Customer Reviews

Philosophy & This Actual World: An Introduction to Practical Philosophical Inquiry

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book does a great job of using philosophical inquiry to address real world problems. Some of the more interesting concepts debated are: what makes life meaningful, what our ethical bases should be, how and when our moral beliefs should be reflected on and changed, when is a person truly dead, how can we know what reality is, the free will problem, etc. Dr. Benjamin does a great job of using examples and easily understood concepts that make the book accessible to a broad cross section of readers. Yet, he still advances the arguments far enough as to not bore those that are well read. The best chapter is number 8, Meaningful Lives. Here he uses concepts from The Death of Ivan Ilych and The Plague to explain the different ways life can be meaningful. The chapter on Ethics is also very interesting. In this chapter Dr. Benjamin describes the concept of wide reflective equilibrium and how it can be used to examine and change our moral framework.
In conclusion, anyone looking for a book that uses sound philosophical debate and reason to address current real world problems should read this book.

Benjamin did not mean for this to be a great philosophical text. Instead, Dr. Benjamin wrote the book in order to make a digestible account of philosophy for those who are mainly unfamiliar with its history. He accomplishes this quite well actually, and if anyone were to be a student of his you would understand even more where he was coming from with this book. He may not back up his arguments about Permanent Vegetative State all that well in this book because that requires a completely separate book on its own, but he did what any good philosopher should do: he raised the question. Again, if you were to be a student of his you would understand his views much better, but do not believe what you have read in the other 1-star review. That person obviously had preconceived notions about the world that cannot be changed with any amount of critical thought. I encourage people to welcome this book with an open mind. It is only then that you will understand the meaning of the book and can then apply it to your life if you so desire.

I have been using Martin Benjamin's _Philosophy & This Actual World_ in my introduction to philosophy class for several years now. I use his text in conjunction with several primary sources. Philosophy is often portrayed as a "removed" discipline, removed from the normal everyday concerns of the "common person." Benjamin disagrees with this assessment. Philosophy is both theoretically and practically important. His aim is to have this text reflect that belief. He begins with some classic philosophical issues and then considers the importance they have on our daily lives, employing the tools of the pragmatists and Ludwig Wittgenstein. These issues include: what do we really know; what is reality; what does it mean to have a mind; is there a basis for our morality; what is the best way to live as a community; the subject of life and death; and finally, how are we to make our lives meaningful. Students often comment about the clarity and precision he brings to hard (and sometimes muddled) philosophical arguments. What students often find most helpful is his presentation of the arguments and his systematic examination of when and where these arguments fail. This is an excellent introductory book for anyone interested in philosophy and philosophical issues.