Reflections on Philosophy: Introductory Essays, Second Edition

Reflections on Philosophy presents original essays, written specifically for introductory students by analytical philosophers, which explore important topics and issues in philosophy. The essays convey some of the most important concepts and arguments in eleven key topics, including logic, metaphysics, free will and determinism, epistemology, ethics, political philosophy, philosophy of religion, philosophy of mind, and more. The goal of each chapter is to teach philosophy by doing philosophy, actively engaging students in the process of philosophical thought as they navigate through a brief but carefully designed chain of reasoning to reach a specific philosophical thesis. Thought-provoking, challenging, yet accessible to the novice, each of these essays introduces students to both important issues in philosophy and the methods and logic of philosophers.