The Blackwell Companion to Philosophy (Blackwell Companions to Philosophy)

The Blackwell Companion to Philosophy edited by Bunnin and Tsui-James provides a collection of contemporary essays on a wide-range of philosophical subjects. I offer the following thoughts for potential readers. Sometimes introductory texts take a chronological approach to issues presenting readers with selections from different time periods (Pojman's excellent Introduction to Philosophy is an example of this style). The Blackwell Companion takes a different, but also effective, tact of presenting the subjects from the perspective of modern commentators. Though both styles have their appeal, I am partial to the former - I think it gives a more well-rounded introduction to new students. Although there is some discussion of ancient, medieval and continental philosophy, most of the essays fall within the realm of what could be called the western analytical tradition. All essays also have suggestions for further reading as well as excellent bibliographies. I think that many philosophy students will find these helpful. On a more specific note I found the essays on the philosophy of religion and the philosophy of science to be particularly well done. Whereas, I did not find Searle's introductory piece helpful. He is an accomplished philosopher, however, I have a hard time getting past the ego - this may not be a distraction to others. I also do not find the essays on applied ethics or feminism and philosophy to be appropriate. With regard to the former, though I have personal interest in applied ethics I do not thing it is a good fit in an introductory text. While with reference to the later, I think feminism and philosophy is misguided - somewhat along the lines of left handers and philosophy. Despite these minor reservations it is an outstanding reference. I highly recommend the Blackwell series as well as the Big Questions collections to interested readers. Chapter 1 Epistemology (pages 35–60): A. C. Grayling Chapter 2 Metaphysics (pages 61–89): Simon Blackburn Chapter 3 Philosophy of Language (pages 90–146): Martin Davies Chapter 4 Philosophy of Logic (pages 147–172): A. W. Moore Chapter 5 Philosophy of Mind (pages 173–201): William G. Lycan Chapter 6 Ethics (pages 202–230): John Skorupski Chapter 7 Aesthetics (pages 231–256): Sebastian Gardner Chapter 8 Political and Social Philosophy (pages 257–285): David Archard Chapter 9 Philosophy of Science (pages 286–316): David Papineau Chapter 10 Philosophy of Biology (pages 317–344): Elliott Sober Chapter 11 Philosophy of Mathematics (pages 345–374): Mary Tiles Chapter 12 Philosophy of Social Science (pages 375–402): Martin Hollis Chapter 13 Philosophy of Law (pages 403–427): N. E. Simmonds Chapter 14 Philosophy of History (pages 428–452): Leon Pompa Chapter 15 Philosophy of Religion (pages 453–489): Charles Taliaferro Chapter 16 Applied Ethics (pages 490–498): John Haldane Chapter 17 Bioethics, Genethics and Medical Ethics (pages 499–516): Rebecca Bennett, Charles A. Erin, John Harris and Soren Holm Chapter 18 Environmental Ethics (pages 517–530): Holmes Rolston Chapter 19 Business Ethics (pages 531–551): Georges Enderle Chapter 20 Philosophy and Feminism (pages 552–566): Jean Grimshaw and Miranda Fricker Chapter 21 Ethnicity, Culture and Philosophy (pages 567–581): Robert Bernasconi Chapter 22 Ancient Greek Philosophy (pages 583–600): Robert Wardy Chapter 23 Plato and Aristotle (pages 601–618): Lesley Brown Chapter 24 Medieval Philosophy (pages 619–633): Jorge J. E. Gracia Chapter 25 Bacon (pages 634–643): Stephen Gaukroger Chapter 26 Descartes and Malebranche (pages 644–657): Richard Francks and George Macdonald Ross Chapter 27 Spinoza and Leibniz (pages 658–670): Richard Francks and George Macdonald Ross Chapter 28 Hobbes (pages 671–681): Tom Sorell Chapter 29 Locke (pages 682–693): R. S. Woolhouse Chapter 30 Berkeley (pages 694–708): Howard Robinson Chapter 31 Hume (pages 709–724): Peter Jones Chapter 32 Kant (pages 725–740): David Bell Chapter 33 Hegel (pages 741–749): Michael Inwood Chapter 34 Marx (pages 750–758): Richard Norman Chapter 35 Bentham, Mill and Sidgwick (pages 759–773): Ross Harrison Chapter 36 Pragmatism (pages 774–789): Susan Haack Chapter 37 Frege and Russell (pages 790–804): R. M. Sainsbury Chapter 38 Moore (pages 805–810): Thomas Baldwin Chapter 39 Wittgenstein (pages 811–826): David Pears Chapter 40 Nietzsche (pages 827–841): David E. Cooper Chapter 41 Husserl and Heidegger (pages 842–859): Taylor Carman Chapter 42 Sartre, Foucault and Derrida (pages 860–874): Gary Gutting Presents an exploration of the issues, controversies and problems that arise from the study of philosophy. This book includes chapters on the philosophy of biology; bioethics, genethics, and medical ethics; environmental ethics; business ethics; ethnicity, culture and philosophy; Plato and Aristotle; medieval philosophy; and, Nietzsche.

This fully revised and updated edition of Nicholas Bunnin and E.P. Tsui-James' popular introductory philosophy textbook brings together specially-commissioned chapters from a prestigious team of scholars writing on each of the key areas, figures and movements in philosophy.

Presents contributions by 35 philosophers which explore problems, disputes and influential views arising in the study of major areas of philosophy, important specialized fields and the work of great historical figures. For most of the modern period of philosophy, from Descartes to the present, epistemology has been the central philosophical discipline. Edited By Nicholas Bunnin And E.p. Tsui-james. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.