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Reason at Work: Introductory Readings in Philosophy
REASON AT WORK is designed for Introduction to Philosophy courses where the instructor prefers to use a collection of readings to introduce the broad divisions of the discipline. This edition includes sixty-two readings organized into the six major branches of philosophical inquiry: Ethics, Social and Political Philosophy, Epistemology, Metaphysics, Philosophy of Religion, and Philosophy of Mind.
- GenresPhilosophy
784 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1984
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About the author
Steven M. Cahn
92 books22 followersSteven M. Cahn, Ph.D. (Philosophy, Columbia University, 1966; A.B., Columbia College, 1963), teaches academic ethics, philosophy of religion, and philosophy of education at the Graduate Center and has published widely in the field of philosophy and education.
Cahn joined the Graduate Center as professor of philosophy and dean of graduate studies in 1983. He was named provost and vice president for academic affairs in 1984, remaining in that position until 1992. He previously taught at Dartmouth College, Vassar College, the University of Rochester, New York University, and the University of Vermont, where from 1973 to 1980 he headed the department of philosophy. He held executive positions with the Exxon Education Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Humanities, and he is longtime president of the John Dewey Foundation.
Cahn joined the Graduate Center as professor of philosophy and dean of graduate studies in 1983. He was named provost and vice president for academic affairs in 1984, remaining in that position until 1992. He previously taught at Dartmouth College, Vassar College, the University of Rochester, New York University, and the University of Vermont, where from 1973 to 1980 he headed the department of philosophy. He held executive positions with the Exxon Education Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Humanities, and he is longtime president of the John Dewey Foundation.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 24, 2024
Reason at Work: Introductory Readings in Philosophy was my first serious exposure to philosophy. It was the textbook used in my Introduction to Philosophy class way back in the ancient ‘80s. Back then, I didn’t take college nearly seriously enough, at least not my classes. (I was seriously devoted to my college social life, which, I suppose, explains the situation with the classes.) Introduction to Philosophy, however, was an unlikely exception to that rule.
The difference maker was my professor. Vince was a larger than life character. Large bodied, wild, long gray hair, and a full gray beard, he looked like Karl Marx (a poster of whom hung behind his office desk). He had a personality to match. He dominated the room as he boomed his way through class, challenging his students, drawing them out, making them participate in debate or see their grade cut. Apparently, he was on all the fraternity lists of professors to avoid at all costs, because he refused to grade on a curve, demanded class participation, and used blue book essay exams exclusively. I loved the intellectual challenge of it and thrived in his class. He was demanding, dramatic, and refreshingly irreverent — he once told the class that philosophy is just a game of who can bullshit most convincingly, and that he was an old pro at the bullshit game. He made the class and the subject memorable.
I haven’t read this textbook in years, though I still have it in my library. Since Vince picked it, and he was exacting, I’m sure that the philosophical excerpts in it are a great cross section to introduce the discipline. In his able hands this text served to create a lifelong interest in philosophy. Thanks, Vince, wherever you are!
The difference maker was my professor. Vince was a larger than life character. Large bodied, wild, long gray hair, and a full gray beard, he looked like Karl Marx (a poster of whom hung behind his office desk). He had a personality to match. He dominated the room as he boomed his way through class, challenging his students, drawing them out, making them participate in debate or see their grade cut. Apparently, he was on all the fraternity lists of professors to avoid at all costs, because he refused to grade on a curve, demanded class participation, and used blue book essay exams exclusively. I loved the intellectual challenge of it and thrived in his class. He was demanding, dramatic, and refreshingly irreverent — he once told the class that philosophy is just a game of who can bullshit most convincingly, and that he was an old pro at the bullshit game. He made the class and the subject memorable.
I haven’t read this textbook in years, though I still have it in my library. Since Vince picked it, and he was exacting, I’m sure that the philosophical excerpts in it are a great cross section to introduce the discipline. In his able hands this text served to create a lifelong interest in philosophy. Thanks, Vince, wherever you are!
August 21, 2021
Read this in College. Excellent choice for advanced readers. So interesting. The negative reviews probably have a reading deficiency.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews