Customer Reviews

Learning to Philosophize: A Primer

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Del Kiernan-Lewis's primer is the best thing I know for introducing novices to the glories and wonders of doing philosophy. Unlike most such books, this one is clear about both the limits and the possibilities of learning to think philosophically. It's written with clarity and wit.--Paul J. Griffiths, University of Chicago--

This is an incredible (but unfortunately costly) way to introduce students to the method of philosophizing in the analytic tradition. I use it as the first book and a recurring theme in all of my introductory philosophy courses and students tell me it is accessible and worthwhile. I only wish I would have found it when I was an undergrad instead of having to "feel" my way through discovering philosophical method.

The section "Living up to your Intellectual Standards" is particularly good and helps students understand that philosophy is a practical skill as well as what they come into the class thinking it is.

My only complaint is that the section on fallacies could be much, much better. I spend nights wishing Kiernan-Lewis would just rewrite that section to catch up to the much better books in that area (e.g. Anthony Weston's "A Rulebook for Arguments"). Even without this revision though, this is a wonderful book to teach which can change people's lives.

Now this is a pretty good book, but not worth anything more than fifteen dollars. The thing's only a hundred or so pages in length. DKL explains the principles of establishing and analyzing your belief system in fluid detail. Seeing things through objective, subjective realities and such. And it could always be used as a cure for insomnia.

Adios.