This inexpensive and brief text offers careful explanations of how problems are connected to our thinking about
the universe, then uses vivid and engaging examples to further enhance this up-to-date examination of the main
problems in contemporary philosophy. More than 100 "Food for Thought" exercises elicit reaction to philosophical
problems, give readers a chance to test whether they have grasped important philosophical concepts, and offer opportunities
for genuine conversations about philosophy. Readers interested in contemporary philosophy.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
CHAPTER ONE: What is Philosophy?
Making Sense of the World
The Relationship between Philosophy and Science
The Main Branches of Philosophy
CHAPTER TWO: Philosophical Tools
Logical Consistency
A Demand of Reason: Avoid Contradictions
Logical Possibility
Definitions
Lexical and Real Definitions
Challenging Definitions: Counterexamples and Thought Experiments
The Basic Structure of Arguments
Putting Arguments into Standard Form
Deductive and Inductive Argument
Evaluating Deductive Arguments: Validity and Soundness
Evaluating Deductive Arguments: Logical Form
Evaluating Inductive Arguments: Probability
CHAPTER THREE: WHAT DO WE KNOW?
What is Knowledge? .
Three Different Theories of Knowledge
Skepticism
The Case for Skepticism
Descartes� Quest for Certainty
Empiricism.
The Case for Empiricism
Problems with Perception
The Problem of Induction
Rationalism
The Case for Rationalism
Problems for Rationalism
Final Remarks on Epistemology
CHAPTER FOUR: THE PROBLEM OF FREE WILL
Why is there a Problem with Free Will?
The Case for Hard-Determinism
Can Indeterminism save Free Will?
Compatibilism
Traditional Compatibilism
Deep-Self Compatibilism
A Fundamental Problem for Compatibilism
Libertarianism
The Case for Libertarianism
Problems for Libertarianism
Final Remarks on the Problem of Free Will
CHAPTER FIVE: THE PROBLEM OF PERSONAL IDENTITY
What is the problem?
The Persistence Question
The Illusion Theory of Personal Identity
The Case for the Illusion Theory
Problems for the Illusion Theory
The Body Theory of Personal Identity [Animalism]
The Case for the Body Theory
Problems for the Body Theory
The Soul Theory of Personal Identity
The Case for the Soul Theory
Problems for the Soul Theory .
The Memory Theory of Personal Identity
The Case for the Memory Theory
Problems for the Memory Theory
Final Remarks on Personal Identity
CHAPTER SIX: THE MIND/BODY PROBLEM
What is the Problem
Possible Solutions to the Mind/Body Problem
Substance Dualism
Arguments for Substance Dualism
Near-Death Experiences
The Conceivability Argument
Intentionality
Arguments against Substance Dualism
The Problem of Interaction
Do Dualists commit a Category Mistake?
Varieties of Physicalism
Behaviorism
Logical Behaviorism
Arguments against Logical Behaviorism
The Identity Theory
.
Evidence for the Identity Theory
Arguments against the Identity Theory
Functionalism
Functional Concepts and �Stuff� Concepts
Functionalism: Mind as Software
Functionalism and Artificial Intelligence: The Turing Test
Arguments against Functionalism .
The Chinese Room Argument
Problems with Qualia
Eliminative Materialism
Final Remarks on the Mind Body Problem
CHAPTER SEVEN: DOES GOD EXIST?
God, Faith, and Reason
What do we mean by the word �God�?
Arguments in Defense of a Classical Theistic God
Arguments from Religious Experiences
Cosmological Argument
Design Arguments
The Ontological Argument
Pascal�s Wager
What is the Effect of these Arguments?
Arguments against the Existence of a Classical Theistic God
