Philosophy Reader: Essays and Articles for Thought and Discussion

Often, we are “doing philosophy” without realizing it. Each of the essays and articles in this collection addresses an aspect of ordinary life: A woman protests a parking ticket. An overdue library book is returned. A college student decides to transfer to another school. Two cars, heading in opposite directions, pass each other without incident. A letter is written to a college. A man is self-conscious about a skin condition. An elderly woman's sister passes away. At a glance, none of these mundane events merits philosophical consideration. Yet, each provides an opportunity to address one or more of seven philosophical topics: epistemology, logic, ethics, value theory, aesthetics, metaphysics, and free will/responsibility. The purpose of this collection is to give rise to philosophical discussion, but not mere discussion for the sake of discussion. Rather, the purpose of each piece is to refine the reader's thinking on the commonplace issues that constitute everyday life.