Description

Students learn to critically think about philosophy.

The Philosopher’s Way inspires students to think like a philosopher, helping them become more accomplished critical thinkers and develop the analytical tools needed to think philosophically about important issues.

This text features readings from major philosophical texts and commentary to guide students in their understanding of the topics. It is organized by questions central to the main branches of philosophy and examines the ideas of philosophers past and present.

A better teaching and learning experience
This program will provide a better teaching and learning experience—for you and your students. Here’s how:

• Personalize Learning – MySearchLab delivers proven results in helping students succeed, provides engaging experiences that personalize learning, and comes from a trusted partner with educational expertise and a deep commitment to helping students and instructors achieve their goals.
• Improve Critical Thinking – Critical thinking features challenge students to go beyond their reading and explore the connections philosophy has in their everyday lives.
• Engage Students – Full-color visuals bring topics to life, and writing examples give students a foundation for their own philosophical exploration.
• Support Instructors – MySearchLab, Instructor’s Manual, Test Bank, MyTest, and PowerPoint slides are available.

Features

STUDENTS LEARN TO CRITICALLY THINK ABOUT PHILOSOPHY.

• The Philosopher’s Way is organized around questions central to the main branches of philosophy. (ex. p. 101)
• Each chapter offers a historically-organized survey of perspectives on the chapter question. (ex. p. 102)
• Students are encouraged to use the perspectives presented to develop their own philosophical answers. (ex. p. 111)

PERSONALIZE LEARNING WITH MYSEARCHLAB

MySearchLab with eText can be packaged with this text.

• MySearchLab provides engaging experiences that personalize learning, and comes from a trusted partner with educational expertise and a deep commitment to helping students and instructors achieve their goals.
• eText — Just like the printed text, you can highlight and add notes to the eText or download it to your iPad.
• Assessment — Chapter quizzes and flashcards offer immediate feedback and report directly to the gradebook.
• Writing and Research — A wide range of writing, grammar and research tools and access to a variety of academic journals, census data, Associated Press newsfeeds, and discipline-specific readings help you hone your writing and research skills.

IMPROVE CRITICAL THINKING

• “Reading Critically” boxes offer questions that challenge students to think deeply about a philosopher’s writing. Each question helps students to do one of the following (ex. p. 61):
  • Critically evaluate a philosopher’s claim
  • Improve comprehension of difficult passages
  • Compare ideas of philosophers
  • Apply philosophers’ ideas to different situations
• “Thinking Philosophically” boxes challenge students to critically examine their own beliefs and assumptions while applying the ideas of philosophers to their experiences. (ex. p. 238)
• A Concept Map opens each chapter and shows how the ideas and thinkers in the chapter relate to one another. (ex. p 351)
• The following resources are at the end of each chapter:
  • Visual Summaries provide a round-up of the chapter. (ex. p. 424)
  • An annotated list of Film and Literature offers ways to further explore the chapter’s concepts. (ex. p. 425)
  • Making Connections essays suggest how the chapter themes apply to students’ lives. (ex. p. 161)
• Key terms are defined in the text and margin glossaries. (ex. p. 63)

ENGAGE STUDENTS

• The full-color visuals in the text add another layer of meaning to the study of philosophy. Selected from the world of art and journalism, the images supplement the readings and concepts in the chapter by offering a “visual philosophy” or posing questions for thought. (ex. p. 175)
• Portraits of classic and contemporary philosophers are included. (ex. p. 110)
• “Writing About Philosophy” sections challenge students to express their ideas about philosophy in writing. These sections include (ex. p. 92):
  • An assignment
  • Suggestions for approaching the topic
  • A sample student response

SUPPORT INSTRUCTORS

• The Instructor’s Manual and Test Bank includes suggestions for teaching every chapter of the text, including chapter summaries, activities, and hundreds of sample test questions. Available within the instructor account of MySearchLab and at www.pearsonhighered.com.
• MyTest is computerized software that allows instructors to create personalized exams. Existing test questions from the Test Bank can be edited and new questions can be added. Other special features

New to this Edition

Found in this Section:

1. Overview of Changes

2. Chapter-by-Chapter Changes

1. Overview of Changes

STUDENTS LEARN TO CRITICALLY THINK ABOUT PHILOSOPHY.

• For the 4th edition, contemporary work in philosophy has been highlighted. (ex. p. 583)
• Essays such as “The Mind/Body Problem” and “Contemporary Issues in Philosophy of Mind” introduce students to current trends and controversies in philosophy today. (ex. p. 144)

PERSONALIZE LEARNING WITH MYSEARCHLAB

MySearchLab with eText can be packaged with this text.

• MySearchLab provides engaging experiences that personalize learning, and comes from a trusted partner with educational expertise and a deep commitment to helping students and instructors achieve their goals.
• eText – Just like the printed text, you can highlight and add notes to the eText or download it to your iPad.
• Assessment – Chapter quizzes and flashcards offer immediate feedback and report directly to the gradebook.
• Writing and Research – A wide range of writing, grammar and research tools and access to a variety of academic journals, census data, Associated Press newsfeeds, and discipline-specific readings help you hone your writing and research skills.

SUPPORT INSTRUCTORS

• The Instructor’s Manual and Test Bank have been revised to reflect changes in the 4th edition.
• Create a Custom Text: For enrollments of at least 25, create your own textbook by combining chapters from best-selling Pearson textbooks and/or reading selections in the sequence you want. To begin building your custom text, visit www.pearsoncustomlibrary.com. You may also work with a dedicated Pearson Custom editor to create your ideal text—publishing your own original content or mixing and matching Pearson content. Contact your Pearson Publisher’s Representative to get started.

2. Chapter-by-Chapter Changes

Chapter 1: What is Philosophy?

• The section called Stages in Critical Thinking was added to guide students toward becoming sophisticated critical thinkers.

Chapter 2: What is the Philosopher’s Way?

• The section called Hesiod, Homer, and the Birth of Philosophy is new.
• The reading “The Axial Period” has been added to provide students with a historical context for the development of philosophical thought.

Chapter 3: Who are You?

• The thinking and writing of St. Augustine, Sigmund Freud, and Gilbert Ryle have been added.

Chapter 5: How Can We Know the Nature of Reality?

• Treatment of the Pre-Socratic thinkers has been expanded.

Chapter 7: Is There a Spiritual Reality?

• The treatment of the problem of evil in religion has been expanded by the inclusion of the following readings:
  • “Evil Shows There is No God” by J.L. Mackie
  • “A Critique of Hick’s Theodicy” by Edward Madden and Peter Hare

Table of Contents

1. BRIEF TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Chapter 1What is Philosophy? Thinking Philosophically About Life

Chapter 2 What is the Philosopher’s Way? Socrates and the Examined Life

Chapter 3 Who are You? Consciousness, Identity, and the Self

Chapter 4 Are You Free? Freedom and Determinism

Chapter 5 How Can We Know the Nature of Reality? Philosophical Foundations

Chapter 6 What is Real? What is True? Further Explorations

Chapter 7 Is there a Spiritual Reality? Exploring the Philosophy of Religion

Chapter 8 Are there Moral Truths?Thinking About Ethics

Chapter 9 What are Right Actions? Constructing an Ethical Theory

 

 

2. FULL TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Preface

 

Chapter 1: What is Philosophy? Thinking Philosophically About Life

1.1 Why Study Philosophy?

1.2 Defining Philosophy 

Philosophy Is the Pursuit of Wisdom

Philosophy Begins with Wonder 

Philosophy Is a Dynamic Process 

The Ultimate Aim of Philosophy 

1.3 Thinking Philosophically: Becoming a Critical Thinker 

Thinking Philosophically What Is Your Philosophy of Life? 

Qualities of a Critical Thinker 

Thinking Philosophically Who Are Your Models of Critical Thinking? 

The Process of Critical Thinking 

Thinking Philosophically Applying the Critical Thinking Model

Stages in Critical Thinking

1.4 Understanding Arguments 

The Structure of Arguments 

Evaluating Arguments 

Deductive Arguments 

Inductive Arguments 

Informal Fallacies 

Thinking Philosophically Evaluating Arguments 

1.5 Branches of Philosophy 

Metaphysics 

Thinking Philosophically Are You Willing to Question Your Beliefs? 

Thinking Philosophically How Do You Know What Is True? 

Epistemology 

Ethics 

Thinking Philosophically Do You Have a Moral Philosophy? 

Political and Social Philosophy 

Aesthetics 

1.6 Reading Critically: Working with Primary Sources 

Bertrand Russell, from The Value of Philosophy 

Reading Critically Analyzing Russell on the Value of Philosophy 

1.7 Making Connections: The Search for a Meaningful Life 

Thinking Philosophically What Do You Hope to Learn? 

Writing About Philosophy Analyzing Your Beliefs 

visual summary 

chapter review 

for further reading, viewing & research 

 

Chapter 2: What is the Philosopher’s Way? Socrates and the Examined Life

2.1 Socrates: A Model for Humanity 

Hesiod, Homer, and the Birth of Philosophy

Karl Jaspers, The Axial Period

A Man of Greece 

A Midwife of Ideas 

The Wisest of Men? 

Plato, from The Apology 

Reading Critically Analyzing Socrates on Wisdom and Humility 

2.2 The Socratic Method 

Plato, from The Republic 

Reading Critically Analyzing a Socratic Dialogue 

2.3 Socrates’ Central Concern: The Soul 

Plato, from The Apology 

Reading Critically Analyzing the Core Teachings of Socrates 

2.4 The Trial and Death of Socrates 

Plato, from The Apology 

Thinking Philosophically Countering Personal Attacks 

Reading Critically Analyzing Socrates on Trial 

2.5 Making Connections: Socrates’ Legacy 

Thinking Philosophically Is Socrates Relevant Today? 

Writing About Philosophy A Socratic Dialogue 

visual summary 

chapter review 

for further reading, viewing & research