Philosophy matters : an introduction to philosophy / Roger Trigg.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Trigg, Roger.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Philosophy--Introductions.

Philosophy.

Genre:

Introductions.

Physical Description:

viii, 157 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Malden, Mass. : Blackwell Publishers, 2002.

Summary:

Written for those who may be approaching the subject for the first time, Philosophy Matters shows that philosophy is crucial in questioning our presuppositions, and for helping us to establish our own beliefs about the nature of the world. Anyone with an interest in the underlying philosophical origins of popular notions about reality is encouraged to read this book. Asserting that all too often we take ideas for granted, it shows how even 'common sense' depends on the philosophy of previous generations. Philosophy Matters takes on the task of confronting and elucidating the important philosophical issues that play their part in guiding our lives today. In the process, it also shows that philosophy is not a sterile intellectual pursuit, but a particularly relevant and practical tool to be used in gaining knowledge of ourselves and our place in the world.

Contents:

1 What is Philosophy? 1

The Origins of Philosophy 1

The Contemporary Situation 3

Knowledge and Reason 6

Progress in Philosophy 9

Philosophy and the World 11

2 Science and the World 15

Empiricism 15

The Authority of Science 18

Many Universes 21

Physicalism and Naturalism 24

3 Can We Understand the World? 29

Science and Reason 29

The Influence of the Enlightenment 32

What Makes Science Successful? 35

Autonomy and Choice 39

4 Modernity 44

Laws of Nature 44

Mechanisms and Machines 47

The Reaction against Modernity 50

The Lure of Pragmatism 53

5 Relativism and its Flaws 58

Tradition and Truth 58

A Shared World 61

Translation and Conceptual Differences 64

The Incoherence of Relativism 67

6 The Impact of Darwinism 72

Relativism and Scientism 72

Darwinism 74

A Vicious Circle 78

Causes and Content 81

7 The Challenge of Determinism 87

The Limits of Causation? 87

Blind Matter 91

Reasons and Causes 93

Do Causes Undermine Reasons? 97

8 Materialism and the Laws of Nature 102

The Status of Mathematics 102

Mathematics and Materialism 105

Laws of Nature 108

Contingent Order 111

9 The Brain and the Mind 115

The Attack on Dualism 115

Are We Machines? 118

The Importance of Feelings 121

Emergence and Causation 125

10 Reason and Philosophy 130

Reason and Matter 130

Can We Accept the Non-material? 132

Two Worlds 135.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

0631225455

0631225463

OCLC:

47208472