Philosophical Issues A Brief Introduction

Preface1. What Is Philosophy?Philosophy: A Brief HistoryThe Early Greek PhilosophersProtagoras, the Sophists, and SocratesPlato and AristotleThe Hellenistic PeriodThe Roman Empire and the Christian Thinkers of the Middle AgesModern PhilosophyNineteenth Century PhilosophyTwentieth Century PhilosophyContemporary PhilosophyPhilosophy: Love of WisdomThe Value of PhilosophyConclusionNotesQuestions for Review2. A Brief Look at LogicArgumentsDeductive ArgumentsInductive ArgumentsArguments by AnalogyArguments by GeneralizationFallaciesAppeal to AuthorityAppeal to IgnoranceAppeal to the MajorityBegging the QuestionAd HominemConclusionQuestions for ReviewA Few Popular Basic Logic Texts3. The SelfAn Assumption Related to the Questions about Personal IdentityPersonal Identity: Essential and Non-Essential CharacteristicsA Deeper Look at the AssumptionThe Problem of Personal IdentitySolving the Problem: The Body and the BrainProblems with the Body/Brain SolutionJohn Locke''s View of Personal IdentityProblems with Locke''s View of Personal IdentityThe Problem of Personal Identity: ConclusionThe Mind/Body ProblemThe Mind/Body DistinctionA Problem with Mind/Body InteractionThe Problem of Other MindsConclusionNotesQuestions for Review4. EthicsAssumptions and a Problem Related to EthicsHow Should I Live?Ethical SubjectivismProblems with Ethical SubjectivismEthical EgoismTwo Problems with Ethical EgoismConclusion: Individual EthicsSocial Ethical Guidelines: Ethical RelativismThe Problem of Discovering Moral RulesThe Problem of Conflicts between Different Sets of Moral RulesThe Problem of Moral ChangeSubjectivism, Relativism, and ObjectivismAnother Ethical QuestionUniversal Ethical Guidelines: Immanual KantSome Problems with Kant''s EthicsDescriptions for ActionsConflicting Moral LawsExceptions to Moral LawsUniversal Ethical Guidelines: John Stuart MillSome Problems with Mill''s Ethical TheoryA Problem with PreferencesA Problem with Identifying ConsequencesA Problem of InjusticeConclusionNotesQuestions for Review5. JusticeAssumptions about JusticeThe Problem of JusticeMill''s Solution to the Problem of JusticeA Problem with Mill''s View of JusticeJohn Locke and Moral RightsMill''s Problem with Moral RightsAn Alternative Solution to the Problem of Justice: John RawlsTwo Problems with Rawls'' TheoryThe Problem with the Rule-Maker''s StrategyThe Problem with the Difference PrincipleConclusionNotesQuestions for Review6. KnowledgeOpinion and KnowledgeAssumptions Related to the Question about KnowledgeThe Problem of KnowledgePlato''s Investigation into KnowledgePerceptionTrue BeliefTrue Belief with an ExplanationA Further Look at Knowledge as True Belief with an ExplanationA Recent Variation on Knowledge as True Belief with an Explanation: A.J. AyerA Quick Look at Truth: Correspondence and CoherenceRejecting the Three Condition View of KnowledgeProblems with Gettier''s ExampleConclusionNotesQuestions for Review7. Appearance and RealityA Philosophical Problem Related to the Question About the UniverseImportant Assumptions Related to the ProblemAppearances are RealPlato''s Solution to the ProblemA Criticism of Plato''s AnswerAn Alternative Solution: The Physicalist View of RealityProblems Related to the Contemporary Understanding of the UniverseConclusionNotesQuestions for Review8. GodThe Philosophical ProblemsImportant Assumptions Related to the ProblemsSolving the Problem Related to the Concept of GodTwo Problems with the Christian Conception of GodThe Cosmological Argument for the Existence of GodProblems with the Cosmological ArgumentThe Ontological Argument for the Existence of GodProblems with the Ontological ArgumentJustifying the Existence of God Through FaithProblems with Kierkegaard''s IdeasConclusionNotesQuestions for Review9. Philosophy With and Without the Traditional AssumptionsEssentialism and the SelfPhilosophy Without EssentialismUniversal Moral Guidelines and EthicsPhilosophy With Universal Moral GuidelinesUniversal Principles and JusticePhilosophy WiBirsch, Douglas is the author of 'Philosophical Issues A Brief Introduction' with ISBN 9780072833508 and ISBN 0072833505.