Philosophy and Contemporary Issues

By John Roy Burr

One of the most successful volumes in its field over the last 20 years, "Philosophy and Contemporary Issues" introduces today's readers to philosophy with timely, approachable readings of philosophical significance. The authors strive to demonstrate how philosophy illuminates and helps solve some of the important problems facing contemporary man, and they encourage readers to engage in philosophizing themselves. This book successfully makes the subject interesting and intelligible for readers encountering philosophy for the first time. Essays address freedom and determinism, morality and society, state and society, and knowledge and science. For individuals interested in an accessible introduction to philosophy.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 002317420X
• ISBN13: 9780023174209
• Release Date: January 1992
• Publisher: MacMillan Publishing Company
• Length: 567 Pages

Customer Reviews

Review of Text Received

I was pleasantly surprised with the condition of the text I bought. It was in great condition, and it looked brand new off the shelf. The price was also a plus, if I had bought the book at the school bookstore in the same condition it would have cost me almost $100. Instead, I got the book for $24 with shipping.

Vivid arguments on both sides of important issues

I asked a well informed friend what philosophy book he might recommend for me to read for a contemporary view of philosophy today. I have had only introductory courses in philosophy. He recommended this book and I was most satisfied with his recommendation. It is a splendid anthology that shows us how philosophy adds to our understanding of the world around us and how to think about abstract and complex subjects. It sheds light on the most fascinating subjects and it inspired me to read more on some of the topics. It covers general topics, each with about a half dozen well written article, in six chapters. Freedom and determinism, God and Religion, Morality an society, State and Society, Mind and Body and, lastly, Knowledge and science. Both sides of each argument are treated when appropriate. I think the book does the job of making philosophy interesting quite well. It is well organized, suggests further reading in each chapter, has a glossary, but no index.

Interesting Introduction to Philosophy

While another review on this book points to the fact that it does not cover "the classics of philosophy," I found it to be an interesting introduction to the discipline. This book was required reading for a Master's level philosophy course, thus I was "forced" to read it. But, I found it to be enlightening due to its nature. I have tried to circle through some of the "classics" and often have a difficult time relating them to the modern world. This book, in using modern writers, does a great job of connecting the basic problems of philosophy to the modern day.