What Does It All Mean : A Very Short Introduction to Philosophy

Thomas Nagel

ISBN 10: 0195052927 / ISBN 13: 9780195052923

Published by Oxford University Press Okt 1987, 1987

Neuware - Should the hard questions of philosophy matter to ordinary people In this down-to-earth, nonhistorical guide, Thomas Nagel, the distinguished author of Mortal Questions and The View From Nowhere, brings philosophical problems to life, revealing in vivid, accessible prose why they havecontinued to fascinate and baffle thinkers across the centuries. Arguing that the best way to learn about philosophy is to tackle its problems head-on, Nagel turns to some of the most important questions we can ask about ourselves. Do we really have free will Why should we be moral What is the relation between our minds and our brains Is there life afterdeath How should we feel about death In a universe so vast, billions of light years across, can anything we do with our lives really matter And does it matter if it doesn't matter These are perennial questions we ask about the human condition, and Nagel probes them, and others like them, thoughtfully, clearly, and with humor. He states his own opinions freely but with refreshing modesty, always leaving it open to readers to entertain other solutions, encouraging them to think for themselves. Nagel is eminently qualified to introduce the uninitiated to the world of philosophical inquiry. Singled out by the Chicago Literary Review as 'one of the sharpest analytic philosophers in America today,' he has been praised in the New York Times Book Review for writing 'sensitively and elegantly'and in the Times Literary Supplement for his ability, rare among philosophers, to combine 'profundity with clarity and simplicity of expression.' Never rarefied, What Does It All Mean opens our eyes to a side of the world we rarely consider, demonstrating that philosophy is no empty study but an indispensable key to understanding our lives. It challenges us to think hard and clearly, to ask questions, to try out ideas and raise possibleobjections to them--in short, to become philosophers ourselves. Seller Inventory # 9780195052923

Synopsis:

In this cogent and accessible introduction to philosophy, the distinguished author of Mortal Questions and The View From Nowhere sets forth the central problems of philosophical inquiry for the beginning student. Arguing that the best way to learn about philosophy is to think about its questions directly, Thomas Nagel considers possible solutions to nine problems--knowledge of the world beyond our minds, knowledge of other minds, the mind-body problem, free will, the basis of morality, right and wrong, the nature of death, the meaning of life, and the meaning of words. Although he states his own opinions clearly, Nagel leaves these fundamental questions open, allowing students to entertain other solutions and encouraging them to think for themselves.

About the Author:
Thomas Nagel is Professor of Philosophy and Law at New York University. His previous books are The View From Nowhere, Mortal Questions and The Possibility of Altruism.

Bibliographic Details

Title: What Does It All Mean : A Very Short ...
Publisher: Oxford University Press Okt 1987
Publication Date: 1987
Binding: Buch
Condition: Neu