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Philosophy: The Pursuit of Wisdom
Can philosophy be fun? With PHILOSOPHY: THE PURSUIT OF WISDOM it most certainly is. Because of its lively writing style and clear presentation, this introduction to philosophy textbook is both interesting and informative. You'll discover all the major philosophical theories, as well as tackle hot topics like the existence of God, the free will/determinism debate, and the meaning of life.
406 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1993
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 4, 2020
Philosophy the love and study of wisdom from whence all sciences, mathematics, and areas of human concern were created. There is little doubt that the study of this should be at the core of every curriculum because after reading and writing - the most critical cognitive function is thinking. And in the last analysis, this is the essence of its nature and application.
But philosophy is also historically littered with absurdities and falsehoods largely because scientific studies and knowledge were in their infancy. A prime example is Rene Descartes' belief in dualism - a concept that absurdly separates the mind and the body. Of course, we know now that thoughts are physiological events or processes that are created by specific areas of the brain, e.g. Hippocampus, Pre-frontal Cortex, Amygdala, and so on. Descartes believed that the body was divisible but wrongly believed that the mind was not.
We know now that the mind is divisible and when a specific area is destroyed or impaired in some way the associated cognitive functionality nearly ceases to exist. We observe too with, strokes, drug users, dementia and Alzheimer's patients that a general decline results in the former healthy person hardly resembling their impaired latter-day self. One might argue that the former person has already passed on. So the scientific evidence overwhelming tells us that when the brain ceases to fully operate and exist - so does the mind - because they are not inseparable.
Another point brought out through applied deductive reasoning from the book is the non-existence of gods or gods. The deductive logical case goes as follows:
Gods or god are firmly asserted to be perfect complex constructs - that is the essence of their beings or concept.
Perfection itself, however, is arbitrary, highly subjective and preferential, nor can it be objectively determined in any area of concern other than in mathematics, i.e. 2+2 + 4; whereas there are no perfect artworks, poems, musical works, words, judgments, cultures, religions, people, and so on.
In other words, there is no such thing as perfection outside of mathematics; therefore absolute and unqualified perfection does not exist elsewhere.
In short, perfection only exists in the human imagination, convention or word, but it does not exist in existential reality, particularly when all complex, voluminous and aggregate facts that would be used to support perfection, are open to some form of biased interpretation.
So excluding mathematics, there are hence no perfect complex constructs in reality.
Therefore, if there is no such thing as a "perfect complex construct' then it logically follows that gods or god - can and do not exist.
That said, the book provides many other useful insights and exercises to help one advance their understanding of knowledge, wisdom and thinking: plus, the pursuits and applications thereof. These are life-long dividends that are well worth the investment of time and effort.
But philosophy is also historically littered with absurdities and falsehoods largely because scientific studies and knowledge were in their infancy. A prime example is Rene Descartes' belief in dualism - a concept that absurdly separates the mind and the body. Of course, we know now that thoughts are physiological events or processes that are created by specific areas of the brain, e.g. Hippocampus, Pre-frontal Cortex, Amygdala, and so on. Descartes believed that the body was divisible but wrongly believed that the mind was not.
We know now that the mind is divisible and when a specific area is destroyed or impaired in some way the associated cognitive functionality nearly ceases to exist. We observe too with, strokes, drug users, dementia and Alzheimer's patients that a general decline results in the former healthy person hardly resembling their impaired latter-day self. One might argue that the former person has already passed on. So the scientific evidence overwhelming tells us that when the brain ceases to fully operate and exist - so does the mind - because they are not inseparable.
Another point brought out through applied deductive reasoning from the book is the non-existence of gods or gods. The deductive logical case goes as follows:
Gods or god are firmly asserted to be perfect complex constructs - that is the essence of their beings or concept.
Perfection itself, however, is arbitrary, highly subjective and preferential, nor can it be objectively determined in any area of concern other than in mathematics, i.e. 2+2 + 4; whereas there are no perfect artworks, poems, musical works, words, judgments, cultures, religions, people, and so on.
In other words, there is no such thing as perfection outside of mathematics; therefore absolute and unqualified perfection does not exist elsewhere.
In short, perfection only exists in the human imagination, convention or word, but it does not exist in existential reality, particularly when all complex, voluminous and aggregate facts that would be used to support perfection, are open to some form of biased interpretation.
So excluding mathematics, there are hence no perfect complex constructs in reality.
Therefore, if there is no such thing as a "perfect complex construct' then it logically follows that gods or god - can and do not exist.
That said, the book provides many other useful insights and exercises to help one advance their understanding of knowledge, wisdom and thinking: plus, the pursuits and applications thereof. These are life-long dividends that are well worth the investment of time and effort.
July 13, 2017
Regarding Epicurean's point of view should we make decisions based on reasoning or not. It's a bit confusing for me. Example: You see a mirage, based on their point of view what we are seeing is true due to physics and we are seeing the refraction of light from the sky by heated air. But, our reasoning based on that, that there is water there, is wrong. In sum, they don't call it an illusion, they believe what we see is true, we just should not make any opinion based on that. But, they also believe we should not go toward the mirage ,so to me, it's still using logics and reasoning, I don't quite get it what they mean by not making decisions based on what we see ? .......
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June 27, 2016* 10 Mind-Blowing Books That People Who Love Thinking Can’t Miss
“In a sense, philosophy is just hard thinking about the important issues of life.”
Louis P. Pojman makes this introduction to philosophical thought surprisingly fun and accessible. He presents major major philosophical veins of thought in clear, lively writing that is as entertaining as it is informative. If you are looking for an easy but quality ‘Philosophy 101’ book, then this is the book for you.
“In a sense, philosophy is just hard thinking about the important issues of life.”
Louis P. Pojman makes this introduction to philosophical thought surprisingly fun and accessible. He presents major major philosophical veins of thought in clear, lively writing that is as entertaining as it is informative. If you are looking for an easy but quality ‘Philosophy 101’ book, then this is the book for you.
March 29, 2007
One of the best introductions to philosophy available.
April 12, 2010
This book lagged what it needed. It didn't fail at the information aspect, but the organization, rather, and construction.
June 20, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews