Anonymous
Posted February 8, 2004
Knowing my strong interest in the subject, one of my friends said, 'Philosophy is bunk!' He didn't catch the irony of his misstep: By debunking philosophy, he was philosophizing! If you have ever wondered where the universe came from; why there is something, rather than nothing; whether computers can think; whether time travel is possible, or whether it's morally acceptable to design children genetically, then you were thinking philosophically. In The Philosophy Gym, Stephen Law, a lecturer in philosophy at the University of London and the editor of the new philosophy journal, Think, presents '25 Short Adventures in Thinking.' (A more appropriate subtitle for would be '25 Short Exercises in Thinking.') Law categorizes these chapters according to three levels of difficulty: 'Warm-up' (six essays), 'Moderate' (ten essays), and 'More Challenging' (nine essays). The essays deal with metaphysics ('Where Did the Universe Come From?' and 'Does God exist?'), epistemology ('What is Knowledge?' and 'Is Creationism Scientific?'), aesthetics ('But Is It Art?), logic ('How to Spot Eight Everyday Reasoning Errors' and 'Seven Paradoxes'), and ethics ('Can We Have Morality without God and Religion?', 'Is Morality like a Pair of Spectacles?,' 'Designer Babies,' and 'What's Wrong with Gay Sex?'). Law discusses subjects such as rationalism and empiricism, deductive and inductive reasoning, science and pseudoscience, determinism and free will, circular reasoning and fallacies. He quotes philosophers such as Plato, Descartes, Locke, Voltaire, Bentham, Mill, Hume, and Wittgenstein. A personal disappointment with this book is that my favorite philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche, is nowhere mentioned. How can one write about the problems posed by culture, morality, values, and truth and ignore Nietzsche? When I began reading Law's work, I anticipated an enjoyable experience, for the book is laid out in accessible, user-friendly chapters that contain humorous sketches and cartoons, much as one might expect in a book titled 'Philosophy for Dummies.' Also, most of the chapters contain 'Socratic/Platonic dialogues,' arguments and counterarguments, examples and counterexamples, on various philosophical problems. After a while, however, Law's approach begins to wear thin. I finished the book feeling that the author's cutesy clever approach trivializes philosophy. By seeking to make this a work for everyone, Law courts the danger of making it a book fit for no one. On the positive side, Law provides an intriguing examination of the conflict between 'common sense' and skepticism: 'We don't know what we think we know.' The conclusions of skepticism seem absurd, but they are difficult to refute philosophically. At the end of each chapter, Law gives suggestions for further reading. Good advice! Perhaps, instead of buying Law's book, you should purchase those he recommends, such as Philosophy: The Basics, by Nigel Warburton; Philosophy: Basic Readings, edited by Nigel Warburton; and Thinking Through Philosophy, by Chris Horner and Emrys Westacott. Don't work up a sweat over this one. WEBSITES OF INTEREST: http://examinedlifejournal.com/thinkaboutit/index.php http://www.royalinstitutephilosophy.org/think.htm http://www.niz.or .org/features/fallacies
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More About This Textbook
Overview
From Descartes to designer babies, The Philosophy Gym poses questions about some of history's most important philosophical issues, ranging in difficulty from pretty easy to very challenging. He brings new perspectives to age-old conundrums while also tackling modern-day dilemmas — some for the first time. Begin your warm up by contemplating whether a pickled sheep can truly be considered art, or dive right in and tackle the existence of God. In this radically new way of looking at philosophy, Stephen Law illustrates the problem with a story, then lets the argument battle it out in clear, easily digestible and intelligent prose. This perfect little mental health club is sure to give each reader's mind a great workout.
Editorial Reviews
From the Publisher
"A vivid, enlightening introduction to clear thinking." —Philip Pullman, author of the His Dark Materials trilogyPhilip Pullman
"A vivid, enlightening introduction to clear thinking.Library Journal
In brief chapters presented with a mix of narrative and arch dialog, such philosophical issues as the ethics of meat eating, the existence of God, and the nature of common errors in reasoning are presented as "mental exercises" for the reader. Law (philosophy, Univ. of London) is the editor of Think, a British journal whose mission is to bring philosophy into popular public view. This collection reflects that effort to popularize theory and make it accessible to an audience with no technical background. Each "exercise" offers a bit of historical staging and glimpses at some of the traditional arguments, but none really serves in lieu of reading any of the thinkers-from Plato to Wittgenstein-or of taking an introductory philosophy course. Daniel Postgate's illustrations are both useful and humorous, extending a verbal presentation that sometimes becomes tiresome in its hyperbolic characterizations of the fictional discussants. Chapter endnotes most often cite chapters within recently published anthologies rather than primary sources. Best suited for audiences in public and high school libraries.-Francisca Goldsmith, Berkeley P.L., CA Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.Product Details
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Meet the Author
Stephen Law is a lecturer in philosphy at the University of London, was formerly Research Fellow in Philosophy at Queen's College, Oxford and received his doctoral degree in philosophy from the University of Oxford.
Table of Contents
1. Where Did the Universe Come From?
2. What's Wrong with Gay Sex?
3. Brain-Snatched
4. Is Time Travel Possible?
5. Into the Lair of the Relavist
6. Could a Machine Think?
7. Does God Exist?
8. The Strange Case of the Rational Dentist
9. But Is It Art?
10. Can We Have Morality without God and Religion?
11. Is Creationism Scientific?
12. Designer Babies
13. The Consciousness Conundrum
14. Why Expect the Sun to Rise Tomorrow?
15. Do We Ever Deserve to Be Punished?
16. The Meaning Mystery
17. Killing Mary to Save Jodie
18. The Strange Realm of Numbers
19. What Is Knowledge?
20. Is Morality Like a Pair of Spectacles?
21. Should You Be Eating That?
22. Brain Transplants, "Teleportation," and the Puzzle of Personal Identity
23. Miracles and the Supernatural
24. How to Spot Eight Everyday Reasoning Errors
25. Seven Paradoxes