Philosophy: A Text with Readings

by Manuel Velasquez

Overview

Explore philosophical topics, such as human nature, reality, truth, ethics, the meaning of life, diversity, and social/political philosophy with PHILOSOPHY: A TEXT WITH READINGS, 13th Edition. Manuel Velasquez's clear and engaging prose and the nontechnical primary source readings make complex philosophical concepts easier to understand, and carefully crafted built-in learning aids help you quickly master the material and succeed in your course.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780357947326
Publisher:	Cengage Learning
Publication date:	07/31/2024
Series:	Mindtap Course List
Edition description:	14th ed.
Pages:	724
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 1.25(h) x 9.00(d)

About the Author

Having received his Ph.D. at the University of California, Berkeley, Manuel Velasquez now serves as the Charles Dirksen Professor of Business Ethics at Santa Clara University. He teaches courses in the Leavey School of Business in the Legal, Political, and Social Environment of the Firm, in Business Strategy, and in Business Ethics. Professor Velasquez s research interests lie in the field of business ethics, and he has published numerous articles in journals such as the ACADEMY OF MANAGEMENT REVIEW, THE BUSINESS ETHICS QUARTERLY, SOCIAL JUSTICE RESEARCH, and THE BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL ETHICS JOURNAL.

Table of Contents

1. THE NATURE OF PHILOSOPHY. What Is Philosophy? The Traditional Divisions of Philosophy. A Philosopher in Action: Socrates. The Value of Philosophy. Chapter Summary. Reading: Voltaire, "Story of a Good Brahman" Historical Showcase: The First Philosophers. 2. HUMAN NATURE. Why Does Your View of Human Nature Matter? What Is Human Nature? The Mind-Body Problem: How Do Mind and Body Relate? Is There an Enduring Self? Are We Independent and Self-Sufficient Individuals? Chapter Summary. Readings: Kate Chopin, "The Story of an Hour," Janice M. Steil, "Contemporary Marriage: Still an Unequal partnership," Jean Grimshaw, "Identity in Feminist Thinking." Historical Showcase: Plato, Aristotle, and Confucius. 3. REALITY AND BEING. What Is Real? Reality: Material or Nonmaterial? Reality in Pragmatism. Reality and Logical Postivism. Antirealism: The Heir of Pragmatism and Idealism. Is Freedom Real? Is Time Real? Chapter Summary. Readings: Sophocles, "Oedipus the King" Robert Solomon, "Fate." Historical Showcase: Hobbes and Berkeley. 4. PHILOSOPHY, RELIGION, AND GOD. The Significance of Religion. Defining Religion. Does God Exist? Atheism, Agnosticism, and the Problem of Evil. Traditional Religious Belief and Experience. Nontraditional Religious Experience. Chapter Summary. Readings: Fyodor Dostoevsky, excerpt from The Brothers Karamazov, William P. Alston, "The Inductive Argument from Evil and the Human Cognitive Condition." Historical Showcase: Aquinas, Descartes, and Conway. 5. THE SOURCES OF KNOWLEDGE. Why Is Knowledge a Problem? Is Reason the Source of Our Knowledge? Can the Senses Account for All Our Knowledge? Kant: Does the Knowing Mind Shape the World? Does Science Give Us Knowledge? Chapter Summary. Readings: Bierce, "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge," Unger, "A Defense of Skepticism," Nagel, "How Do We Know Anything?" Historical Showcase: Hume. 6. TRUTH. Knowledge and Truth. What Is Truth? Does Science Give Us Truth? Can Interpretations Be True? Chapter Summary. Readings: Akutagawa, "In a Grove," Tomlinson, "After Truth: Post-Modernism and the Rhetoric of Science," Searle, "Reality and Truth." Historical Showcase: Kant. 7. ETHICS. What Is Ethics? Is Ethics Relative? Do Consequences Make an Action Right? Do Rules Define Morality? Is Ethics Based on Character? Can Ethics Resolve Moral Quandaries? Chapter Summary. Readings: Fyodor Dostoyevsky, "The Heavenly Christmas Tree," Peter Singer, "Famine, Affluence, and Morality." Historical Showcase: Nietzsche and Wollstonecraft. 8. SOCIAL AND POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY. What Is Social and Political Philosophy? What Justifies the State? What Is Justice? Limits on the State. Chapter Summary. Readings: Remarque, from All Quiet on the Western Front, Bertrand Russell, "The Ethics of War." Historical Showcase: Marx and Rawls. 9. POSTSCRIPT: THE MEANING OF LIFE. Does Life Have Meaning? The Theistic Response to Meaning. Meaning and Human Progress. The Nihilist Rejection of Meaning. Meaning as a Self-Chosen Commitment. Chapter Summary. Glossary. Suggestions for Further Reading. Index.

Editorial Reviews

"Professor Velasquez has written an introduction to philosophy which embodies the results of a lifetime devoted to philosophy. His book is mellow with a very human, personal flavor, while it also presents the reasonings and the contentions of the various schools. It not only asserts that philosophy deals with life, but it proceeds to do so. . . . The text is organized extremely well according to the traditional divisions of philosophy."

"Well-written and organized introduction to philosophy that contains a balanced treatment of the major issues and problems of the discipline. . . . Major philosophical topics are well-covered in each chapter."

"Velasquez has taken an even-handed approach to some of the most significant controversies in philosophy. . . . Velasquez has put together excellent resources for a problems approach to introducing philosophy, including both solid orientations to classic problems and questions and selected excerpts. . . . The coverage of topics in philosophy is excellent for the level of the text."

"A clear, thorough introduction to philosophy with an emphasis on the development of contemporary philosophical issues. . . . Velasquez is able to (1) clearly explain and (2) motivate all sides of a philosophical issue."

"Comprehensive, interactive, topically driven."

From the Publisher