For courses in Introduction to Philosophy and Problems of Philosophy, and as a supplementary text for introductory courses in Metaphysics and Philosophy of Mind.
This brief, engaging, problems-based approach to philosophic inquiry shows students why and how philosophic thought about fundamental problems in epistemology, ontology and moral theory can aid in our attempt to “make sense of it all”. It invites students to participate in “thinking things through” and encourages higher-order thought―the critical examination of views, conceptual analysis, integrative thought, and the evaluation of arguments―to actively engage students in Philosophy.
"thinking things through..."
David H. Lund describes the core of his brief, engaging approach to philosophic inquiry as one of enticing students' interest and enriching and enlarging students' understandings of fundamental intellectual problems. Using a problems-based approach, Lund helps students "think things through" by inviting their participation in problematizing, criticizing, and evaluating particular questions in philosophy.
The key questions, or problems, on which Lund focuses include:
Knowledge, reality, mind, self, God, free will, value, morality, death, and the meaning of life.
New to this Second Edition: - Expanded material on most topics, especially on universals, causation, personal identity, and evil
- Treatment of agency theory
- New section on "the quest for meaning"