Reading Philosophy : Selected Texts with a

This flexible introductory textbook explores several key themes in philosophy, and helps the reader learn to engage with the key arguments by introducing and analysing a selection of classic readings. Fully integrated introductory text with readings for beginning students of philosophy. Each chapter focusses on a core philosophical topic, and contains an introduction to the topic, 2 classic readings and interactive commentaries on the readings. An introductory book which doesn't merely tell the reader about the subject, but requires them to engage philosophically with the text. A pedagogical resource developed in the classroom by the authors at the University of London.

Samuel Guttenplan is a Reader in Philosophy at Birkbeck College, University of London. He is the author of The Languages of Logic (2nd edn, Blackwell, 1997), editor of A Companion to the Philosophy of Mind (Blackwell, 1994) and executive editor of the journal Mind & Language.

Jennifer Hornsby taught philosophy at Oxford from 1978 to 1994, when she moved to Birkbeck College, as Professor. Her chief areas of publication are the philosophy of mind, action and language. She has also written about the impact of feminism on philosophy.

Christopher Janaway was educated at Oxford and has taught for the past twenty years at Birkbeck College, where he is currently Professor of Philosophy. His chief areas of publication are aesthetics, Schopenhauer and Nietzsche.

Preface

viii

University of London External Programme

ix

Sources and Acknowledgements

x

Introduction

1

(5)

Doubt

6

(12)

Introduction to the Problem

6

(1)

Introduction to Descartes

7

(4)

`First Meditation'

8

(3)

Rene Descartes

Commentary on Descartes

11

(7)

Self

18

(23)

Introduction to the Problem

18

(2)

Introduction to Descartes

20

(4)

`Second Meditation' (extract)

20

(4)

Rene Descartes

Commentary on Descartes

24

(3)

Introduction to Strawson

27

(8)

`Self, Mind and Body'

28

(7)

P. F. Strawson

Commentary on Strawson

35

(6)

Tragedy

41

(29)

Introduction to the Problem

41

(1)

Introduction to Hume

42

(7)

`Of Tragedy'

43

(6)

David Hume

Commentary on Hume

49

(5)

Introduction to Feagin

54

(11)

`The Pleasures of Tragedy'

55

(10)

Susan L. Feagin

Commentary on Feagin

65

(5)

Equality

70

(36)

Introduction to the Problem

70

(1)

Introduction to Williams

71

(19)

`The Idea of Equality'

72

(18)

Bernard Williams

Commentary on Williams

90

(6)

Introduction to Nozick

96

(6)

Anarchy, State and Utopia (extracts)

96

(6)

Robert Nozick

Commentary on Nozick

102

(4)

Dilemma

106

(26)

Introduction to the Problem

106

(3)

Introduction to Lemmon

109

(9)

`Moral Dilemmas' (extract)

110

(8)

E. J. Lemmon

Commentary on Lemmon

118

(4)

Introduction to Mill

122

(4)

Utilitarianism (extracts)

123

(3)

John Stuart Mill

Commentary on Mill

126

(6)

Identity

132

(40)

Introduction to the Problem

132

(4)

Introduction to Locke

136

(9)

An Essay Concerning Human Understanding (extracts)

136

(9)

John Locke

Commentary on Locke

145

(5)

Introduction to Williams

150

(16)

`The Self and the Future'

150

(16)

Bernard Williams

Commentary on Williams

166

(6)

Freedom

172

(45)

Introduction to the Problem

172

(1)

Introduction to Schopenhauer

173

(15)

Prize Essay on the Freedom of the Will (extracts)

173

(15)

Arthur Schopenhauer

Commentary on Schopenhauer

188

(4)

Introduction to Strawson

192

(17)

`Freedom and Resentment' (extract)

193

(16)

P. F. Strawson

Commentary on Strawson

209

(8)

Causality

217

(38)

Introduction to the Problem

217

(1)

Introduction to Hume

218

(13)

A Treatise of Human Nature (extracts)

220

(11)

David Hume

Commentary on Hume

231

(10)

Introduction to Anscombe

241

(8)

`Causality and Determination' (extract)

241

(8)

G. E. M. Anscombe

Commentary on Anscombe

249

(6)

Qualities

255

(35)

Introduction to Some Problems

255

(2)

Introduction to Boyle and Locke

257

(4)

The Origin of Forms and Qualities (extracts)

258

(3)

Robert Boyle

Commentary on Boyle

261

(10)

An Essay Concerning Human Understanding (extract)

265

(6)

John Locke

Commentary on Locke

271

(6)

Introduction to Berkeley

277

(6)

The Principles of Human Knowledge and Three Dialogues Between Hylas and Philonous (extracts)

278

(5)

George Berkeley

Commentary on Berkeley

283

(4)

Further Questions

287

(3)

Essay/Examination Questions

290

(2)

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Reading Philosophy : Selected Texts with a Method for Beginners

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials