Synopses & Reviews
This highly engaging text will not only help you explore and understand philosophy-it will also give you an appreciation of how philosophy is relevant to your day-to-day life as well as the larger social world. Author Manuel Velasquez combines clear prose and primary source readings to take you on a meaningful exploration of a range of philosophical topics, such as human nature, feminist theory, diversity, and aesthetics. Plus, the text's carefully crafted built-in learning aids will help you succeed in your course.
Synopsis
Engaging and compelling on every page, Velasquez?s text is a fascinating exploration of philosophy that helps readers appreciate how the subject is relevant to day-to-day life and our larger social world. This trusted book combines clear prose and primary source readings to take readers on a meaningful exploration of a range of philosophical topics, such as human nature, reality, truth, ethics, the meaning of life, diversity, and social/political philosophy.
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
Preface. Part I: INTRODUCTION. 1. The Nature of Philosophy. Introduction: What is Philosophy? The Traditional Divisions of Philosophy. An Example of Philosophy: Socrates. The Value of Philosophy. Chapter Summary and Conclusions. Historical Showcase: The First Philosophers. Readings. 2. Human Nature. Introduction: Why Study Human Nature? 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 and Conclusions. Historical Showcase: Plato, Aristotle and Confucius. Part II: METAPHYSICS. 3. Reality and Being. Introduction: What is Real? Reality: Material or Nonmaterial? Reality in Pragmatism. Reality and Logical Positivism. Antirealism: The New Idealists. Encountering Reality: Phenomenology and Existentialism. Is Freedom Real? Is Time Real? Chapter Summary and Conclusions. Historical Showcase: Hobbes and Berkeley. Readings. 4. Philosophy and God. Introduction: What is Religion? Does God Exist? Atheism, Agnosticism, and the Problem of Evil. Traditional Religious Belief and Experience. Nontraditional Religious Experience. Chapter Summary and Conclusions. Historical Showcase: Aquinas, Descartes, and Conway. Readings. Part III: EPISTEMOLOGY. 5. The Sources of Knowledge. Introduction: 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 and Conclusions. Historical Showcase: Hume. Readings. 6. Truth. Introduction: Belief, Knowledge and Truth. What is Truth? Does Science Give Us Truth? Can Interpretations Be True? Chapter Summary and Conclusions. Historical Showcase: Kant. Readings. Part IV: VALUES. 7. Ethics. Introduction: 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? Ethics and Moral Responsibility. Chapter Summary and Conclusions. Historical Showcase: Nietzsche and Wollstonecraft. Readings. 8. Social Philosophy. Introduction: What is Social Philosophy? What Justifies the State? What is Justice? Law and Civil Disobedience. Chapter Summary and Conclusions. Historical Showcase: Marx and Rawls. Readings. 9. Postscript: Art and Meaning. Introduction. What is Art? Does Life Have Meaning? Chapter Summary and Conclusions. Art Acknowledgments. Glossary. Appendix. Suggestions for Further Reading.