In this imaginative introduction to philosophy Blackburn
communicates his enthusiasm for the subject while avoiding the
lapses into obscurity or patronizing superficiality which beset
this genre. He has succeeded in presenting philosophical ideas as
relevant, interesting and, above all, important. He uses numerous
examples, thought experiments and anecdotes in this guide through
the central philosophical questions about knowledge, the mind, free
will, the self, God, reasoning, our perception of the world and
ethics. Philosophy is presented as a living subject, rather than as
a museum of ideas; most of the great philosophers nevertheless make
an appearance. This is real philosophy, not the pseudo-profundity
served up by certain media gurus. The book is, as its title
suggests, intended to make the reader think for him or herself. It
is an introduciton to some of the most important questions anyone
can ask, but it isn't an alternative to thinking about them. For
those who feel they need a more basic introduction to the subject,
Thomas Nagel's What Does It All Mean? (Oxford University Press,
1987, 0195052161, paperback 5.99 102pp) remains the shortest and
most accessible alternative to Blackburn's book. Both books convey
the spirit of philosophy as a subject which targets cosy
complacency. Review by Nigel Warburton whose books include
'Thinking from A to Z' and 'Philosophy: The Classics' (Kirkus UK)
This is a book about the big questions in life: knowledge, consciousness, fate, God, truth, goodness, justice. It is for anyone who thinks there are big questions lurking out there, but does not know how to approach them. Written by the author of the bestselling Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, Think sets out to explain what they are and why they are important.
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