101 Philosophy Problems (Paperback)

~ (Author) "Now Judge Dread had had many disagreeable people before him, but this one, who styled himself 'the Philosopher', despite never having studied the subject, had..." (more)
Key Phrases: infinite hotel, other slit, philosophy problems, King of France, Community Council, Miss Chestnut (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

Martin Cohen's 101 Philosophy Problems introduces philosophy in a novel way. The book has 101 humorous little stories, each with a philosophical problem. For example, problem 54 is about Mr Megasoft, who dies leaving his fortune to his favourite computer...[..] -- Times Higher Education Supplement, Online version, Febuary 25 2000

'101' Philosophy Problems combines scholarship with fun as Martin Cohen examines the main currents of classical thought as well as outlining the dilemmas which tax the brains of contemporary philosophers.

Using a fascinating array of examples, he draws the aspiring philosopher into increasingly complex problems and points the readers in the direction reason will eventually lead them.

Those familiar with philosophical thought will recognise and applaud Cohen's ability to reduce complex arguments to simple examples, although some of this sweeping judgments are difficult to swallow.

... But as an introduction to the subject of philosophy for readers who have been put off previously by seemingly incomprehensible tomes, the book is hard to fault. -- IIlkley Gazette, May 29 1999

Are all moral claims synthetic? Or analytic? Or a priori? Or a posteriori? Or both? Or neither? What about tables? Can you see one? Ask yourself: does it exist? Too easy? Go out of the room and ask yourself again. The next sentence is true. The previous sentence is false. Obey the brain warning at the beginning and dont read all 101 problems at once. On free will: You dont always act yourself if youre suffering from a paranoid personality disorder. - The Guardian

Are all moral claims synthetic? Or analytic? Or a priori? Or a posteriori? Or both? Or neither? What about tables? Can you see one? Ask yourself: does it exist? Too easy? Go out of the room and ask yourself again. The next sentence is true. The previous sentence is false. Obey the brain warning at the beginning and don't read all 101 problems at once. On free will: You don't always act yourself if you're suffering from a paranoid personality disorder. -- The Guardian, 5.11.1999

Read this book, but take it slowly. ... or your head may explode! I found it all too easy when reading alone to draw my own conclusions without looking more deeply into the problem. I was also surprised to find just how much philosophy pokes it's nose into all aspects of our lives, nothing is sacred.

It cannot be said that this is an easy book, if you find it easy you are probably missing the point. But the rewards already seem enormous to me and I have just touched the tip of the iceberg. ...

As a complete beginner in the world of philosophy I have enjoyed this book on many levels. Although I feel that there is still a few thousand layers of the onion skin to peel off. ... I shall read it again and again, and am confident that each time I will understand a little more. -- Jackie Connor, 'Pathways to Philosophy', October 1999

Product Description

This is a fresh and original introduction to philosophy, written in a clear and entertaining style. The book contains:
* 101 philosophical problems
* discussion of each problem in the second half of the book
* a glossary of unfamiliar terms
* classical as well as contemporary problems from the fields of medical ethics, modern physics and artificial intelligence
Problems include:
* The Cow in the Field
* The Society for Useless Information
* The Dog and the Professor
* Unmarried Bachelors
* Descartes' Big Problem.
101 Philosophy Problems combines scholarship with humour and is suitable for all those who come to philosophy for the first time.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 232 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; 1st edition (June 21, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415191270
• ISBN-13: 978-0415191272
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,332,393 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars an invitation to think critically about philosophy problems, October 14, 1999

By A Customer

This book is described in the blurb as 'a fresh and original introduction to philosophy...intended for those with little or no knowledge of philosophy, such as A-level students or readers in further education courses, as well as all introductory philosophy courses'. The description seems entirely appropriate, yet it is necessary to add the qualification that the book is a highly unconventional specimen. Indeed, I suspect it may not be recognized as a real philosophical book by some people whose view of what philosophy is, what a philosophical book is like, and how such a book is to be read is formed by the content and style of the great philosophical works that form the staple in the curricula of Philosophy Departments.

What is Martin Cohen's own view of what philosophy is that permeates his book? It is the view that philosophy is an activity: the intellectual activity of engaging with philosophical problems, discussing proposed solutions to the problems, disputing arguments for proposed solutions, identifying and questioning assumptions underlying problems, solutions and arguments. This view, of course, is not unknown in Philosophy Departments, even though most professional philosophers tend to emphasize the theories which embody attempts to answer particular problems. Cohen emphasizes the problems themselves, or at least the value of the problems, from which any answers derive such value as they may possess. 101 Philosophy Problems is basically an invitation to think critically about philosophical problems, often by way of conducting thought experiments.

What is this book like? Both in regard to its structure and the style in which it is written, it is very unconventional. The first part of the book consists of a series of very short stories or narrative texts, grouped by subject-matter, setting out problems or puzzles of philosophical interest. Some of these problems are well-known in philosophical literature, e.g. the paradox of Epimenides the Cretan, who said: 'All Cretans are liars'. In the second part of the book, entitled 'Discussions', Cohen provides explanations and analyses of the issues raised by each of the problems, with some references to the treatment offered by particular historical philosophers. These discussions are intelligent and balanced, if (in most cases at least) inevitably inconclusive.

The last two sections, 'Glossary' and 'Reading Guide', offer helpful pointers to further philosophical study of a more 'academic' character.

The style of the writing is equally unconventional. Cohen always writes clearly, untechnically and informally - these being virtues which are rare enough, but not exclusive to him - and further he writes in a self-consciously comic manner. His sense of humour is mostly of the gentle P.G. Wodehouse-type variety, but occasionally explodes in Stoppardian slapstick. So, in a parody of the sceptical doubt he writes: How do I know that I haven't fallen into the clutches of a malignant demon, intent on deceiving me? Or perhaps a malignant doctor? One who has recovered my brain after some nasty accident (involving too many chip butties and driving, no doubt) and is now keeping it suspended in a vat of chemicals as part of a ghastly medical experiment. Feeding it made-up 'sense-data' along coloured wires: purple for hearing, black for touch, yellow for taste, blue for vision...?'

I find this way of presenting philosophical problems very entertaining and I am keen to try it on my students. [To put their brains in vats? Asst. Ed.] I think that the more attractive the presentation of philosophical problems to beginning students, the better the chance of giving them the 'bug' of philosophical engagement, and helping them, step by step, to the dizzying heights of abstract thinking. Finally, how is this book to be read? Cohen is emphatic that this is not to be read cover to cover, as in a frenzy. 'Take the problems,' he advises, 'at a more leisurely pace, one by one, or at most, group by group... The discussions should be seen as an aid to this process of philosophizing, rather than rapidly read by those in search of 'answers'. In any case, the pause for thought will tend to make eventual discussion more interesting, and indeed, to make the problem so. For the answers, as Bertrand Russell has already observed, are less important than the questions.

This seems to me to be sound advice for any introduction to philosophy

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good intro to philosophy in general., August 3, 2000

By	Maggie the Lizard Tamer (NY, NY) - See all my reviews

From the basics of ethics through the considerations of existence to the importance of the soul - this book provides simple anecdotes implementing the major questions in philosophy. It allows the reader to ponder upon the answers but in addition, it provides a semi-answer guide in the back, which even though it doesn't explain everything to the reader's satisfaction, it points to the areas in philosophy where such questions may be answered to a greater extent. A nice guide through philosophy organizing in a way the paths an amateur philosopher will have to travel to satisfy his curiousity about the world from the philosophical point of view.

I recommend it for beginners in philosophy as well as hardcore philosophers with low self-esteem. 101 Philosophy Problems doesn't treat you like an idiot but at the same time it provides the basis for more answers.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars ANOTHER COOL BOOK FROM ROUTLEDGE, January 5, 2000

By	William Meisel (Jacksonville, FL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Routledge publishes great books on philosophy for the general reader, and this one is no exception. A clever introduction to philosophical issues through examinations of 101 problems, some familiar to readers of philosophy and some less so. The glossary is fun reading also, though american readers should be warned that the author does not hold certain philosophers (wittgenstein, nietzche) in the high esteem that "we" americans tend to.