Publisher's Synopsis
Philosophical Problems, Fourth Edition, is intended for introductory philosophy courses that use the original writings of major philosophers to explore the basic problems of philosophy. Organised topically, the anthology covers both classic and contemporary philosophers whose writings address eight major philosophical problems: knowledge, reality, God, ethics, free will, political philosophy, human nature, and human destiny.;Unique among readers for this course is an introductory section on the Socratic Method, designed to show beginning students how to think about philosophical problems. Throughout the text, introductions acquaint students with the nature of the problem to be explored, and headnotes precede each reading.;Distinction Unique introductory section (Part One) on the Socratic Method reproduces in full three Socratic dialogues -- the Euthyphro, Apology, and Crito -- to show students the process of philosophical thought.;A balance of viewpoints and historical periods provides a thorough understanding of fundamental philosophical problems. This anthology comprises the second half of Stumpf's Philosophy: History and Problems, Fifth Edition.;New to this Edition The Fourth Edition offers twenty-one new selections, emphasising increased coverage of twentieth-century views. Feminist writers Carol Gilligan, Simone de Beauvoir, and Joyce Trebilcot provide thought-provoking essays on the impact of women on ethical and social institutions.;A new problem for this edition -- Human Destiny --features Leo Tolstoy's "My Confession," as well as the writings of David Swenson, A.J. Ayer, and Jean-Paul Sartre.
