Philosophy: A Text With Readings

by Manuel G. Velasquez

Engaging and compelling on every page, Velasquez's text helps you explore and understand philosophy while it helps you appreciate the relevance of philosophy to your day-to-day life and the larger social world. This trusted text combines clear prose and primary source readings to take you on a meaningful exploration of a range of philosophical topics, such as human nature, reality, truth, ethics, the meaning of life, diversity, and social/political philosophy. Carefully crafted built-in learning aids help you quickly master the material and succeed in your course.

672 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2013

Reviews

[Jon]

I'm enrolled for the Spring semester at KCKCC. Classes started on January 17th.

Spring Break Update (March 13-17th): I aced my first questionnaire, which is a good study guide for the mid-term. So glad I can take a short break from philosophy this week. Next Monday: My first mid-term exam in decades.

Here are links to my blog posts from the first half of the term:

1. Brain Upgrade Project ~ https://mossjon314159.wordpress.com/2...

2. Philosophy Survey Results ~ https://mossjon314159.wordpress.com/2...

3. On Human Nature and Political Ideologies ~ https://mossjon314159.wordpress.com/2...

4. Metadata Morality? ~ https://mossjon314159.wordpress.com/2...

5. Dropping the Bomb ~ https://mossjon314159.wordpress.com/2...

[Colton · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fine Tuning: The 300 constants, the laws of physics, the Goldilocks principle, Earth being the perfect distance from the sun. This is all meant for me. It is designed so I may be here. This is so beautiful. I am so happy, because I am so special. I am so special. Wait. Wait. I must be grateful. I must be humble. I must give credit where credit is due. Thank you, being whose existence is impossible to prove. I shall sing your name, for you waited fourteen billion years after you created the universe, so that I may dedicate the purpose of my life to worshipping you. Huzzah.

The aspect of fine tuning in the teleological argument may be the most egocentric thing I have ever heard. This ignores that the phrase of the universe being perfectly accommodating for life is even more accurate when changed to the universe being perfectly accommodating for the destruction of life, considering the existence of black holes, the collision course of the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies, the destruction of our sun, the heat death of the universe, etc. The current existence of life is at least in part due to the universe and its properties, but the universe does not exist for us.

Hilarious.
Good stuff.

Benjamin Abing
Tanina Cienfuegos
Olivia Hunt
David Koff
Kathryn Koff
Simon Woita

To you.