Western Philosophy: An Anthology (Blackwell Philosophy Anthologies) (Paperback)

by John G. Cottingham (Author) "Our first extract, from the Meno (c.385 BC), begins with Meno taunting Socrates for his role as a stingray or 'torpedo-fish', paralysing his victims by..." (more)
Key Phrases: something subsistent, participant reactive attitudes, spaceship journey, Cambridge University Press, Oxford University Press, New York (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
Introductory philosophy courses often present a dilemma for instructors: does one select a number of "classic" texts, and treat them in detail, or does one use a survey of such texts and attempt to touch briefly upon a variety of subject areas? Both methods have their deficiencies and advantages, but the present text should serve as an excellent choice for those electing to take the survey approach. Cottingham (philosophy, Univ. of Reading) has divided philosophical enquiry into ten broad categories and within each category chosen ten excerpts from major writers to illustrate the range of thinking within each category. This is far more than a "Greatest Hits of Philosophy," however. The selections have been carefully chosen from a broad range of writers that includes Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Locke, Hume, Kant, Mill, Nietzsche, Strawson, Popper, Rawls, and Tolstoy. The texts have been updated where the editor felt the language to be archaic or unclear, and the selections appropriately illustrate the breadth and depth of each category of philosophical activity. At the end of the book are brief biographies of each philosopher excerpted. Together with a good survey history of philosophy such as The Oxford History of Western Philosophy (LJ 9/1/94), this text would be ideal for an introductory course or program. The one caveat is the price of the hardcover edition; libraries may opt for it, but students would be better off with the paperback. Recommended for all public and academic libraries.?Terry C. Skeats, Bishop's Univ. Lib., Lennoxville, Quebec
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review
"Cottingham does a good job." (Times Higher Education Supplement)

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Product Details

• Paperback: 888 pages
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell; 2 edition (December 4, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1405124784
• ISBN-13: 978-1405124782
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 6.7 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #98,721 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very condensed and infomative reference book., February 6, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Western Philosophy: An Anthology (Blackwell Philosophy Anthologies) (Paperback)

This book is a God send. It covers all the major figures of Western Philosophy and their thoughts on various subjects central to philosophy. As a student of philosophy this is a great compilation and reference book. This will help manage all the minutia of thought from the major philospers; just simple reminders of where they are coming from and where they intend to conclude.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great for Comprehensives, January 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Western Philosophy: An Anthology (Blackwell Philosophy Anthologies) (Paperback)

I am senior majoring in Philosophy. I am taking comps in a few months. This book is great to prepare for the comps. Gives you a good general overview in selected areas.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great intro book for survey courses, but not for deeper scholarship, September 22, 2006

By	Matthew T. Weflen "Matthew Weflen" (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Western Philosophy: An Anthology (Blackwell Philosophy Anthologies) (Paperback)

I give this book 5 stars because it is exactly what it sets out to be - a comprehensive introduction to the great thinkers of Western Philosophy, broken into subject categories (i.e. the mind, free will, ultimate reality, etc.), with small excerpts from each thinker to portray their thinking on said subject. Thinkers in each category range from Ancient Greek to the 20th century, making for a nice sweep of the history of the topic. Cottingham's introductions to each excerpt are lucid and helpful to the the neophyte, though they are quite concise.

As a 100-level survey course textbook, you can't go wrong. If you really want to dig deeper into any of the individual thinkers, though, you'll need more specialized texts. This is what it says - an anthology only.