Overview

What is real? How can we know what is real? How might we live authentically? These are the three fundamental questions about metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics. John Macready guides you through these questions by reading three pairs of philosophers and texts. Part I, Metaphysics: Plato's Sophist and Descartes's Meditations on First Philosophy. Part II, Epistemology: Hume's An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding and Kant's Prolegomena to Any Future Metaphysics. Part III: Ethics: Nietzsche's 'Schopenhauer as Educator' and Arendt's 'Labor, Work, and Action'. Each chapter introduces you to basic philosophical problems, concepts, and methods of philosophical inquiry. You'll learn how to read and understand these key texts so that you can answer these three questions for yourself.

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9781474486781

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A lively, reliable survey of classical philosophical problems from the specific perspective of continental philosophy. Macready's approach is both historical and systematic. Besides examining familiar puzzles about sticks that look bent in water and unpredictable billiard balls, he raises fascinating questions about forged Vermeers, the location of the Statue of Liberty, and milkshakes made of mashed potatoes.-- ""Andrew Cutrofello, Loyola University Chicago"" John Macready has written an incredibly accessible guide to Continental Philosophy that will enrich anyone's journey through the western canon. Offering an historically grounded introduction to the three fundamental branches of philosophy--metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics--Macready gives readers something to hold onto as they work their way from Plato to Hannah Arendt. Serving as syllabus and companion, this updated version of a textbook will be indispensable to students and professors alike.-- ""Samantha Hill, Bard College"" This is a true, and truly useful, beginner's guide. It genuinely guides the reader and assumes no background in philosophy. It is evident that Macready is writing from firsthand teaching experience and that he understands what it takes to initiate students into the practice of philosophical thinking.-- ""Tom Sparrow, Slippery Rock University"" John Macready's A Continental Guide to Philosophy provides a great service to both teachers and students of philosophy. It is invariably clear, and its format makes it ideal for lecturers teaching intro to philosophy. Most importantly, students will appreciate the way concrete illustrations and concepts are woven together.-- ""Brent Adkins, Roanoke College""

"A lively, reliable survey of classical philosophical problems from the specific perspective of continental philosophy. Macready's approach is both historical and systematic. Besides examining familiar puzzles about sticks that look bent in water and unpredictable billiard balls, he raises fascinating questions about forged Vermeers, the location of the Statue of Liberty, and milkshakes made of mashed potatoes.-- ""Andrew Cutrofello, Loyola University Chicago"" John Macready has written an incredibly accessible guide to Continental Philosophy that will enrich anyone's journey through the western canon. Offering an historically grounded introduction to the three fundamental branches of philosophy--metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics--Macready gives readers something to hold onto as they work their way from Plato to Hannah Arendt. Serving as syllabus and companion, this updated version of a textbook will be indispensable to students and professors alike.-- ""Samantha Hill, Bard College"" This is a true, and truly useful, beginner's guide. It genuinely guides the reader and assumes no background in philosophy. It is evident that Macready is writing from firsthand teaching experience and that he understands what it takes to initiate students into the practice of philosophical thinking.-- ""Tom Sparrow, Slippery Rock University"" John Macready's A Continental Guide to Philosophy provides a great service to both teachers and students of philosophy. It is invariably clear, and its format makes it ideal for lecturers teaching intro to philosophy. Most importantly, students will appreciate the way concrete illustrations and concepts are woven together.-- ""Brent Adkins, Roanoke College"""

Author Information

John Macready, Professor of Philosophy, Collin College in Plano, Teas.

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