Philosophy For Dummies

You think, therefore you are. Get a straightforward rundown on philosophy from the ancient world to today

If you've ever pondered your existence over your morning coffee or considered the nature of crime and punishment, you're an amateur philosopher. From everyday questions about happiness and responsibility to deep, spiritual examinations about God and the cosmos, philosophy pervades every part of our lives. And even though it might seem complex at first glance, these questions that affect everyone on the planet can be understood and talked about by anyone!

In Philosophy For Dummies, Dr. Tom Morris delivers a refreshing and engaging exploration of the fundamentals of philosophy and shows you that philosophy can be fascinating and fun at the same time. You'll be introduced to topics like the meaning of life, religious belief, and ways to live in the most satisfying ways. You'll also learn about the insights of some of history's greatest philosophers.

This book is full of the questions--and proposed solutions--to the questions that keep philosophers up at night, like:

• When should we doubt our beliefs and knowledge?
• Is there a God? What is His/Her/Their nature?
• Do we have free will or are we simply acting out physical imperatives?

Whether you're interested in the nature of the mind/soul versus the body, or you want to learn more about morals and ethics, Philosophy For Dummies will be your personal guide to some of life's most enduring problems and questions.

Auteur

Tom Morris holds a PhD degree in Philosophy and Religious Studies from Yale University, and is a former Professor of Philosophy at the University of Notre Dame. He is also the founder of the Morris Institute for Human Values and author of over 30 books, including The Stoic Art of Living: Inner Resilience and Outer Results.

Contenu

Introduction 1

Part 1: What Is Philosophy, Anyway? 5

Chapter 1: Great Thinkers, Deep Thoughts 7

Chapter 2: Philosophy as an Activity 17

Chapter 3: The Love of Wisdom 25

Part 2: How Do We Know Anything? 39

Chapter 4: Belief, Truth, and Knowledge 41

Chapter 5: The Challenge of Skepticism 57

Chapter 6: The Amazing Reality of Basic Beliefs 73

Part 3: What Is the Good? 89

Chapter 7: What's Good? 91

Chapter 8: Happiness, Excellence, and the Good Life 105

Chapter 9: Ethical Rules and Moral Character 125

Part 4: Are We Ever Really Free? 139

Chapter 10: Fate, Destiny, and You 141

Chapter 11: Standard Views of Freedom 153

Chapter 12: Doing: Human Agency in the World 163

Part 5: The Incredible, Invisible You 169

Chapter 13: What Is a Person? 171

Chapter 14: The Case for Materialism 183

Chapter 15: The Case for Dualism 193

Part 6: What's the Deal with Death? 203

Chapter 16: From Dust to Dust: Fear and the Void 205

Chapter 17: Philosophical Consolations on Death 213

Chapter 18: Is There Life after Death? 225

Part 7: Is There a God? 245

Chapter 19: Two Worldviews 247

Chapter 20: Theistic Visions 257

Chapter 21: The Problem of Evil 277

Part 8: The Meaning of Life 295

Chapter 22: What Is the Meaning of Life? 297

Chapter 23: Pascal's Wager: Betting Your Life 309

Chapter 24: Success and Happiness in Life 323

Part 9: The Part of Tens 339

Chapter 25: Ten Great Philosophers 341

Chapter 26: Ten Great Questions 353

Index 365