Think: A Compelling Introduction to Philosophy by Simon Blackburn (English) Pape

The Nile on eBay   Think by Simon Blackburn

This is a book about the big questions in life: knowledge, consciousness, fate, God, truth, goodness, justice. It is for anyone who thinks there are big questions lurking out there, but does not know how to approach them. Written by the author of the bestselling Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, Think sets out to explain what they are and why they are important.

FORMATPaperback LANGUAGEEnglish CONDITIONBrand New Publisher Description

This is a book about the big questions in life: knowledge, consciousness, fate, God, truth, goodness, justice. It is for anyone who believes there are big questions out there, but does not know how to approach them. Think sets out to explain what they are and why they are important.Simon Blackburn begins by putting forward a convincing case for the study of philosophy and goes on to give the reader a sense of how the great historical figuressuch as Descartes, Hume, Kant, and Wittgenstein have approached its central themes. Each chapter explains a major issue, and gives the reader a self-contained guide through the problems thatphilosophers have studied. The large scope of topics covered range from scepticism, the self, mond and body, and freedom to ethics and the arguments surrounding the existence of God.Lively and approachable, this book is ideal for all those who want to learn how the basic techniques of thinking shape our existence.

Notes

This introduction to philosophy considers big issues related to life, the universe, and everything, such as God, truth, justice, knowledge and consciousness. New in paperback. Written by the author of The Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy.

Author Biography

Simon Blackburn is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Cambridge. Until recently he was Edna J. Koury Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at the University of North Carolina, and from 1969 to 1999 a Fellow and Tutor at Pembroke College, Oxford. His books include Spreading the Word (1984), Essays in Quasi-Realism (1993), The Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy (1994), Ruling Passions (1998), Truth (co-edited with Keith Simmons, 1999), and the best-sellingThink (1999). He edited the journal Mind from 1984 to 1990.

Table of Contents

Introduction1: Knowledge2: Mind3: Free Will4: The Self5: God6: Reasoning7: The World8: What To DoNotesBibliographyIndex

Review

`Blackburn has produced the one book every smart person should read to understand, and even enjoy, the key questions of philosophy, ranging from those about free will and morality to what we can really know about the world around us.'Walter Isaacson, Time Magazine

Promotional

A coherent, unintimidating introduction to Western philosophy, written by a leading philosopher

Kirkus UK Review

In this imaginative introduction to philosophy author Blackburn manages to communicate his enthusiasm for the subject while avoiding the lapses into obscurity or patronizing superficiality which so beset this genre. He has succeeded in presenting philosophical ideas as relevant, interesting and, above all, important. He uses numerous examples, thought experiments and anecdotes in this guide through the central philosophical questions about knowledge, the mind, free will, the self, God, reasoning, our perception of the world nad ethics. Throughout philosophy is presented as a living subject, rather than as a museum of ideas; most of the great philosophers nevertheless make an appearance. This is real philosophy, not the pseudo-profundity served up by certain media gurus. The book is, as its title suggests, intended to make the reader think for him or herself. It is an introduciton to some of the most important questions anyone can ask, but it isn't an alternative to thinking about them. (Kirkus UK)

Long Description

This is a book about the big questions in life: knowledge, consciousness, fate, God, truth, goodness, justice. It is for anyone who believes there are big questions out there, but does not know how to approach them. Think sets out to explain what they are and why they are important.Simon Blackburn begins by putting forward a convincing case for the study of philosophy and goes on to give the reader a sense of how the great historical figuressuch as Descartes, Hume, Kant, and Wittgenstein have approached its central themes. Each chapter explains a major issue, and gives the reader a self-contained guide through the problems that philosophers have studied. The large scope of topics covered range from scepticism, the self, mond and body,and freedom to ethics and the arguments surrounding the existence of God.Lively and approachable, this book is ideal for all those who want to learn how the basic techniques of thinking shape our existence.

Review Text

`Blackburn has produced the one book every smart person should read to understand, and even enjoy, the key questions of philosophy, ranging from those about free will and morality to what we can really know about the world around us.'Walter Isaacson, Time Magazine

Review Quote

"Blackburn has produced the one book every smart person should read to understand, and even enjoy, the key questions of philosophy, ranging from those about free will and morality to what we can really know about the world around us."--Walter Isaacson, Time Magazine "Simon Blackburn's lucidly elegant essay is a guide to the most central concerns of philosophy... A beautifully clear account of the chief arguments in each debate. Blackburn is an accomplished philosopher, which makes this a valuable little book."--Sunday Times "This is a wonderfully stimulating, incisive and -- the word is not too strong -- thrilling introduction to the pleasures and problems of philosophy."--John Banville, The Irish Times "Blackburn does a fine job of rendering the big thinkers and their thoughts accessible, while picking his way through Western philosophy's murky territory. His writing is simple and clear, and the liberal use of example and analogy makes Think a most readable work."--Allison McCulloch, Denver Post "Think is by far the best introduction to philosophy that I know. Compact but hugely readable, this delightful book would be an excellent basis for an introductory course, as a text or as preliminary reading. You could also give it to family and friends, and all those annoying people who ask you what philosophers do. If Think doesn't explain it to them, nothing will!"--Huw Price, author of Time's Arrow and Archimedes Point "Written with exemplary concision and with conviction that philosophy needn't be an ethereal subject, alienated from practical concerns."--Booklist "Elegant...beautifully clear.... A valuable little book."--Descartes's Demon "To read the book is to sit down with an engaging, highly learned conversationalist; readers new to the subject could very well be captivated. Highly recommended for academic and public library collections."--Library Journal

Feature

Hardback has sold almost 40,000 copies worldwide (12,500 in the UK)The best general introduction to philosophy availablePhilosophy has a huge trade appeal at the momentLively and accessible but also authoritative: Simon Blackburn has made important contributions to academic philosophy, but can also write for extremely well for non-specialistsAuthor now based in the UKPublished in paperback to coincide with hardback publication of Simon Blackburn's new trade book, Being Good: An Introduction to Ethics

New Feature

Introduction 1. Knowledge 2. Mind 3. Free Will 4. The Self 5. God 6. Reasoning 7. The World 8. What To Do Notes Bibliography Index

Details ISBN0192854259 Author Simon Blackburn Pages 320 Publisher Oxford University Press Year 2001 ISBN-10 0192854259 ISBN-13 9780192854254 Format Paperback Publication Date 2001-03-15 Subtitle A Compelling Introduction to Philosophy Place of Publication Oxford Country of Publication United Kingdom DEWEY 100 Illustrations bibliography, index Media Book Short Title THINK Language English Residence Hapel Hill, NC, US Birth 1944 Affiliation Specialty Registrar in Paediatric Surgery, Chelsea & Westminster Hospi Imprint Oxford University Press UK Release Date 2001-03-15 NZ Release Date 2001-03-15 Alternative 9780192100245 Audience General AU Release Date 2005-12-01 We've got this

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