Fundamentals Of Western Philosophy

Fundamentals of Western Philosophy is a comprehensive review of the principles underlying the four primary disciplines of Western Philosophy: Metaphysics, Epistemology, Ethics, and Political Philosophy.This work includes detailed examinations of the ideas put forth by such influential thinkers as Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz, George Berkeley, John Locke, David Hume, Immanuel Kant, Arthur Schopenhauer, Bertrand Russell, Machiavelli, Thomas Hobbes, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, John Stuart Mill, and Alexis de Tocqueville.The work also includes in-depth, chapter-by-chapter reviews of many of Western Philosophy's most essential writings, which include:• Apology/Republic (Plato)• Nicomachean Ethics/Politics (Aristotle)• Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals (Kant)• Utilitarianism/On Liberty (Mill)• The Problems of Philosophy (Russell)• The Prince (Machiavelli)• Leviathan (Hobbes)• Two Treatises of Government (Locke)• The Social Contract/The Second Discourse (Rousseau)• Democracy in America (Tocqueville)• And moreWhether political, economic, cultural, or religious, all aspects of our lives are grounded in some sort of philosophical belief (even the United States Constitution has its origin in the teachings of Aristotle). Philosophy is the discipline that deals with the foundation and nature of these beliefs. Unfortunately, whether by design or otherwise, philosophy is no longer seen as the valuable component to education that it once was. Today, education concerns itself more with what to know rather than how to know. Consequently, many of us have been conditioned to accept the world as it has been presented to us by others, and without any critical thought of our own. M. James Ziccardi has written this book to help counter this dangerous trend. His objective is to provide a starting point for those who wish to have a better understanding of the beliefs that have shaped Western Society into what it is today. His hope is that by providing a better understanding of the origin of these beliefs, we will better be able to distinguish between those that have led to prosperity and those that have led to ruin.

Fundamentals of Philosophy offers a balance of expository text and readings. It organizes readings topically in a wide range of philosophical areas: Logic, metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, social and political philosophy, philosophy of religion, esthetics, and non-western philosophy. It features a good blend of ancient, modern, and contemporary readings carefully edited for substance, length and readability. It includes study aids: suggestions for further reading, questions for discussion, and an extensive glossary. It also discusses the way non-western philosophies approach some basic problems. New to this edition: a chapter on the history of philosophy and a selection on critical thinking.

A comprehensive yet accessible survey of ancient philosophy, covering Greek, Roman, and early Judeo-Christian philosophy, ideal for introductory courses in the ancient roots of modern worldviews Part of the popular Fundamentals of Philosophy series, Ancient Philosophy is an ideal resource for beginning students as well as for advanced students wishing to hone their understanding of the philosophies of the ancient world. Clear and engaging, this book covers a representative selection of major ancient thinkers, movements, and schools of thought, including the Sophists and other significant Presocratics, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Hellenistic philosophy, the Stoics, the Skeptics, and early Judeo-Christian philosophy up to Augustine. Written by a prominent scholar and author in ancient philosophy studies, this book: Provides an overview of important issues in the study of the philosophies of the ancient world Explores the relevance of the theories of ancient thinkers to the modern world Charts the progression in the ancient world from worldviews based in mythology to systems of thought based on the analysis of evidence Presents up-to-date scholarship as well as historical material from ancient sources Assumes no prior knowledge of philosophy and examines all arguments carefully and sequentially

The study of general and fundamental questions is known as philosophy. These questions can range from existence and knowledge to values, reason and language. Questions in philosophy are usually presented as problems. There are several methods used by philosophers such as rational argument, questioning, critical discussion and systematic presentation. Several fields which were traditionally a part of philosophy have grown into entire disciplines such as psychology, sociology and economics. Based on the topics on which they ask questions, philosophy has been divided into five branches. These branches are metaphysics and epistemology, value theory, philosophical traditions, history of Western philosophy, and science, logic and mathematics. Some of the diverse topics covered in this book address the varied branches that fall under philosophy. It will prove to be immensely beneficial to students and researchers in this field.

Now in a special gift edition, and featuring a brand new foreword by Anthony Gottlieb, this is a dazzlingly unique exploration of the works of significant philosophers throughout the ages and a definitive must-have title that deserves a revered place on every bookshelf.

Discusses the conditions of possibility for intercultural and comparative philosophy, and for crosscultural communication at large. This innovative book explores the preconditions necessary for intercultural and comparative philosophy. Philosophical practices that involve at least two different traditions with no common heritage and whose languages have very different grammatical structure, such as Indo-Germanic languages and classical Chinese, are a particular focus. Lin Ma and Jaap van Brakel look at the necessary and not-so-necessary conditions of possibility of interpretation, comparison, and other forms of interaction and how we can speak of similarities and differences in this context. The authors posit that it is necessary to dissolve the question of universalism versus relativism by replacing the ideal language paradigm with a paradigm of family resemblances and that it is not necessary to share a common language to engage in comparison. Numerous case studies are presented, including many comparisons of Western and Chinese concepts.