From young children, with their guileless, searching questions, to the recently bereaved, trying to make sense of tragic loss, humans wrestle with our relationship to God--and with God's essence, motivations, and power--throughout our lives: Why does God permit catastrophe and senseless tragedy, again and again? Is God's power limited in any way? Can He change the past? Does He know the future? Why does God require prayer? Why does He not provide stronger evidence of His presence? Whom does God consign to hell, and why? Does God change? Suffer? What can we make of the conflicting diversity within world religions, of the many gods of different religious traditions? Such questions engage, confront, and perplex us on a daily basis. In this rich, concise volume, leading philosophers who have long pondered God's nature and ways take on these core problems.

This engaging collection of recent essays reveals how a professorial career involves not only pursuit of a scholarly discipline but also such unwelcome features as the tribulations of graduate school, the trials of teaching, and the tensions that develop from membership in a department. The author, who enjoyed a distinguished career as a professor of philosophy and senior university administrator, draws on his extensive experience to offer candid advice about handling the frustrations of academic life. Combining philosophical principles, practical concerns, and personal observations, this book serves as a reliable guide for both new and veteran academics as well as for anyone seeking to understand the inner workings of colleges and universities.

This engaging collection of recent essays reveals how a professorial career involves not only pursuit of a scholarly discipline but also such unwelcome features as the tribulations of graduate school, the trials of teaching, and the tensions that develop from membership in a department. The author, who enjoyed a distinguished career as a professor of philosophy and senior university administrator, draws on his extensive experience to offer candid advice about handling the frustrations of academic life. Combining philosophical principles, practical concerns, and personal observations, this book serves as a reliable guide for both new and veteran academics as well as for anyone seeking to understand the inner workings of colleges and universities.

Steven Cahn belongs to that exclusive class of professors who have not only contributed influentially to the leading debates of their discipline, but have also written insightfully about the academic vocation itself. This volume comprises 13 essays, authored by Cahn's colleagues and former students, presented in his honor on the occasion of his 25th year as Professor of Philosophy at the City University of New York. The chapters focus on topics that have been central to Cahn's philosophical work, such as the teaching of Philosophy, the responsibilities of Philosophy professors, the nature of happiness, and the concept of the good life.

Moving beyond the work of Rawls and his critics, this concise collection contains critical essays in contemporary political philosophy. All have been chosen for their importance and accessibility, and some have been edited by their authors for inclusion in this work. Political Philosophy in the Twenty-First Century covers five main topics: equality, justice, liberty, democracy, and human rights. To assist readers, the editors have also provided section introduction and study questions as well as an overall introduction explaining the background to contemporary work in political philosophy. Beginning where most other anthologies in political philosophy conclude, this book can be used alone or in conjunction with any collection of historical sources.

Thinking about Logic is an accessible and thought-provoking collection of classic articles in the philosophy of logic. An ideal companion to any formal logic course or textbook, this volume illuminates how logic relates to perennial philosophical issues about knowledge, meaning, rationality, and reality. The editors have selected each essay for its brevity, clarity, and impact and have included insightful introductions and discussion questions. The puzzles raised will help readers acquire a more thorough understanding of fundamental logic concepts and a firmer command of the connections between formal logic and other areas of philosophical study: epistemology, philosophy of language, philosophy of science, and metaphysics.

This anthology is intended to be used in Political Philosophy courses. It focuses on contemporary political problems, and it is intended to be paired with any of the numerous readers which are dedicated to the history of political philosophy. History, theory, and political problems are the three pillars of the political philosophy course. However, while the anthologies on the history of political philosophy are numerous, there are relatively few sources (and even fewer single sources) that focus on contemporary political problems. This book fills that gap, with the leading contemporary positions on school vouchers, government support for the arts, pornography, same sex marriage, drug legalization, gun control, terrorism, torture, capital punishment, affirmative action, Immigration, and the environment.

The difference in the practical approach to teaching philosophy can mean the difference between an engaging class and an excruciating one. In this expanded edition of In the Socratic Tradition (1997) Kasachkoff adds new sections on teaching philosophy with computers, teaching philosophical explanation, and teaching philosophy of gender. Chapters in the collection share the pedagogical insights of more than two dozen distinguished philosophers, offering practical suggestions on such issues as how to motivate students, construct syllabi and creative examinations for specific courses, and teach complex philosophical concepts. Like its predecessor, Teaching Philosophy will be an indispensable resource for teachers of all levels and fields of philosophy, and will be particularly helpful in lending inspiration to graduate students and professors called upon to teach courses outside of their specialty areas.

""Thinking about Logic"" is an accessible and thought-provoking collection of classic articles in the philosophy of logic. An ideal companion to any formal logic course or textbook, this volume illuminates how logic relates to perennial philosophical issues about knowledge, meaning, rationality, and reality. The editors have selected each essay for its brevity, clarity, and impact and have included insightful introductions and discussion questions. The puzzles raised will help readers acquire a more thorough understanding of fundamental logic concepts and a firmer command of the connections between formal logic and other areas of philosophical study: epistemology, philosophy of language, philosophy of science, and metaphysics.

This anthology is intended to be used in Political Philosophy courses. It focuses on contemporary political problems, and it is intended to be paired with any of the numerous readers which are dedicated to the history of political philosophy. History, theory, and political problems are the three pillars of the political philosophy course. However, while the anthologies on the history of political philosophy are numerous, there are relatively few sources (and even fewer single sources) that focus on contemporary political problems. This book fills that gap, with the leading contemporary positions on school vouchers, government support for the arts, pornography, same sex marriage, drug legalization, gun control, terrorism, torture, capital punishment, affirmative action, Immigration, and the environment.

Philosophy of education is a study both of the aims of education and the most appropriate means of achieving those aims. This volume contains substantial selections from those works widely regarded as central to the development of the field. These are the "essential texts" that lay the foundation for further study. The text is historically organized, moving from classical thought (Plato, Aristotle), through the medieval period (Augustine), to modern perspectives (Locke, Rousseau, Wollstonecraft), and twentieth-century thinkers (Whitehead, Dewey). Each selection is followed by an extended interpretative essay in which a noted authority of our time highlights essential points from the readings and places them in a wider context.
Exhibiting both breadth and depth, this text is ideal as a reader for courses in philosophy of education, foundations of education, and the history of ideas.

In Portraits of American Philosophy eight of America's leading philosophers offer autobiographical narratives, reminding us that the life of a scholar is both a personal struggle and an adventure in ideas. Selected from the prestigious John Dewey Lectures, these reminiscences provide personal perspectives on how a generation of scholars faced barriers built on prejudices of religion, race, gender, and sexual orientation, while being affected by the Civil Rights Movement, the Vietnam War, and feminism. Also explored are the major themes of post-World War II American philosophy, including the temporary dominance of logical positivism and then ordinary language philosophy; the animus between some supporters of the so-called analytic and Continental traditions; new approaches to a variety of subfields; and a deepened understanding of how the history of philosophy can be enriched through concentration on textual and contextual study. These unique remembrances of people, institutions, and issues not only chart the history of recent American philosophy but also present incisive accounts of the trajectory of American intellectual life as seen through the eyes of some of its most influential thinkers.

Contents:
Acknowledgements Introduction Steven M. Chan I. Individuals, groups, and discrimination 1. Discrimination and morally relevant characteristics James W. Nickel 2. Inverse discrimination J.L. Cowan 3. Reparations to wronged groups Michael D Bayles 4. Reverse discrimination and contemporary justice Paul W. Taylor 5. Reverse discrimination William A. Nunn III 6. Should reparations be to individuals or groups? James W. Nickel 7. Reparations to individuals or groups? Alan H. Goldman 8. What's wrong with discrimination? Paul Woodruff
II. Justice and Compensation 9. Prefential hiring Judith Jarvis Thomson 10. Prefential hiring: A reply to Judith Jarvis Thomson Robert Simon 11. Justifying reverse discrimination in employment George Sher 12. Prefential hiring and compensation Robert K. Fullinwider 13. Compensatory justice: The question of costs Robert Amadur III. The Bakke cas 14. Who are equals? Carl Cohen 15. Are quotas unfair? Ronald Dworkin 16. What did Bakke really decide? Ronald Dworkin Equality, diversity, and good faith Carl Cohen IV. Diveristy 18. In defence of affirmative action Bartara R. Bergmann 19. The role model argument and faculty diversity Anita L. Allen 20. Proportional representation of women and minorities Celia Wolf-Devine 21. 'The Meaning of "Merit"' William G. Bowen and Derek Bok 22. 'The Meaning of "Merit"': A reply to Bowen and Bok Stephan Thernstrom and Abigain Thernstrom 23. Diversity George Sher V. Preference or impartiality? 27. In favor of affirmative action Tom L. Beauchamp 28. Reverse discrimination Sidney Hook Epilogue A. Three puzzles concerning affirmative action Steven M. Cahn B. Making affirmative action work The Chronicle of HIgher Education About the authors Bibliographical note Acknowledgements

Contents:
Acknowledgements Introduction Steven M. Chan I. Individuals, groups, and discrimination 1. Discrimination and morally relevant characteristics James W. Nickel 2. Inverse discrimination J.L. Cowan 3. Reparations to wronged groups Michael D Bayles 4. Reverse discrimination and contemporary justice Paul W. Taylor 5. Reverse discrimination William A. Nunn III 6. Should reparations be to individuals or groups? James W. Nickel 7. Reparations to individuals or groups? Alan H. Goldman 8. What's wrong with discrimination? Paul Woodruff
II. Justice and Compensation 9. Prefential hiring Judith Jarvis Thomson 10. Prefential hiring: A reply to Judith Jarvis Thomson Robert Simon 11. Justifying reverse discrimination in employment George Sher 12. Prefential hiring and compensation Robert K. Fullinwider 13. Compensatory justice: The question of costs Robert Amadur III. The Bakke cas 14. Who are equals? Carl Cohen 15. Are quotas unfair? Ronald Dworkin 16. What did Bakke really decide? Ronald Dworkin Equality, diversity, and good faith Carl Cohen IV. Diveristy 18. In defence of affirmative action Bartara R. Bergmann 19. The role model argument and faculty diversity Anita L. Allen 20. Proportional representation of women and minorities Celia Wolf-Devine 21. 'The Meaning of "Merit"' William G. Bowen and Derek Bok 22. 'The Meaning of "Merit"': A reply to Bowen and Bok Stephan Thernstrom and Abigain Thernstrom 23. Diversity George Sher V. Preference or impartiality? 27. In favor of affirmative action Tom L. Beauchamp 28. Reverse discrimination Sidney Hook Epilogue A. Three puzzles concerning affirmative action Steven M. Cahn B. Making affirmative action work The Chronicle of HIgher Education About the authors Bibliographical note Acknowledgements

This highly anticipated anthology, compiled by noted author and scholar Steven Cahn, presents the seven major works central to any introductory philosophy course in their entirety. Each work has had a profound influence on philosophical thought, and the authors are generally regarded as among the worlds greatest philosophers. Seven Masterpieces in Philosophy features the most well-respected and admired translations, and offers introductions and annotations by Steven Cahn. Anyone seeking to understand the challenges of philosophy could hardly do better than concentrate attention on these seven masterpieces. A great alternative to larger tomes, this book allows the instructor to supplement these works with additional materials of their choosing.

This new, complete translation of Immanuel Kant's Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals provides the most accessible version of this challenging foundational work in moral philosophy. Calling on the insights of a team of noted scholar-teachers, An Annotated Kant renders the text as clearly as possible, supplementing it with an inviting introduction, clarifying running commentary, and a helpful glossary. Annotations are presented on facing pages to provide support for readers and room for their note-taking. Remaining true to the intricacies of the original German text, this presentation of Kant's masterpiece enables all to appreciate the powerful vision it offers.

This highly anticipated anthology, compiled by noted author and scholar Steven Cahn, presents the seven major works central to any introductory philosophy course in their entirety. Each work has had a profound influence on philosophical thought, and the authors are generally regarded as among the world's greatest philosophers. "Seven Masterpieces in Philosophy "features the most well-respected and admired translations, and offers introductions and annotations by Steven Cahn. Anyone seeking to understand the challenges of philosophy could hardly do better than concentrate attention on these seven masterpieces, presented here in this accessible and very affordable volume. A great alternative to larger, more expensive tomes, this book allows the instructor to supplement these works with additional materials of their choosing.

The Eighth Edition of Steven M. Cahn's Classics of Western Philosophy offers the same exacting standard of editing and translation that made earlier editions of this anthology the most highly valued and widely used volume of its kind. But the Eighth Edition offers exciting new content as well: Plato's Laches (complete), new selections from Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics (on courage), Descartes' Discourse on Method (complete), all previously omitted sections of Berkeley's A Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge , Kant's Prolegomena to Any Future Metaphysics (complete). These additions-with no offsetting deletion of content of the Seventh Edition-yield an anthology of unrivaled versatility, the only one to offer the complete texts of: both Descartes' Discourse on Method and Meditations on First Philosophy , both Berkeley's A Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge and Three Dialogues between Hylas and Philonous , Kant's Prolegomena to Any Future Metaphysics and selections from the Critique of Pure Reason .

How should we evaluate the success of each person's life? Countering the prevalent philosophical perspective on the subject, Steven M. Cahn and Christine Vitrano defend the view that our well-being is dependent not on particular activities, accomplishments, or awards but on finding personal satisfaction while treating others with due concern. The authors suggest that moral behavior is not necessary for happiness and does not ensure it. Yet they also argue that morality and happiness are needed for living well, and together suffice to achieve that goal. Cahn and Vitrano link their position to elements within both the Hellenistic and Hebraic traditions, in particular the views of Epicurus and lessons found in the Book of Ecclesiastes. Written in an accessible style and illustrated with incisive vignettes drawn from history, literature, films, and everyday life, Happiness and Goodness is a compelling work of philosophy for anyone who seeks to understand the nature of a good life.