Philosophy Demystified by Arp, Robert -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Cover Page Philosophy DeMYSTiFieD® Copyright Page About the Authors Contents Introduction Part I Philosophy and Correct Reasoning

CHAPTER 1 An Overview of Western Philosophy

What Is Philosophy? Domains of Philosophy The Beginnings of Philosophy Philosophical Eras The Value of Philosophy Quiz

CHAPTER 2 Thinking Critically about Reality

Claims Arguments and Evidence Argument Strategies Fallacies Quiz

CHAPTER 3 Knowledge and the Problem of Skepticism

What Does It Mean to “Know”? An Obstacle to Knowing: Skepticism Four Arguments for Skepticism Quiz

CHAPTER 4 Responses to Skepticism

René Descartes to the Rescue The “Cogito” Argument Descartes Gets His Senses Back John Locke Breaks the Rules Empiricism Becomes a Plausible Philosophical View Quiz

CHAPTER 5 The Problem of Induction and the Development of Externalism

David Hume Revives Skepticism about Science Attempts to Solve the Problem of Induction Hume’s Aftermath: From Kant to the Twentieth Century Immanuel Kant: Awakening a Giant Logical Positivism: Back to the Senses Edmund Gettier: A Change in the Curriculum The Move to Externalism Quiz

CHAPTER 6 The Mind-Body Problem

What Is a “Mind”? Qualities and Types of Mind Ancient Western Mythological Conceptions of Mind Ancient Greek Conceptions of Mind Descartes’s Argument for Substance Dualism A Contemporary Argument for Property Dualism The Mind-Body Problem (or Problems) The Staying Power of Consciousness Quiz

CHAPTER 7 Personhood and Personal Identity over Time

Are you a Person? Criteria for Personhood Criterion 1: The Capacity for Reason Criteria 2 and 3: Mental States and Language Are you the Same “you” through Time? Is your Mind “you”? Conscious Minds in Bodies “Memories. . . Like the Corners of My Mind” Are Bodies or Minds Necessary or Sufficient for Personal Identity? Quiz

CHAPTER 8 Freedom and Determinism

Different Types of Freedom Alternate Possibilities Freedom (APF) and Moral Responsibility A Deterministic Universe Why Do I Act Like I Do? Nature, Nurture, and Motivation Hard Determinism Hard Indeterminism Compatibilism Are you Even Free to Read On? Quiz

CHAPTER 9 The Question of God’s Existence

The Concept of “God” Philosophical Approaches to God’s Existence Arguments for God’s Existence An Argument against God’s Existence: The Problem of Evil Quiz

CHAPTER 10 Moral Philosophy

What Is “Moral Philosophy”? How Is a Moral Decision Different from Any Other Decision? Normativity Moral Theories Quiz

CHAPTER 11 Moral Decision-Making

How to Evaluate Moral Claims Two Problematic Moral Theories Quiz

CHAPTER 12 Justice, Rights, and Government

What Are Groups of Humans Like? Paternal Governments Liberal Governments Freedom and Ownership Law and Morality Individual Rights vs. the Common Good Justice Can’t We Just All Get Along? Quiz

Final Exam Answers to Quizzes and Final Exam Suggested Reading Index