The Basics of Western Philosophy

(Hardback)

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Provides an easy-to-understand guide to the major concepts of Western philosophy The Basics of Western Philosophy is an introductory work for students and the general reader. It is divided into two parts. The first discusses the process of philosophical discourse. Chapter one concerns the spirit of inquiry typical of philosophy as revealed in a discussion of some of its greatest practitioners. Chapter two presents elementary techniques of logical analysis that is part of academic philosophy. Chapter three is a sketch of the history of philosophy from its earliest beginnings among the ancient Greeks to the current day. This history is coordinated with a discussion of historical developments of the major periods of Western history that influenced the thoughts of the philosophers living at that time. Part two considers the major problems of philosophy: metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, social philosophy, philosophy of religion, and philosophical anthropology. Each chapter in this work focuses upon a set of philosophical concepts that are central to a specific idea in philosophy, while offering insights into philosophical questions relevant to the central problem. The ideas of the great philosophers regarding that problem are presented in detail, and subjected to analysis and criticism. Frequent sidebars contain background information to the problems discussed, or capsule biographies of the philosophers being discussed. There is a timeline with the dates of the philosophers and schools of philosophy typical of each era. There is an extensive bibliography, index, and illustrations. Part of the Basics of the Social Sciences series Gives a good, brief history of important people and topics in Western philosophy Sidebars give extra information on key concepts and people Contains timeline, extensive bibliography, index, and illustrations

Reviews

"This is a good book and it performs well when considered against its intended market."-Practical Philosophy
[K]elly's work provides a straightforward and complete introduction to the field of philosophy in the Western world. It would not be difficult to imagine reading The Basics of Western Philosophy cover to cover in order to gain a useful overview of Western philosophy. It might even serve beautifully as a textbook for an introductory philosophy course. The work belongs on the shelves of academic libraries, high school libraries, and public libraries that wish to provide such an educational resource to their patrons. In any case, one might consider whether this work is more appropriate to a circulating collection than on the reference shelf.-Reference & User Services Quarterly
More than a mere survey, this is a work of philosophical comprehension limited only in its compass because of its intended audience (high school and undergraduate students as well as the general public). Highly recommended.-Library Journal
"Kelly's work provides a straightforward and complete introduction to the field of philosophy in the Western world. It would not be difficult to imagine reading The Basics of Western Philosophy cover to cover in order to gain a useful overview of Western philosophy. It might even serve beautifully as a textbook for an introductory philosophy course. The work belongs on the shelves of academic libraries, high school libraries, and public libraries that wish to provide such an educational resource to their patrons. In any case, one might consider whether this work is more appropriate to a circulating collection than on the reference shelf."-Reference & User Services Quarterly
"More than a mere survey, this is a work of philosophical comprehension limited only in its compass because of its intended audience (high school and undergraduate students as well as the general public). Highly recommended."-Library Journal
"[K]elly's work provides a straightforward and complete introduction to the field of philosophy in the Western world. It would not be difficult to imagine reading The Basics of Western Philosophy cover to cover in order to gain a useful overview of Western philosophy. It might even serve beautifully as a textbook for an introductory philosophy course. The work belongs on the shelves of academic libraries, high school libraries, and public libraries that wish to provide such an educational resource to their patrons. In any case, one might consider whether this work is more appropriate to a circulating collection than on the reference shelf."-Reference & User Services Quarterly

Author Bio

EUGENE KELLY is Professor of Philosophy, New York Institute of Technology. He is the former chairman of the Long Island Philosophical Society and a co-editor of the American Philosophical Association's Newsletter, Teaching Philosophy. He is the author of Structure and Diversity (1997).