It isn't easy to say what exactly philosophy is, how to study it, or how to 'do' it. So why has it long been one of the central subjects in Western academics? The reason why it is so difficult to categorize philosophy is because philosophizing makes up so much of what we do during life - there is no escaping it for anyone who want to think clearly or think about important subjects. So, we need to learn how to do it well. Read about some recently published books on philosophy.
1) The Philosopher's Toolkit: Philosophical Concepts and Methods
If you spend much time discussing religion, politics, and philosophy, you'll quickly find that if you want to get anywhere you'll need to acquire some skill when it comes to analyzing, understanding, and refuting basic arguments - and that's all before you learn how to properly construct your own. But just where do you go to get such skills?
2) Walking the Tightrope of Reason
One of the things which sets humanity apart from other animals is our ability to use reason; unfortunately, another thing that sets us apart is our ability to be irrational and ignore reason. Perhaps, though, these two characteristics are as opposite as they might appear - perhaps there is a necessary connection between rationality and the acceptance of irrationality.
3) Reverence: Renewing a Forgotten Virtue
Do you revere anything? That may sound like an odd question in the context of a modern society where little, if anything, is regarded as worthy of reverence. It may be argued that reverence is not only as necessary for modern society as it has been for any society throughout history, but also that reverence is quite distinct from and independent of both theism and religion.
4) Making Sense: Philosophy Behind the Headlines
There is a common prejudice which says that philosophy is an esoteric subject with little or no relevancy for daily life. If true, this would suggest that the study of philosophy would bring no practical benefits. But is it true? I don't think so, and a recent book demonstrates that it isn't.
5) Thinking from A to Z
Critical, skeptical thinking often isn't easy. It's not that it's unnatural, but more credulous attitudes are often easier to adopt and maintain because they take much less work. Skepticism, however, requires some training, patience, and above all practice. Most of those who seek out such training and practice are involved in scholarly studies like philosophy, but everyone could benefit from them as well. But where does one start?
6) Ancient Philosophy: A New History Of Western Philosophy
For many, philosophy is an esoteric subject only studied in the ivory towers of universities; this is unfortunate because a solid grounding in philosophy also provides a strong basis for dealing with just about everything else in life: ethics, politics, science, and relationships. Understanding the connections isn't always easy, but it's almost always worth the effort invested.
7) Who Needs Classical Music? Cultural Choice and Musical Value
Everyone is familiar with classical music, but few spend much time deliberately listening to it. At most, they listen to small amounts that appear in movies, but never in a reflective manner. Music today is treated more as form of entertainment and distraction than as a form of art. A lot has changed in people's perception of music in the past couple of centuries, but is that a good thing?
8) Philosophy in Crisis
What is the current state of academic philosophy? According to some, philosophy is suffering from deep, systemic problems. There are even those who have declared modern philosophy to be dead. However, is such a judgment really justified - and, if so, is there anything that can be done about it?
9) Skeptical Philosophy for Everyone
It is commonly believed that skepticism is a relatively minor issue in the context of Western philosophy. A recent book from Richard H. Popkin and Avrum Stroll argues, however, that skepticism is actually an important key to understanding the course and development of philosophy in the West.
10) Sartre
Jean-Paul Sartre was acclaimed by the people of France in ways normally reserved for rock stars in other countries. When he died in 1980, fifty thousand people lined the streets of Paris to watch his coffin go by. What did he do to merit such respect and attention?
