Dictionary of Philosophy

by Peter A. Angeles

This book presents clear and understandable definitions of important philosophic terms. Emphasis is on the areas most commonly covered in introductory philosophy courses: epistemology, metaphysics, logic, ethics, aesthetics and the philosophies of religion and politics.

The student of philosophy often feels bewildered and bogged down by the terminology of the subject and needs a source which gathers much of it together in one volume. This book provides such a source with entries that are well-balanced and that guide the reader to his own understanding of the terms.

Genres: Philosophy, Reference, Nonfiction

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

Peter A. Angeles received his B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. degrees from Columbia University, New York. He has taught philosophy at the University of Western Ontario, Canada; Albert Schweitzer College, Switzerland; the University of California at Santa Barbara; Northern Arizona University, Yavapai College, Mesa College, Scottsdale College, and the University of Phoenix.

He is Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at Santa Barbara City College, where he taught and was Chairperson of the Department of Philosophy from 1970 to his early retirement in 1990.

He is the author of an Introduction to Sentential Logic; The Possible Dream: Toward Understanding the Black Experience; The Problem of God and Critiques of God (ed.); Dictionary of Christian Theology; When Blind Eyes Pierce the Darkness; and numerous articles in scholarly journals.

He lives in Santa Barbara, California and has produced a series of 52 half-hour weekly children's stories for his radio show The Children's Story Time.

Reviews

[Liquidlasagna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think it's one of the finest dictionaries of its kind.


If you have someone who is going to push words on you like metaphysics, or existential, if you read up on it, you can probably avoid yourself a lot of pitfalls with a precise meaning.

And how your friend's interpretation of the word, might not be what other writers, or you think the word might mean!

You could just see that aha, there's 14 different definitions of metaphysics and i'm thinking of number 14, and my friend with the degree, she's yapping on about meaning 7. No wonder she's being difficult!

If you own three books on philosophy, make sure this is your fourth one!

[Leonard Pierce · Rating 4 out of 5]

The new edition of Angeles' terrific reference book is, in most ways, superior to the first. Great for people new to philosophy, and a handy reference for old hands.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very nice little volume that helped me through my undergrad philosophy major. I've since acquired larger, more exhaustive dictionaries of philosophy, but this is still a reliable quick reference. I'll tend to start here, then move on if necessary to, e.g., The Encyclopedia of Philosophy or Dictionary of the History of Ideas.

[ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

great reference if you're reading any philosophy books. covers definitions of all the lingo and brief histories of the philosophers.

[Kasia Klimczak]

Read it, but never finished it.

[nirvana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Doctor's Anders recommendation from Phil 347 & 316

[Jeff Rudisel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trade Paperback version 1981