An Philosophy: An Innovative Introduction: Fictive Narrative, Primary Texts, and Responsive Writing

by Michael Boylan, Charles R. Johnson

Philosophy: An Innovative Introduction features a unique, engaging approach to introduce students to philosophy. It combines traditional readings and exercises with fictive narratives starring central figures in the history of the field from Plato to Martin Luther King, Jr. The book makes innovative use of compelling short stories from two writers who have prominently combined philosophy and fiction in their work. These narratives illuminate pivotal aspects of the carefully selected classic readings that follow. This gives students two ways to understand the philosophical positions: through indirect argument in fiction and through direct, deductive presentations. Study questions and writing exercises accompany each set of readings and help students grasp the material and create their own arguments.

370 pages, Paperback

First published February 23, 2010

About the author

Michael Boylan (Ph.D. Philosophy, University of Chicago: M.A. English Literature, University of Chicago) is Professor of Philosophy at Marymount University. Boylan is the author of 31 books and over 130 Scholarly and popular articles on topics ranging from Philosophy to Literature.

Boylan's latest Philosophy books are Natural Rights: A Theory (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press/September 2014) and The Origins of Ancient Greek Science (London: Routledge/ May 2015). His recent novels are, Rainbow Curve (2014), To the Promised Land (2015), Naked Reverse (2016), and Georgia: A Trilogy--Part One (2016) & Georgia: A Trilogy--Part Two (2017).