Home >
A Very Short Introduction >
Philosophical Method (Philosophy)
A Very Short Introduction | Philosophy
Philosophical Method
ISBN: 9780198810001
Series: A Very Short Introduction
Philosophical Method (Philosophy)
A Very Short Introduction Philosophical Method (Philosophy) Media > Books > Non-Fiction > Education Books Expect Delays of Up to 4 Weeks
| Order Below |
ISBN
9780198810001 (10-digit ISBN: 0198810008)
- Description
- Key Features
- Series Description
- Table of Contents
- Assuming no previous knowledge of philosophy, this is a highly accesible account of how modern philosophers think and work
- Presents a distinctive view of philosophy, arguing that it is far more scientific than many philosophers think
- Includes a wealth of examples from history charting the successes and failures of philosophical thinking
- Offers a timely and much needed intervention in the current hot debate on philosophical methodology
- Written by one of Britain's leading philosophers
- Previously published in hardback as Doing Philosophy
What are philosophers trying to achieve? How can they succeed? Does philosophy make progress? Is it in competition with science, or doing something completely different, or neither?
Timothy Williamson tackles some of the key questions surrounding philosophy in new and provocative ways, showing how philosophy begins in common sense curiosity, and develops through our capacity to dispute rationally with each other. Discussing philosophy's ability to clarify our thoughts, he explains why such clarification depends on the development of philosophical theories, and how those theories can be tested by imaginative thought experiments, and compared against each other by standards similar to those used in the natural and social sciences. He also shows how logical rigour can be understood as a way of enhancing the explanatory power of philosophical theories. Drawing on the history of philosophy to provide a track record of philosophical thinking's successes and failures, Williams overturns widely held dogmas about the distinctive nature of philosophy in comparison to the sciences, demystifies its methods, and considers the future of the discipline.
From thought experiments, to deduction, to theories, this Very Short Introduction will cause you to totally rethink what philosophy is.
Oxford's Very Short Introductions series offers concise and original introductions to a wide range of subjects--from Islam to Sociology, Politics to Classics, Literary Theory to History, and Archaeology to the Bible.
Not simply a textbook of definitions, each volume in this series provides trenchant and provocative--yet always balanced and complete--discussions of the central issues in a given discipline or field. Every Very Short Introduction gives a readable evolution of the subject in question, demonstrating how the subject has developed and how it has influenced society. Eventually, the series will encompass every major academic discipline, offering all students an accessible and abundant reference library.
Whatever the area of study that one deems important or appealing, whatever the topic that fascinates the general reader, the Very Short Introductions series has a handy and affordable guide that will likely prove indispensable.
Please note: As this series is not ELT material, these titles are not subject to discount.
Preface
1: Introduction
2: Starting from common sense
3: Disputing
4: Clarifying terms
5: Doing thought experiments
6: Comparing theories
7: Deducing
8: Using the history of philosophy
9: Using other fields
10: Model-building
11: Conclusion: the future of philosophy
References and Further Reading
What are philosophers trying to achieve? How can they succeed? Does philosophy make progress? Is it in competition with science, or doing something completely different, or neither?
Timothy Williamson tackles some of the key questions surrounding philosophy in new and provocative ways, showing how philosophy begins in common sense curiosity, and develops through our capacity to dispute rationally with each other. Discussing philosophy's ability to clarify our thoughts, he explains why such clarification depends on the development of philosophical theories, and how those theories can be tested by imaginative thought experiments, and compared against each other by standards similar to those used in the natural and social sciences. He also shows how logical rigour can be understood as a way of enhancing the explanatory power of philosophical theories. Drawing on the history of philosophy to provide a track record of philosophical thinking's successes and failures, Williams overturns widely held dogmas about the distinctive nature of philosophy in comparison to the sciences, demystifies its methods, and considers the future of the discipline.
From thought experiments, to deduction, to theories, this Very Short Introduction will cause you to totally rethink what philosophy is.
Key Features
- Assuming no previous knowledge of philosophy, this is a highly accesible account of how modern philosophers think and work
- Presents a distinctive view of philosophy, arguing that it is far more scientific than many philosophers think
- Includes a wealth of examples from history charting the successes and failures of philosophical thinking
- Offers a timely and much needed intervention in the current hot debate on philosophical methodology
- Written by one of Britain's leading philosophers
- Previously published in hardback as Doing Philosophy
Series Description
Oxford's Very Short Introductions series offers concise and original introductions to a wide range of subjects--from Islam to Sociology, Politics to Classics, Literary Theory to History, and Archaeology to the Bible.
Not simply a textbook of definitions, each volume in this series provides trenchant and provocative--yet always balanced and complete--discussions of the central issues in a given discipline or field. Every Very Short Introduction gives a readable evolution of the subject in question, demonstrating how the subject has developed and how it has influenced society. Eventually, the series will encompass every major academic discipline, offering all students an accessible and abundant reference library.
Whatever the area of study that one deems important or appealing, whatever the topic that fascinates the general reader, the Very Short Introductions series has a handy and affordable guide that will likely prove indispensable.
Please note: As this series is not ELT material, these titles are not subject to discount.
EASY ORDER FORM
PRICES LISTED INCLUDE CONSUMPTION TAX
Price Before Tax:
¥1,790