be the case with a book this overpriced. Maybe this is their plan or reasoning to have such a useless glossary.How about a picture or two, maybe of the philosphers or times etc to make the read a little more interesting to. 650 pages of solid b&w text makes it harder to read than it could be.Well, I suppose it is readings that philosophy is all about and that is all that you get & no more. The publisher could use some tips who make philosophy a little more interesting for it's readers.
A pretty interesting text regarding the various philosophical stand points. However, I think that it should only be used in conjunction with more in-depth texts devoted to particular subjects within philosophy.
I was pleasantly surprised at how great the condition of the book was when I received it. For less than $1, it doesn't get much better.
a+
Full explanations to basic concepts in philosophy, both sides of topics are covered. Pojman is great.
Iam a student at west los angeles college and I will be using this textbook for a begining Philosophy 1 class. the only thing I that does need inprovment: there should be more words in the glossary. and a study guide to go along with this book.
This saved me so much money! I'm in college and needed it for a class and my school bookstore was going to charge me over $100 for it. I was excited to see the new condition the book was in despite only being charged only 58 cents for it.
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