Philosophical Conversations: A Concise Historical Introduction

Philosophical Conversations: A Concise Historical Introduction

This brief and engaging introductory text treats philosophy as a dramatic and continuous story--a conversation about humankind's deepest and most persistent concerns, in which students are encouraged to participate. Tracing the exchange of ideas between history's key philosophers, <em>Philosophical Conversations: A Concise Historical Introduction</em> demonstrates that while constructing an argument or making a claim, one philosopher almost always has others in mind. The book addresses the fundamental questions of human life: Who are we? What can we know? How should we live? and What sort of reality do we inhabit? Throughout, author Norman Melchert provides a generous selection of excerpts from major philosophical works and makes them more easily understandable with his lucid explanations. Extensive cross-references highlight the organizing themes and show students how philosophers have responded to each other's arguments.<br><br>A more concise edition of Norman Melchert's <em>The Great Conversation: A Historical Introduction to Philosophy,</em> Fifth Edition, <em>Philosophical Conversations</em> is designed to be especially accessible and visually attractive to first- and second-year college students in introduction to philosophy courses. Enhanced by numerous pedagogical features, it offers:<br><br>* Shorter and/or simplified presentations of much of the material<br>* A second color that enlivens the text and makes it more visually interesting<br>* An expanded art program featuring more than 100 photographs, illustrations, and cartoons<br>* Classic art at the opening of each chapter<br>* Numerous brief quotations from poets, politicians, and thinkers that underscore philosophical points and stimulate thought<br>* Explanatory footnotes and basic study questions throughout<br>* "Questions for Further Thought" at the end of each chapter<br>* Key terms, <strong>boldfaced at their first appearance</strong> and collected at the end of each chapter and in a detailed glossary at the back of the book<br>* "Sketches"--which provide glimpses of the ideas of various philosophers not already discussed in detail in the narrative--and "Profiles," which offer more in-depth looks at several thinkers, philosophical schools, and movements including Taoism, Zen, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Iris Murdoch<br>* An <strong>Instructor's Manual and Test Bank</strong> on CD that highlights essential points and offers numerous exam questions<br>