For the Sake of Argument
How to Do Philosophy
- Publisher
- Broadview Press
- Initial publish date
- Nov 2016
- Category
- General, Methodology, Reference
-
Paperback / softback
- ISBN
- 9781554813377
- Publish Date
- Nov 2016
- List Price
- $18.75
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Description
Academic philosophy can be puzzling to newcomers. The conventions, terms, and expectations entrenched among philosophers aren’t always clear from the outside. Why are philosophers so preoccupied with finding “the truth”—doesn’t everyone have their own philosophy? Is philosophy so deep and difficult that its literature has to be incomprehensible? What kinds of arguments can there be for a philosophical position? Where does the evidence come from? Why is there so much jargon—wouldn’t it be better to do away with it altogether? Best-selling author and retired philosophy professor Robert Martin answers these questions and many more, offering a practical guide to arguing and writing philosophically. Anecdotes, jokes, asides, digressions, oddments, and entertainments are included throughout, resulting in an informal introduction that doesn’t shy away from the nuts and bolts of philosophical argument.
About the author
Robert M. Martin is Professor of Philosophy at Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia in Canada. He has authored several books on philosophy, including The Philosopher's Dictionary.
Editorial Reviews
“A unique and wonderful book! Wise and witty in equal measure, it makes the process of thinking and arguing about the fundamental philosophical issues come alive in a way that I have never seen before. Written in a relaxed, informal style and peppered with references to contemporary culture, it will be enjoyed by anyone interested in developing their skills in thinking clearly about the perennial issues of the human condition.” — Paul Boghossian, New York University
“Displaying his characteristic informality, wit, charm, good humor, and irreverence, Martin offers insights and provocative suggestions that help improve philosophy students’ ability to think, write, and argue philosophically. They also remind us how to enjoy doing philosophy.” — Mason Cash, University of Central Florida
“A practical guide for producing philosophical truth: a how-to manual for clear and effective argumentation, with advice on how and why to avoid the dogma, obscurity, and pretension that often becloud the discipline. Informal, friendly, personal, opinionated, engaging, and funny, this book belongs on the shelf of every philosophy student.” — Sheldon Wein, Saint Mary’s University
Other titles by
The Meaning of Language, second edition
Writing Wrongs
Common Errors in English
Epistemology
There Are Two Errors in the the Title of This Book, Revised and Expanded (Again)
A Sourcebook of Philosophical Puzzles, Problems, and Paradoxes
First Philosophy: God, Mind, and Freedom, second edition
Fundamental Problems and Readings in Philosophy
First Philosophy I: Values and Society - Second Edition
Fundamental Problems and Readings in Philosophy
First Philosophy - Second Edition
Fundamental Problems and Readings in Philosophy
Philosophical Conversations
Introducing Symbolic Logic
