Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) [Paperback]

Edward Craig (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 16, 2002 | Series: Very Short Introductions (Book 55)

How ought we to live? What really exists? How do we know? This book introduces important themes in ethics, knowledge, and the self, via readings from Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Hegel, Darwin, and Buddhist writers. It emphasizes throughout the point of studying philosophy, explains how different areas of philosophy are related, and explores the contexts in which philosophy was and is studied.

About the Series: Combining authority with wit, accessibility, and style, Very Short Introductions offer an introduction to some of life's most interesting topics. Written by experts for the newcomer, they demonstrate the finest contemporary thinking about the central problems and issues in hundreds of key topics, from philosophy to Freud, quantum theory to Islam.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Philosophy: Questions for Consideration and Discussion

If you wanted to avoid philosophy completely, what would you have to do?

Do you really have a right to your own opinion? Always, or only sometimes?

Are there limits to what the State can properly demand of its citizens?

Some people believe in miracles. Why?

What would happen if you decided not to believe anything without having a good reason for it?

Review

`[The Very Short Introduction to Philosophy] shows that philosophy really can be fascinating, broad-minded and full of surprise. As a means of stimulating interest in the subject it has few rivals.' Julian Baggini, The Philosopher's Magazine

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Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; 1 edition (May 16, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0192854216
• ISBN-13: 978-0192854216
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 4.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #182,216 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

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49 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An unusual introduction to philosophy, August 19, 2005

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Peter Reeve (Thousand Oaks, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) (Paperback)

Introductory philosophical texts tend to adopt one of two possible approaches: Either they give a chronological account of famous thinkers and schools, or they examine a set of topics - ethics, free will, nature of mind, etc. Craig opts for something different and rather interesting. The first three chapters are intended to be read in tandem with the works they summarize, namely Plato's "Crito", Hume's "On Miracles" and the Buddhist "King Milanda's Chariot". How many readers will actually do that is doubtful but it is an interesting idea that introduces the reader to three very different areas of philosophy.

We then, somewhat more traditionally, have summary introductions to some philosophical themes and 'isms'. Next, Craig presents reviews of a very personal selection of philosophical classics. 'Idiosyncratic' may be a better word than 'personal' as it includes Darwin's "The Origin of Species" which would not normally feature in such a list.

Finally, we have a description of philosophy as a discipline, asking what purposes and interests it serves.

There's a lot of good things to say about this little book. It is a well-written, lively and authoritative introduction. Craig references the Hindu tradition as well as the Western and gives plenty of encouragement and advice for further study.

29 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Fun but unstructured, February 1, 2006

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C. MOZEE-BAUM (California, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) (Paperback)

This is one of the more entertaining and reader-friendly books on philosophy I've read, and in terms of style it goes down more smoothly than even most other Very Short Introductions.

However, it's difficult to see the precise value or usefulness of this book. Obviously, you can't give a comprehensive overview of a subject as vast as Philosophy in a 130 page book. Still, the organization of this volume seems somewhat haphazard and meandering.

Edward Craig is certainly an expert on the subject, and the chapters do explore various facets of philosophy, such as predominant philosophical questions and key philosophers and philosophical texts. But the choice of topics seems a bit too subjective, and the manner in which things are explored lends itself more to entertainment than actual acquisition of knowledge.

I recommend this to anybody who has an interest in philosophy but knows literally next to nothing about it; for anyone else, the content is a bit too shallow to be really useful, though it's still an entertaining read.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Useful in the extreme., June 30, 2003

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"writing_static" (Melbourne, AU) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) (Paperback)

A wonderful, lucid, entertaining and informative guide. Craig takes the reader step-by-step through some of the principal works of ancient and modern philosophy, and provides us with an essential guide to the somewhat daunting task of deciphering and understanding a range of compelling thinkers and their works. With an engaging, friendly writing style (and an excellent bibliography to encourage us to continue our journey), this is an indispensable little volume.