Table of Contents

CHAPTER 1 Introduction to the Philosophical Journey: Where Are We Going and How Will We Get There?

1.0 Overview of the Journey
Philosophy and Aerobics
Philosophy and Love
Philosophy and Peanut Butter
Philosophy and Colds
What Do Philosophers Study?
What is the Practical Value of Philosophy?
Philosophy as a Journey
Guideposts for your Journey
1.1 Socrates and the Search for Wisdom
Socrates' Life and Mission
Reading: Plato, from Apology
Socrates' Method
Reading: Plato, from Republic
Reading: Plato, from Allegory of the Cave
1.2 Argument and Evidence: How Do I Decide What To Believe?
Evaluating Philosophical Claims and Theories
The Nature of Arguments
Review for Chapter 1

CHAPTER 2 The Search for Knowledge

2.0 Overview of the Problem of Knowledge
Scouting the Territory: What Can I Know?
Charting the Terrain of Knowledge: What Are the Issues?
Choosing a Path: What Are My Options Concerning Knowledge?
What Do I Think? Questionnaire on Knowledge, Doubt, Reason, and Experience
Key to the Questionnaire on Knowledge
2.1 Skepticism
Leading Questions: Skepticism
Surveying the Case for Skepticism
Early Greek Skeptics
Rene Descartes (1596-1650)
Reading: René Descartes, from Meditations on First Philosophy (1)
Reading: René Descartes, from Meditations on First Philosophy (2)
Reading: David Hume, from Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding (1)
Reading: David Hume, from Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding (2)
Reading: David Hume, from Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding (3)
Reading: David Hume, from A Treatise of Human Nature
2.2 Rationalism
Leading Questions: Rationalism
Surveying the Case for Rationalism
Three Anchor Points of Rationalism
The Rationalists' Answers to the Three Epistemological Questions
Socrates (c. 470-399 B.C.)
Plato (c. 428-348 B.C.)
Reading: Plato, from Phaedo
Reading: René Descartes, from Meditations on First Philosophy
Looking Through the Rationalist's Lens
Examining the Strengths and Weaknesses of Rationalism
2.3 Empiricism
Leading Questions: Empiricism
Surveying the Case for Empiricism
Reading: John Locke, from An Essay Concerning Human Understanding
George Berkeley (1685-1753)
Reading: George Berkeley, from A Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge
David Hume
David Hume, from An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding
Summary of Rationalism and Empiricism
Looking Through the Empiricist's Lens
Examing the Strengths and Weaknesses of Empiricism
2.4 Kantian Constructivism
Leading Questions: Constructivism
Surveying the Case for Kantian Constructivism
Immanuel Kant (1724-1804)
Reading: Immanuel Kant, from Critique of Pure Reason (1)
Reading: Immanuel Kant, from Critique of Pure Reason (2)
Looking Through Kant's Lens
Examining the Strengths and Weaknesses of Kantian Constructivism
2.5 Epistemological Relativism
Leading Questions: Epistemological Relativism
Surveying the Case for Relativism
Reading: Friedrich Nietzsche, from Beyond Good and Evil
Reading: Carlos Castaneda, from The Teachings of Don Juan
Preview of Coming Attractions
Looking Through the Relativist's Lens
Examining the Strengths and Weaknesses of Relativism
2.6 Rethinking the Western Tradition: Pragmatism
Leading Questions: Pragmatism
Surveying the Case for Pragmatism
Reading: William James, from Pragmatism's Conception of Truth
Looking Through the Pragmatist's Lens
Examining the Strengths and Weaknesses of Pragmatism
Rethinking the Western Tradition: Feminist Epistemology
Leading Questions: Feminist Epistemology
Surveying the Case for Feminist Epistemology
Reading: Ann Garry and Marilyn Pearsall, from Women, Knowledge, and Reality
Issues and Themes in Feminist Epistemology
Feminist Epistemology and the Problem of Relativism
Reading: Lorraine Code, from What Can She Know?
Looking Through the Lens of Feminist Epistemology
Examining the Strengths and Weaknesses of Feminist Epistemology
Review for Chapter 2

CHAPTER 3: The Search for Ultimate Reality

3.0 Overview of Metaphysics
Scouting the Territory: What is Reality?
Charting the Terrain of Metaphysics: What are the Issues?
Choosing a Path: What Are My Options Concerning Metaphysics?
Conceptual Tools: The Basics of Metaphysics
What Do I Think? Questionnaire on What is Most Real
3.1 Overview: The Mind-Body Problem
Scouting the Territory: What is the Mind? What is the Body?
Reading: Hugh Elliot, from Tantalus
Charting the Terrain of the Mind-Body Problem: What Are the Issues?
Choosing a Path: What Are My Options Concerning the Mind and the Body?
What Do I Think? Questionnaire on Mind and Body
Key to the Mind-Body Questionnaire
3.2 Dualism
Leading Questions: Dualism
Surveying the Case for Dualism
Descartes's Arguments for Mind-Body Dualism
Reading: René Descartes, from Discourse on the Method
Reading: René Descartes, from Meditations on First Philosophy (1)
Reading: René Descartes, from Meditations on First Philosophy (2)
Looking Through the Dualist's Lens
Examining the Strengths and Weaknesses of Dualism
3.3 Physicalism
Leading Questions: Physicalism
Surveying the Case for Physicalism
Reading: Jeffrey Olen, from Persons and Their World
Looking Through the Physicalist's Lens
Examining the Strengths and Weaknesses of Physicalism
3.4 Functionalism and Artificial Intelligence
Leading Questions: Functionalism and Artificial Intelligence
The Amazing Chess-Playing Machine
Surveying the Case for Functionalism
Reading: Jerry Foder, The Mind-Body Problem
Surveying the Case for Artificial Intelligence
Reading: Marvin Minskey, Why People Think Computers Can't
Looking Through the Lens of Functionalism and Strong AI
Examining the Strengths and Weaknesses of Functionalims and Strong AI
3.5 Overview: Freedom and Determinism
Scouting the Territory: Freedom and Determinism
Charting the Terrain of Freedom and Determinism: What Are the Issues?
Conceptual Tools: Thinking About Freedom
Choosing a Path: What Are My Options Concerning Human Freedom?
What Do I Think? Questionnaire on Freedom and Determinism
Key to the Questionnaire on Freedom and Determinism
3.6 Hard Determinism
Leading Questions: Hard Determinism
The Debate Over Determinism
Reading: B.F. Skinner, from Walden Two
Surveying the Case for Hard Determinism
The Problems with Libertarianism
The Positive Case for Determinism
The Denial of Moral Responsibility
Reading: Samuel Butler, from Erewhon
Reading: Clarence Darrow, from The Leopold and Loeb Trial
Benedict (Baruch) Spinoza (1632-1677)
B.F. Skinner (1904-1990)
Reading: B.F. Skinner, from A Lecture on 'Having' a Poem
Looking Through the Hard Determinist's Lens
Examining the Strengths and Weaknesses of Hard Determinism
3.7 Libertarianism
Leading Questions: Libertarianism
Surveying the Case for Libertarianism
The Problems with Determinism
Different Views of Freedom
The Positive Arguments for Libertarianism
Reading: Richard Taylor, from Metaphysics
Jean-Paul Sartre (1905-1980)
Reading: Jean-Paul Sartre, from Being and Nothingness
Reading: Jean-Paul Sartre, from Dirty Hands
Looking Through the Libertarian's Lens
Examining the Strengths and Weaknesses of Libertarianism
3.8 Compatibilism
Leading Questions: Compatibilism
Surveying the Case for Compatibilism
Reading: W.T. Stace, from Religion and the Modern Mind
Looking Through the Compatibilist's Lens
Reviewing the Strengths and Weaknesses of Compatibilism
Review for Chapter 3

CHAPTER 4: The Search for God

4.0 Overview of Philosophy of Religion
Scouting the Territory: The Impact of Religion
Reading: Peter Kreeft, from Does God Exist?
Charting the Terrain of Religion: What Are the Issues?
Choosing a Path: What Are My Options Concerning Religious Belief?
Conceptual Tools: Arguments for the Existence of God
What Do I Think? Questionnaire on the Existence of God
Key to the Questionnaire on the Existence of God
4.1 The Cosmological Arguement for God
Leading Questions: The Cosmological Arguement
Surveying the Case for the Cosmological Argument
St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)
Reading: St. Thomas Aquinas, from Summa Theologica
Richard Taylor, from Metaphysics
Looking Through the Lens of the Cosmological Argument
Examining the Strengths and Weaknesses of the Cosmological Argument
4.2 The Design Argument for God
Leading Questions: The Argument from Design
Surveying the Case for the Design Argument
William Paley (1743-1805)
Reading: William Paley, from Natural Theology
Science and Cosmic Design
David Hume
Reading: David Hume, from Dialogues Concerning Human Religion
Looking Through the Lens of the Argument From Design
Examining the Strengths and Weaknesses of the Argument from Design
4.3 The Ontological Argument for God
Leading Questions: The Ontological Argument
Surveying the Case for the Ontological Argument
St. Anselm (1033-1109)
Reading: Anselm, from Proslogium
Looking Through the Lens of the Ontological Argument
Examining the Strengths and Weaknesses of the Ontological Argument
4.4 Pragmatic and Subjective Justifications of Religious Belief
Leading Questions: The Pragmatic and Subjective Justifications of Belief
Surveying the Case for Pragmatic and Subjective Justifications
Blaise Pascal (1623-1662)
Reading: Blaise Pascal, from Thoughts
William James
Reading: William James, from The Will to Believe
Looking Through the Lens of the Pragmatic and Subjective Justifications of Religious Belief
Examining the Strengths and Weaknesses of the Pragmatic and Subjective Justifications of Religious Belief
4.5 The Problem of Evil: Atheistic and Theistic Responses
Leading Questions: The Problem of Evil
Surveying the Case for Atheism: The Argument from Evil
Reading: Albert Camus, from The Plague
Religious Responses to the Argument from Evil
Reading: John Hick, from Evil and the God of Love
Reading: C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain
Looking Through the Atheist's Lens
Examining the Strengths and Weaknesses of Atheism
4.6 Rethinking the Western Tradition: Asian Religions
Leading Questions: Asian Religions
Surveying the Case for Hinduism
Reading: From the Upanishads
Surveying the Case for Buddhism
Reading: The Buddha, from Selected Teachings
Summary of Hindu and Buddhist Thought
Reading: Herman Hesse, from Siddhartha
Looking Through the Hindu's and the Buddha's Lens
Examining the Strengths and Weaknesses of Hinduism and Buddhism
Review for Chapter 4

CHAPTER 5 The Search for Ethical Values

5.0 Overview of Ethics
Scouting the Territory: Why Be Moral?
Reading: Plato, from Republic
Charting the Terrain of Ethics: What Are the Issues?
Conceptual Tools: Philosophical Ethics versus Religion
Choosing a Path: What Are My Options Concerning Ethics?
What Do I Think? Questionnaire Ethics, Actions, Consequences, Motives, and Character
Key to the Questionnaire on Ethics
5.1 Ethical Relativism versus Objectivism
Leading Questions: Ethical Relativism and Ethical Objectivisim
Surveying the Case for Ethical Relativism
Reading: Herodotus, from The Histories
Ruth Benedict (1857-1948)
Reading: Ruth Benedict, from Anthroplogy and the Abnormal
Looking Through the Lens of Ethical Relativism
Examining the Strengths and Weaknesses of Ethical Relativism
Surveying the Case for Ethical Objectivism
Reading: James Rachels, from The Challenge of Cultural Relativism
Looking Through the Lens of Ethical Objectivism
Examining the Strengths and Weaknesses of Ethical Objectivism
5.2 Ethical Egoism
Leading Questions: Ethical Egoism
Reading: W. Somerset Maugham, from Of Human Bondage
Surveying the Case for Ethical Egoism
Reading: Ayn Rand, from The Virtue of Selfishness
Looking Through the Egoist's Lens
Examining the Strengths and Weaknesses of Egoism
5.3 Utilitarianism
Leading Questions: Utilitarianism
Surveying the Case for Utilitarianism
Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832)
Reading: Jeremy Bentham, from An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation
John Stuart Mill (1806-1873)
Reading: John Stuart Mill, from Utilitarianism
Utilitarianism: Objectivism or Relativism
The Consequences of Consequentialism: A Test Case
Reading: Alistair Norcross, from Comparing Harms: Headaches and Human Lives
The Problem of Justice and Rights
Looking Through the Utilitarian's Lens
Examining the Strengths and Weaknesses of Utilitarianism
5.4 Kantian Ethics
Leading Questions: Kantian Ethics
Surveying the Case for Kantian Ethics
Immanuel Kant
Reading: Immanuel Kant, from Foundations of the Metaphysics of Morals
Looking Through the Lens of Kantian Ethics
Examining the Strengths and Weaknesses of Kantian Ethics
5.5 Virtue Ethics
Leading Questions: Virtue Ethics
Surveying the Case for Virtue Ethics
What is Virtue?
The Problems with the Utilitarian View
The Problems with the Kantian View
The Positive Case for Virtue Ethics
Aristotle (384-322 B.C.)
Reading: Aristotle, from Nicomachean Ethics
The Virtues in Confucian Thought
Reading: Confucius, from The Analects
A Contemporary Application of Virtue Ethics
Reading: Janet Smith, from Moral Character and Abortion
Summary of Virtue Ethics
Looking Through the Lens of Virtue Ethics
Examining the Strengths and Weaknesses of Virtue Ethics
5.6 Rethinking the Western Tradition: Feminist Ethics
Leading Questions: Feminist Ethics
Surveying the Case for Feminist Ethics
Two Approaches to Feminist Ethics
Reading: Carol Gilligan, from In a Different Voice
Reading: Marilyn Friedman, from Liberating Care
Summary of Feminist Ethics
Looking Through the Lens of Feminist Ethics
Examining the Strengths and Weaknesses of Feminist Ethics
Review for Chapter 5

CHAPTER 6 The Search for the Just Society

6.0 Overview of Political Philosophy
Scouting the Territory: Thinking About Government
Charting the Terrain of Political Philosophy: What Are the Issues?
Choosing a Path: What Are My Options Concerning Political Philosophy?
What Do I Think? Questionnaire on Political Philosophy
Key to the Quesionnaire on Political Philosophy
6.1 The Justification of Government
Leading Questions: The Justification of Government
Surveying the Case for Anarchism
Reading: Robert Paul Wolff, from In Defense of Anarchism
Looking Through the Anarchist's Lens
Examining the Strengths and Weaknesses of Anarchism
Surveying the Case for Social Contract Theory
Reading: Thomas Hobbes, from Leviathan
Reading: John Locke, from An Essay Concerning the True Original, Extent and End of Civil Government
Reading: From The Decaration of Independence (July 4, 1776)
Looking Through the Lens of Social Contract Theory
Examining the Strengths and Weaknesses of Social Contract Theory
6.2 The Individual and the State
Leading Questions: The Individual and the State
Surveying the Case for Classical Liberalism
John Stuart Mill
Reading: John Stuart Mill, from On Liberty
Looking Through the Lens of Classical Liberalism
Surveying the Case for Marxism
Karl Marx (1818-1883)
Reading: Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, from Communist Manifesto
Looking Through the Lens of Marxism
Examining the Strengths and Weaknesses of Marxism
6.3 The Question of Justice
Leading Questions: The Nature of Justice
Surveying the Case for Justice as Merit
Reading: Plato, from Republic
Looking Through Plato's Lens
Examining the Strengths and Weaknesses of Plato's Theory of Justice
Surveying the Case for Justice as Conformity to the Natural Law
Reading: Thomas Aquinas, from Summa Theologica
Looking Through the Lens of Natural Law Theory
Examining the Strengths and Weaknesses of Natural Law Theory
Surveying the Case for Justice as Social Utility
John Stuart Mill
Reading: John Stuart Mill, from Utilitarianism
Looking Through Mill's Lens
Examining the Strengths and Weaknesses of Mill's Theory of Justice
Surveying the Case for Justice as Fairness
John Rawls (born 1921)
Reading: John Rawls, from A Theory of Justice
Reading: Susan Moller Okin, from Justice, Gender, and the Family
Looking Through Rawls's Lens
Examining the Strengths and Weaknesses of Rawls's Theory of Justice
6.4 Civil Disobedience
Leading Questions: Civil Disobedience
Surveying the Case Against Civil Disobedience
Reading: Plato, from Crito
Looking Through the Lens of the Opponents of Civil Disobedience
Examining the Strengths and Weaknesses of the Opposition to Civil Disobedience
Surveying The Case for Civil Disobedience
Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869-1948)
Reading: Mohandas Gandhi, from Young India
Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968)
Reading: Martin Luthor King Jr., from Letter from Birmingham Jail
Looking Through the Lens of the Supporters of Civil Disobedience
Examining the Strengths and Weaknesses of the Civil Disobedience Position
Review for Chapter 6

CHAPTER 7 Postscript: Philosophy and the Meaning of Life

Scouting the Territory: Thinking About the Meaning of Life
Charting the Terrain of Questions about Meaning
Søren Kierkegaard (1813-1855)
Reading: Søren Kierkegaard, from Concluding Unscientific Postscript
Reading: Søren Kierkegaard, from The Journals
A Parting Word