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Reading Metaphysics
Selected Texts with Interactive Commentary
Helen Beebee (Edited by), H Beebee (Author), Julian Dodd (Edited by)
9781405123679, Wiley
Paperback / softback, published 15 December 2006
256 pages
24.9 x 17.3 x 1.6 cm, 0.454 kg
“A book that speaks directly to students. By combining accessible text selections with insightful commentary, clear graphic devices for navigating within each chapter, and thoughtful questions, this new collection provides an invaluable teaching tool for major areas of contemporary metaphysics.” “Reading Metaphysics is the perfect hybrid of an attentively edited anthology and a lucidly instructive textbook. Instead of overwhelming us with dozens of selections, the editors have expertly chosen a small number of contemporary readings, thus giving readers the time to probe deeply into the selected topics and, more importantly, the time to learn how to take apart and interact with a philosophical text. While the readings are well-selected, the true strength of this book lies in the editors’ commentary. Students will leave this book ready, and eager, to take on more metaphysics and teachers will notice a marked improvement in their students’ philosophical ability.”
Dale Jacquette, The Pennsylvania State University
Andrew P. Mills, Otterbein College
This collection brings together key contemporary texts in metaphysics and features an interactive commentary which helps readers engage the texts critically and to use them to develop their own views.
Sources and Acknowledgements viii Introduction 1 1 Personal Identity 9 Introduction 9 Derek Parfit, ‘Personal Identity’ 13 Commentary on Parfit 30 Marya Schechtman, ‘Personhood and Personal Identity’ 36 Commentary on Schechtman 54 Further Reading 59 Essay Questions 59 2 Free Will 60 Introduction 60 Peter van Inwagen, ‘The Incompatibility of Free Will and Determinism’ 62 Commentary on van Inwagen 75 Daniel Dennett, ‘Could Have Done Otherwise’ (extract from Elbow Room) 82 Commentary on Dennett 93 Further Reading 97 Essay Questions 97 Appendix 98 3 Realism and Anti-realism 100 Introduction 100 Donald Davidson, ‘On the Very Idea of a Conceptual Scheme’ 106 Commentary on Davidson 117 Thomas Nagel, ‘Thought and Reality’ (extract from The View from Nowhere) 125 Commentary on Nagel 139 Further reading 145 Essay questions 145 4 Realism and Nominalism 146 Introduction 146 Michael Devitt, ‘ ‘‘Ostrich Nominalism’’or ‘‘Mirage Realism’’?’ 150 Commentary on Devitt 157 D. M. Armstrong, ‘Against ‘‘Ostrich’’ Nominalism: A Reply to Michael Devitt’ 160 Commentary on Armstrong 170 Further reading 173 Essay questions 174 5 Possible Worlds 175 Introduction 175 David Lewis, extract from Counterfactuals 183 Commentary on Lewis 187 Saul Kripke, extract from Naming and Necessity 192 Commentary on Kripke 197 Further reading 203 Essay questions 203 6 Persistence over Time 204 Introduction 204 David Lewis, extract from On the Plurality of Worlds 209 Commentary on Lewis 212 Sally Haslanger, ‘Endurance and Temporary Intrinsics’ 214 Commentary on Haslanger 220 David Lewis, ‘Tensing the Copula’ 223 Commentary on Lewis 230 Further reading 233 Essay questions 233 Bibliography 234 Index 240
Subject Areas: Philosophy [HP]
