Book : What Does It All Mean? A Very Short Introduction To..

-Titulo Original : What Does It All Mean? A Very Short Introduction To Philosophy

-Fabricante :

Oxford University Press

-Descripcion Original:

In this cogent and accessible introduction to philosophy, the distinguished author of Mortal Questions and The View From Nowhere sets forth the central problems of philosophical inquiry for the beginning student. Arguing that the best way to learn about philosophy is to think about its questions directly, Thomas Nagel considers possible solutions to nine problems--knowledge of the world beyond our minds, knowledge of other minds, the mind-body problem, free will, the basis of morality, right and wrong, the nature of death, the meaning of life, and the meaning of words. Although he states his own opinions clearly, Nagel leaves these fundamental questions open, allowing students to entertain other solutions and encouraging them to think for themselves. Review In ten brief but generally well-written chapters, Nagel guides the uninitiated reader through some of the more perplexing philosophical problems, from the question of whether mind and body are different entities, to the nature (and possibility) of free will, to morality, justice, and the meaning of life and death.... His style is clear and free of technical terms, and the book should appeal to those who know little or nothing of the discipline. Library Journal Nagel does manage to give one a taste of what it is to think philosophically about things. This in itself is a worthy accomplishment in our busy, unphilosophical age. And unlike most academic introductions to the subject, his book preserves some trace of that sense of wonder that both Plato and Aristotle claimed was the origin of philosophical reflection. Wall Street Journal About the Author Thomas Nagel is Professor of Philosophy and Law at New York University. His previous books are The View From Nowhere, Mortal Questions and The Possibility of Altruism.