Just the Arguments
Sintesi dell'editore
Philosophers don't just make claims, they give arguments.
Does the existence of evil call into doubt the existence of God? Show me the argument.
Will living a just life lead to happiness? Show me the argument.
Philosophy starts with questions, but attempts at answers are just as important, and these answers require reasoned argument. Cutting through notoriously dense and verbose philosophical prose, the authors set 100 famous and influential arguments in context, including key quotations, to explain the original style and approach. Each argument is laid bare in its essential form, with premises and conclusions plainly identified and the form of argument specified.
Designed to offer a quick and compact reference to everything from Aquinas' Five Ways to prove the existence of God to the metaphysical possibilities of zombie minds, Just the Arguments is an invaluable one–stop argument shop. Michael Bruce currently researches in the history of philosophy. He has taught philosophy and mathematics courses at the University of Washington’s Robinson Center for Young Scholars. Steven Barbone is Associate Professor of Philosophy at San Diego State University.
Altri titoli dello stesso
Cosa ne pensano gli iscritti
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Generale1 out of 5 stars
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Lettura2 out of 5 stars
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Storia1 out of 5 stars
- Tyler
- 03/06/2013
Like reading a grocery list
This really is just a reference book for introductory philosophy courses, and it did not translate well at all to the audio format. I'm sure the actual content is of good quality, but it is NOT for the armchair philosopher. As the narrator listed off each component of each argument, it was very difficult to keep track of what was being said. I'm sure reading it would have been better, but again, this isn't a book for readers who just want to know more about the 100 best arguments. It's for people who need to know how the arguments are technically structured.
3 people found this helpful
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Generale3 out of 5 stars
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Lettura4 out of 5 stars
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Storia3 out of 5 stars
- Dominique
- 14/01/2015
Difficult to follow
Would you try another book from Michael Bruce and Steven Barbone and/or Mark Ashby?
Not sure.
What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?
I enjoyed the parts that flowed like a story, but the ones that were in premises and conclusions format were too boring. Overall, the book was difficult to understand for someone who took philosophy classes too long ago. I would need a refresher introductory course to be able to follow the reading, I guess. In addition, this is not the kind of book to listen while you're driving, although I chose an audiobook because I spend a considerable amount of time commuting. For all these reasons, I am trying to return it.
Did Just the Arguments inspire you to do anything?
Return the book and take an introductory philosophy class.
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Generale1 out of 5 stars
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Lettura4 out of 5 stars
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Storia5 out of 5 stars
- GBL
- 08/04/2014
Great book, but not for listening!
Any additional comments?
I think this is a fantastic book for getting the basic philosophical ideas and arguments out there and on the table for discussion. I wish I had this book when I was in college. The problem with the Audible edition is that you really need to see the arguments on paper and read them a couple of times. There is just to much philosophy there for a causal listening. I bought the Kindle version too and I am very happy with that.
1 person found this helpful
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Generale2 out of 5 stars
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Lettura4 out of 5 stars
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Storia2 out of 5 stars
- Ray
- 04/01/2015
TOO DEEP
I like philosophy and was really looking forward to this book. I especially wanted to see which arguments were selected. However, I found that the arguments were presented in too technical a manner. The syllogistic reasoning is too difficult to understand at the pace of the reader's presentation. One reviewer suggested that a printed version would be better. I agree, but feel that even a written version would be too deep for the non-philosophy major. I was wasting my time so I stopped half way through the work.