What Does It All Mean?: A Very Short Introduction to Philosophy [Paperback]

Thomas Nagel (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0195052161 | ISBN-13: 978-0195052169 | Publication Date: October 15, 1987 | Edition: 1st Edition Thus

In this cogent and accessible introduction to philosophy, the distinguished author of Mortal Questions and The View From Nowhere sets forth the central problems of philosophical inquiry for the beginning student. Arguing that the best way to learn about philosophy is to think about its questions directly, Thomas Nagel considers possible solutions to nine problems--knowledge of the world beyond our minds, knowledge of other minds, the mind-body problem, free will, the basis of morality, right and wrong, the nature of death, the meaning of life, and the meaning of words. Although he states his own opinions clearly, Nagel leaves these fundamental questions open, allowing students to entertain other solutions and encouraging them to think for themselves.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A very well written book...great for introducing the topics to an intro-level class. It touches on key issues and brings up the relevant points, yet all in relatively short and easy-to-understand chapters. Would be a great supplement for a course in metaphysics."--Jack Bowen, DeAnza College

"An excellent introduction; it introduces students to some of the important philosophical questions without overwhelming them with terminology or history."--Jason A. Beyer, College of Lake County

"A phenomenal amount of material in a tiny book coupled with humor."--Joan Anderson, Orange Coast College, CA

"A good philosophy book for neophytes. It is penetrable for the beginner and comprehensive enough to elucidate a spectrum of traditional philosophic issues."--David Wolf, SUNY at Albany

"A good, clearly interesting book to use for an Introduction to Philosophy course. Thomas Nagel has done a fine job."--Stephen Joseph, Framingham State College

"This little book by Nagel is quite simply the best introduction to philosophy ."--Graham Oddie, University of Colorado at Boulder

"The perfect title for a writing that offers no answers while helping the student formulate their own responses to life's greatest questions."--JoAnn L. Smith, North Central Bible College

"An outstanding introductory textbook to philosophy. The best textbook I know to give freshmen an idea of what philosophy is."--Ran Lahay, Southern Methodist University

"We are already using this book as a text, and we are enjoying it."--Martin E. Bayang, New Mexical State University

"An outstanding introductory framework to many of the most important problems in philosophy. It is clear and simple--even my freshman can read it--yet never simplistic...Ties in well with many traditional theories."--Richard M. Wolters, Doane College

About the Author

Thomas Nagel is at New York University.

Product Details

• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; 1st Edition Thus edition (October 15, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195052161
• ISBN-13: 978-0195052169
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #29,785 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

61 of 64 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent introduction to philosophy., September 10, 2003

By 

Carey Allen (San Francisco Bay Area) - See all my reviews

This review is from: What Does It All Mean?: A Very Short Introduction to Philosophy (Hardcover)

This is a very readable introduction to philosophy, and I highly recommend it to anyone who has done no previous reading in philosophy. It is a little short, but should serve to stimulate interest and provide a basis for further reading.
Topics covered are:
1. introduction
2. how do we know anything?
3. other minds
4. the mind-body problem
5. the meaning of words
6. free will
7. right and wrong
8. justice
9. death
10. the meaning of life
After reading this, you might wish to take a look at these books:
a. The Problem of the Soul (author: Flanagan)
b. The View from Nowhere (author: Nagel)
c. Language, Truth and Logic (author: Ayer)
d. Life and Death (author: Hackett)
e. The Meaning of Life (author: Klemke)
f. The Examined Life (author: Nozick)
g. The Symbolic Species (author: Deacon)
These books should serve to stimulate further interest in philosophy, and introduce you to some good writers. They are all written for the non-specialist, and are available as low-cost paperbacks.

44 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brief philosophy at its very best., January 25, 2003

By 

Mark I. Vuletic (Phoenix, AZ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: What Does It All Mean?: A Very Short Introduction to Philosophy (Paperback)

I am a doctoral candidate in philosophy, and I still enjoyed reading this book. Never before have I seen such a brief, lucid introduction to some of the key problems of philosophy: Is there really an external world? Are there other minds? How does the mind relate to the brain? Is there such a thing as free will? What is the nature of morality and justice? How do words manage to refer to things? How should one feel about death? What is the meaning of life? Nagel offers short, engaging discussions of each.

One will not find in this book all of the major problems one is typically introduced to in a philosophy class - notably absent is the problem of induction and, except for a side note or two, the question of whether or not there is a god. However, one will find more than enough to stimulate much deep thought and many restless nights. Heartily recommended to all.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not bad; very introductory., January 19, 2001

By A Customer

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This review is from: What Does It All Mean?: A Very Short Introduction to Philosophy (Paperback)

I think highly of Thomas Nagel as a serious philosopher. If you don't have a clue about philosophy, this is probably about as good an introduction as you can get. Nagel writes about philosophical problems that have haunted human minds throughout the ages. It is intentionally ahistorical for the good reasons that Nagel gives.

If you have had exposure to philosophy in, say, a college level course, this book will be much too simple for you. But if you want something to grease the neurons to start thinking in the abstract way that is philosophical in character, then this book is for you. It's probably a great text for kids in a high school course or adults who are just realizing the benefit of stepping back from life for a moment or two to reflect on what it all means.