Arthur C. Danto's lucid introduction to the central topics of Western philosophical thought remains an unparalleled guide to problems in metaphysics and epistemology that have engaged philosophers for several millennia. Examining the work of Plato, Berkeley, Descartes, Hume, and Wittgenstein, Danto explores debates about empiricism, the mind/body problem, the nature of matter, and the status of language, consciousness, and scientific explanation. In a new preface to this edition he considers the current relationship between philosophy and the humanities.
--This text refers to the
Paperback
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
Reading Connections to the World is like ascending the stairs of an observatory and listening to an astronomer explain the latest theories of cosmology. Philosopher Arthur Danto turns his telescope on the distant notions of appearance and reality and explains how they have shaped certain key philosophical debates, especially in regard to knowledge, mind, language, and causation. His writing is so clear and free of philosophical jargon that readers imperceptibly finds themselves beyond just an introduction and on the very forefront of modern philosophy. Unusual in a philosopher, Danto has a knack for getting right to the point and never weighs down his writing with impressive words or outworn theories.
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
From Publishers Weekly
Philosopher-teacher Danto is an adroit guide through the thickets of contemporary philosophy. First, he defines our connections to the universe in terms of three basic elements: the subject, his or her representation of the world and the world itself. Using this formula as a yardstick, he gauges the approaches taken by various schools and thinkers to problems of morality, knowledge, the concept of the person, language and meaning. The reader engages in a dialogue with Kant, Wittgenstein, Plato, neurophilosophers, behaviorists. Danto demonstrates how the "vehicles of understanding" philosophers usesymbols, images, ideas, propositionsare crucial to their modes of thought. Professor at Columbia University and art critic for the Nation , he peppers his sometimes difficult discourse with down-to-earth examples drawn from Samuel Johnson, Marcel Duchamp, Superman and Kafka. His disquisition points up a dilemma: many problems with which modern thinkers grapple rest on archaic categories they now repudiate.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Danto: Basic Philosophical Concepts,
By AmazonJunkie "amanda-e" (santa monica, california USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Connections to the World: The Basic Concepts of Philosophy (Paperback)
Many books that are focused on basic philosophical concepts can become tedious and wordy to the everyday reader and oftentimes read as if they were a dull textbook introduction to "Philosophy 101". In fact, even a Philosophy Major can get a bit tired of such writings. However, Danto's writing style is clear and fluid with a broad description of the major problems of metaphysics and epistemology. His style is eloquent and literary which is a refreshing change from some of the more commonly encountered tedium. This all-encompassing text is divided into four parts, with each part broken into chapters or sections with articles on a wide range of relevant philosophical topics. Some of them include: The Intelligibility of the World, Totalistic Thought, The Notion of Existence, and Mental Causation. I find myself referring back to this book for its articulate explanations of some of the more esoteric concepts. If you are looking for a somewhat easier to read introduction to the major ideas in Western philosophical thought, this book is a nice first choice.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Great Read,
By Kent Erickson (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Connections to the World: The Basic Concepts of Philosophy (Paperback)
Dr. Danto has provided a nicely balanced, well-written overview of the fundamental concepts of Philosophy. This volume offers rich historical context by comparing and contrasting familiar views of both the ancients and contemporary thinkers while incorporating Danto's own perspective. This book is enjoyable to read and accessible to most anyone.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good Survey of Philosophy,
By A Customer
This review is from: Connections to the World: The Basic Concepts of Philosophy (Paperback)
Connections to the World is an elegantly written, non-technical survey of basic issues in metaphysics and epistemology. The discussion of modern debates is woven into the broader history of philosophy and culture, giving the book a scope and appeal that extends beyond standard classroom philosophy. If the narrative doesn't hold the reader's interest at all points, or if it seems like "much ado about nothing," it's the fault of philosophy, not the author. However, the reader should be warned that the book is too advanced for most high school students or college freshmen. The ideal reader is someone who has already taken a few philosophy courses and is now interested in stepping back to get a "big picture" view of the discipline. Beginners would be better off with a book like Thomas Nagel's excellent (five stars!) What Does It All Mean?
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