"This is a superb introduction to philosophy, the best I know. It combines the best of classic and contemporary texts, organized around philosophical problems in a provocative and lively way. The editors supply first-rate introductions, and the book as a whole conveys the excitement of thinking about philosophical problems in a way that is fully accessible to a first-year student."--Martha Nussbaum, University of Chicago

"This splendid anthology features exceptionally well-chosen readings on philosophical issues that are both captivating and central to the field. In combination with the impressively-crafted chapter introductions, these readings provide the just the right material for an intensive, state-of-the-art, beginning course in the area."--Derek Pereboom, Cornell University

"This is a terrific anthology, just the kind I like to teach from. It covers all the Big Questions that turn people on to philosophy, with a selection of classic and contemporary readings that are clear and accessible while also being challenging and provocative."--Susan Wolf, University of North Carolina

"This book is a real gem. It combines the de rigueur historical texts with the cream of the contemporary articles that continue work on all the classic problems of philosophy. It is the best available text for Intro. courses. As a bonus, the authors have written an appendix on puzzles and paradoxes, and there is also a glossary of technical terms. My next Intro. course text will be Perry-Bratman-Fischer."--Anthony Brueckner, University of California, Santa Barbara

"A comprehensive collection of classic and modern contributions to the enduring problems of philosophy. The essays are well chosen and edited; an introductory text without peer."--Jules Coleman, Yale Law School

"The editors are a trio of superb philosophers with over 100 years of teaching experience among them. Their experience shines through in the selection of readings, the introductions (to the volume and to the six main parts of the book), and the study questions. This is the best anthology I have ever seen for an introductory philosophy course."--Alfred R. Mele, Florida State University

"This collection does a marvelous job of introducing students to philosophy. It contains an excellent selection of texts--a menu rich in options for constructing a wide range of courses. Each section begins with a very helpful summary of the main issues at stake in that section. These summaries are guides, not only to the texts themselves, but also to how to think about problems philosophically. It would be hard for a student to read them without being sucked into the philosophical debates. The paradoxes and puzzles at the end of the book are a terrific addition. And I have never seen a better glossary: for each entry there is, not a definition, but a concise discussion of the issues associated with the term. . . . [A] truly exemplary introduction to philosophy."--Sarah Buss, University of Michigan

"The best introduction to philosophy anthology available. . . . The previous edition was the single best anthology on the market; I have been using it happily for over a decade, and believe that with the new readings it is even better. I think the book is excellent and will be using it as soon as I can."--Thomas Ryckman, Lawrence University

"The strength of the book is its comprehensiveness. If you're only going to use one book in an introductory course, it should be this one."--Brian Weatherson, Cornell University

"These are the best chapter introductions I have seen in any introductory collection. The writing is pitched at just the right level of complexity, but more importantly, the ideas are high quality. . . . The book manages to be interesting and genuinely illuminating (even to me), but remains understandable to the first-year student."--Thomas Bittner, University of British Columbia

Product Description

Introduction to Philosophy, Fourth Edition, is the most comprehensive topically organized collection of classical and contemporary philosophy available. Building on the exceptionally successful tradition of previous editions, this edition for the first time incorporates the insights of a new coeditor, John Martin Fischer, and has been updated and revised to make it more accessible. Ideal for introductory philosophy courses, the text includes sections on the meaning of life, God and evil, knowledge and reality, the philosophy of science, the mind/body problem, freedom of will, consciousness, ethics, and philosophical puzzles and paradoxes. It presents seventy substantial--and in some cases complete--selections from the best and most influential works in philosophy, offering a unique balance between classical and contemporary material. An extensive glossary of philosophical terms is also included.

The fourth edition features fifteen new readings, including work by Albert Camus, Roderick M. Chisholm, Daniel Dennett, Harry G. Frankfurt, William Paley, Derek Parfit, John Perry, Richard Taylor, Peter Van Inwagen, Bernard Williams, and Susan Wolf. Part III, Knowledge and Reality, has been restructured and now includes Plato's Thaetetus, selections by Edmund L. Gettier and Robert Nozick, and an essay by Christopher Grau that explores the philosophical concepts presented in the popular film The Matrix. Two new ethics puzzles--"The Trolley Problem" and "Ducking Harm and Sacrificing Others"--are also included. This edition incorporates Study Questions after each reading and is accompanied by an Instructor's CD and a Student Companion Website, both containing helpful resources.