The Problems of Philosophy

Chapter 18: BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Open in WeRead

Explore more books like this:

About This Book

A concise introduction to central problems of epistemology and metaphysics that probes what can be known and how to distinguish appearance from reality. It assesses arguments for and against the existence and nature of matter, surveys idealist positions, and sharpens the distinction between knowledge by acquaintance and knowledge by description while treating induction, a priori justification, and the question of universals. The text analyzes truth, error, and probable opinion, outlines the limits of philosophical knowledge, and concludes with a reflection on the intellectual and practical value of philosophical inquiry.

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

The student who wishes to acquire an elementary knowledge of philosophy will find it both easier and more profitable to read some of the works of the great philosophers than to attempt to derive an all-round view from handbooks. The following are specially recommended:

     Plato: Republic, especially Books VI and VII.
     Descartes: Meditations.
     Spinoza: Ethics.
     Leibniz: The Monadology.
     Berkeley: Three Dialogues between Hylas and Philonous.
     Hume: Enquiry concerning Human Understanding.
     Kant: Prolegomena to any Future Metaphysic.