The Great Conversation: A Historical Introduction to Philosophy

The Great Conversation: A Historical Introduction to Philosophy

Now in its sixth edition, this historically organized introductory text treats philosophy as a dramatic and continuous story--a conversation about humankind's deepest and most persistent concerns. Tracing the exchange of ideas among history's key philosophers, <em>The Great Conversation: A</em> <em>Historical Introduction to Philosophy,</em> Sixth Edition, 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?<br><br>The sixth edition retains the distinctive feature of previous editions: author Norman Melchert provides a generous selection of excerpts from major philosophical works and makes them more easily understandable to students with his lucid and engaging explanations. Ranging from the Pre-Socratics to Derrida, Quine, and Dennett, the selections are organized historically and include four complete works: Plato's <em>Euthyphro,</em> <em>Apology,</em> and <em>Crito,</em> and Descartes' <em>Meditations on First Philosophy.</em> The author's commentary offers a rich intellectual and cultural context for the philosophical ideas conveyed in the excerpts. Extensive cross-referencing shows students how philosophers respond appreciatively or critically to the thoughts of other philosophers. The text is enhanced by two types of exercises--"Basic Questions" and "For Further Thought"--and fifty illustrations.<br><br><strong>NEW TO THE SIXTH EDITION:</strong><br><br>* Coverage of Taoism, Iris Murdoch, and Zen<br>* An expanded portrait of Jean-Paul Sartre<br>* A more concise, single-chapter treatment of Wittgenstein (Chapter 22)<br>* Key terms, boldfaced throughout and listed at chapter ends<br>* Brief and provocative quotations that stimulate thought and provoke questions<br>* A new section on how to read philosophy<br>* A new appendix: Writing a Philosophy Paper<br>* A two-color format that enhances the text's visual appeal<br>* A <strong>Companion Website</strong> at <strong>www.oup.com/us/melchert</strong> featuring resources for students including key points, flashcards, multiple-choice questions, and Internet resources<br>* A <strong>revised Instructor's Manual and Test Bank</strong> (available on the companion website and on CD) containing key points, teaching suggestions, and multiple-choice, short-answer, and essay exam questions<br><br><em>The Great Conversation,</em> Sixth Edition, is also available in two paperback volumes to suit your course needs. <em>Volume I: Pre-Socratics through Descartes</em> includes chapters 1-13 of the combined volume, while <em>Volume II: Descartes through Derrida and Quine</em> includes chapters 12-25.