Preface CHAPTER 1. What Is Philosophy? 1.1 Philosophy Is Everywhere 1.2 What Is a Philosophical Question? 1.3 The Philosophical Method 1.4 Philosophy and Science 1.5 Why Bother? Discussion Question Notes CHAPTER 2. What Are Arguments, and How Should We Evaluate Them? Introduction 2.1 Premises and Conclusions 2.2 Evaluating Arguments 2.3 Deductive Validity 2.4 Induction and Abduction 2.5 Multistep Arguments 2.6 Evaluating Multistep Arguments 2.7 Some Arguments to Evaluate 2.8 Answers to Problems What to Look at Next Glossary Notes CHAPTER 3. Does God Exist? Introduction 3.1 The First Cause Argument 3.2 Some Questions about the First Cause Argument 3.3 Leibniz's Cosmological Argument 3.4 The Design Argument 3.5 Criticisms of the Design Argument 3.6 Anselm's Ontological Argument 3.7 What, If Anything, Is Wrong with Anselm's Ontological Argument? 3.8 A Pragmatic Case for Theism? Conclusion Glossary Comprehension Questions Discussion Questions What to Look at Next Notes CHAPTER 4. Why Does God Leave Us to Suffer? Introduction 4.1 Three Logical Puzzles for Theists 4.2 Introducing the Problem of Evil 4.3 Three Inadequate Responses 4.4 Rethinking the Nature of God 4.5 Theodicy 4.6 Skeptical Theism Conclusion Glossary Comprehension Questions Discussion Questions What to Look at Next Notes CHAPTER 5. Can We Be Completely Certain of Anything? Introduction 5.1 Descartes's Project 5.2 Certainty Is Hard to Find 5.3 Achieving Certainty 5.4 Clear and Distinct Perception 5.5 Descartes's Theism, and His Solution to the Evil Demon Problem 5.6 The Cartesian Circle 5.7 Descartes's Legacy Conclusion Glossary Comprehension Questions Discussion Questions What to Look at Next Notes CHAPTER 6. Can We Trust Our Senses? 6.1 Rationalism and Empiricism 6.2 Indirect Realism 6.3 Primary and Secondary Qualities 6.4 Do Material Objects Really Exist? 6.5 Berkeley's Idealism 6.6 Direct Realism Conclusion Glossary Comprehension Questions Discussion Questions What to Look at Next Notes CHAPTER 7. Will the Sun Rise Tomorrow? Introduction 7.1 Making Predictions 7.2 Hume's Problem 7.3 Karl Popper 7.4 Peter Strawson 7.5 Epistemically Basic Beliefs 7.6 Beyond Enumerative Induction Glossary Comprehension Questions Discussion Questions What to Look at Next Notes CHAPTER 8. What Is Knowledge? Introduction 8.1 Three Kinds of Knowledge 8.2 Analyzing Propositional Knowledge: The Easy Part-Belief and Truth 8.3 Analyzing Propositional Knowledge: The Hard Part-Justification 8.4 Foundationalism 8.5 Coherentism 8.6 Internalism and Externalism 8.7 Fallibilism and Skepticism 8.8 Gettier Cases-A Challenge to the Justified True Belief Account of Knowledge Glossary Comprehension Questions Discussion Questions What to Look at Next Notes CHAPTER 9. Do We Have Free Will? 9.1 What Is Determinism? 9.2 Incompatibilism 9.3 Compatibilism 9.4 Libertarianism Glossary Comprehension Questions Discussion Questions What to Look at Next Notes CHAPTER 10. Race Introduction 10.1 Racialism 10.2 Non-Racialist Meanings of 'Race' Summary Glossary Comprehension Questions Discussion Questions What to Look at Next Notes CHAPTER 11. How Is Your Mind Related to Your Body? Introduction 11.1 Cartesian Dualism 11.2 Philosophical Behaviorism 11.3 The Mind-Brain Identity Theory 11.4 Functionalism 11.5 Physicalism, Zombies and a Revival of Dualism Glossary Comprehension Questions Discussion Questions What to Look at Next Notes CHAPTER 12. Will You Be the Same Person in Ten Years? Could You Survive Death? 12.1 The Philosophical Issue and Its Practical Importance 12.2 The Soul Theory 12.3 Problems for Soul Theory 12.4 Memory Theories 12.5 Personal Identity and the Brain Glossary Comprehension Questions Discussion Questions What to Look at Next Notes CHAPTER 13. Are There Objective Truths about Right and Wrong? Introduction 13.1 Objective Truth 13.2 The Divine Command Theory 13.3 Cultural Relativism 13.4 Subjectivism and Expressivism 13.5 The Qualified Attitude Theory Conclusion Glossary Comprehension Questions Discussion Questions What to Look at Next Notes CHAPTER 14. What Really Matters? Introduction 14.1 Hedonism 14.2 Sartre 14.3 Susan Wolf on Meaningfulness Conclusion Glossary Comprehension Questions Discussion Questions What to Look at Next Notes CHAPTER 15. What Should We Do? (Part I) 15.1 Act Consequentialism and Act Utilitarianism 15.2 Objections to Act Utilitarianism 15.3 Rule Consequentialism and Rule Utilitarianism 15.4 Kant's Universalization Test 15.5 Kant's Humanity Formula 15.6 Comparing Kantianism and Consequentialism Glossary Comprehension Questions Discussion Questions What to Look at Next Notes CHAPTER 16. What Should We Do? (Part II) Introduction 16.1 Is It Morally Wrong to Go to the Opera While People Are Starving? 16.2 Vegetarianism 16.3 Is Abortion Morally Wrong? Glossary Comprehension Questions Discussion Questions What to Look at Next Notes CHAPTER 17. Why Democracy? 17.1 What is Democracy? 17.2 The Basic Argument Against Democracy 17.3 A Modest Defence of Democracy 17.4 Are Democratic Countries Well Run? 17.5 Non-Instrumental Defenses of Democracy Conclusion Glossary Comprehension Questions Discussion Questions What to Look at Next Appendix: A General Knowledge Quiz Appendix A: Reading and Writing Tips Seven Tips on Reading Philosophy Eighteen Tips for Writing Philosophy Papers Appendix B: The Truth about Philosophy Majors Careers Salaries Meaning Resources Notes Glossary Credits Index

"This is a superb book--far and away the best general introduction to analytic philosophy on the market today. The selection of topics is perfect for a first course in philosophy, the depth of coverage is just right, and the writing is lively and crystal clear. Stich and Donaldson have really hit it out of the park."--Philip Robbins, University of Missouri "Stich and Donaldson's Philosophy is an excellent book; it is the best introduction to philosophy I know of, as clear as Nagel's What Does it All Mean? and Blackburn's Think while also offering more coverage and depth. Among its many strengths are its perspicuous reconstructions of famous philosophical arguments, sensitivity to how arguments have changed over time in response to philosophical criticism, and its supplementary resources, including detailed PowerPoints, excellent discussion/reading comprehension questions, and end-of-chapter glossaries."--David Svolba, Fitchburg State University "I love this book: it is extremely clear and full of examples from philosophical papers as well as from everyday life, so that students can easier connect with difficult and abstract material. The topics are not watered down and oversimplified, so they are accessible to both the beginner and the advanced student."--Valia Allori, Northern Illinois University "The overall quality of this book is excellent. I think a particular strength is the logic/arguments chapter. It is vital for undergraduate students to have exposure to logic and basic argument reconstruction and evaluation skills. Problems and answers for practice are helpful to students; the ancillary resources are very much appreciated by both students and professors." "Strengths: 1. Very clear, easy to read and understand prose. This is important for all students, but especially for students new to philosophy. 2. Discussion questions. Some are very good. 3. Clear glossary at the end of each chapter. 4. Good coverage. Instructors can be confident for a "problems of philosophy class" that everything is covered. 5. Flexible structure. Instructors can selectively choose what material to cover. 6. Degree of difficulty. The text does not overdo the philosophy, which would make it hard for many students to read. This leaves room for the instructor to add more difficult material, arguments, concepts, etc." -Peter Graham, Professor of Philosophy, University of California Riverside and Yonsei University "The book is very high quality, in my view. The tone and level of content hits the right note for undergraduates, and it is very clear. Its strengths lie in the fact that the authors have managed to provide reasonably in-depth guidance on philosophical topics, but keeping each section fairly short and manageable. The book is nice and short, and is the right price for my students. It focuses on the core philosophical topics, leaving it free for the instructor to develop further issues, and to choose primary texts." - Sally Parker-Ryan, Adjunct Professor, Southern Methodist University "It's very good. Accessible to my students and their abilities, and very similar to how I teach an introduction to philosophy class. The chapters on epistemology (5 to 8) are by far the best: clear, careful, and methodical. The chapters on the philosophy of religion (3-4) seemed very good as well, though I did not use them this time (I cover this material less and less, nothing to do with the book). I quite liked the reading/writing tips at the end. And appendix B is a very good idea--my department has a brochure I use in class covering similar material. Some weaknesses include: the chapter on logic (2) is a bit thin: no explanation of logical connectives (truth-tables), no discussion of the most basic forms of inference. Perhaps a more advanced chapter could be added." - Philippe Chuard, Associate Professor, Southern Methodist University "The quality of the book is uneven. Some chapters are excellent, some could be updated, and some are poorly informed in diverse philosophical approaches. Overall, the book is not broadly "Philosophy" but focused on issues and approaches in modern philosophy from an analytic philosophy perspective...The quality of their presentation of material is excellent and appropriate for a topic-based approach. The clear, nicely conversational approach to debates and prompting of students to decide for themselves are likely extremely effective for helping students build critical thinking skills as well as engaging their interest." -Patricia Glazebrook, Professor, Washington State University "I would rate the readability of the book as very high. Unfortunately, I think the book tries too hard to engage the reader at the expense of content. I think the book is often (over) simplified and takes matters too lightly when it should take them more seriously (e.g. the existence of God) and too seriously when more levity is needed (e.g. sections on Descartes' "thought experiments"). There are times when the text could better place ideas in context to show that philosophical ideas do not exist in a vacuum, but are a result of historical and cultural influences." - Adam D Pave, San Bernardino Valley College

Stephen Stich is Professor of Philosophy at Rutgers University and an Honorary Professor at the University of Sheffield. He is known for his contributions to philosophy of mind. He is the author of Mindreading (OUP, 2003), Deconstructing the Mind (OUP, 1996), The Fragmentation of Reason, 1990), From Folk Psychology to Cognitive Science (1983), and many others. Thomas Donaldson is Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Simon Fraser University. He holds a PhD in Philosophy from Rutgers University and wrote his dissertation on American Pragmatism. While receiving his MMathPhil (1st class) in Mathematics and Philosophy at Oxford University, he was awarded the Henry Wilde Prize, Elizabeth Anscombe Prize, and the Gibbs Prize. His areas of expertise are Philosophy of Logic and Language, Metaphysics, and American Pragmatism.

Selling point: Lively, conversational, and crystal-clear writing, hitting at the right level and tone for students Selling point: Engages students by prompting them to decide for themselves Selling point: Flexible structure, topical approach Selling point: The logic and arguments chapter includes practice problems and provides a useful foundation in critical thinking