The Philosopher's Tool Kit / Edition 1

by Steven Scott Aspenson

Overview

A concise introduction to the basic elements of argumentative prose and the conceptual tools necessary to understand, analyze, criticize, and construct arguments: as well as to the philosophical mainstays of metaphysics, epistemology, and philosophical analysis.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780765602183
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	10/31/1997
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	144
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)
Age Range:	18 Years

Table of Contents

Part 1 Categories, Classification and Definition: Categories; Classification; Definition; Essential Terms of Metaphysics. Part 2 Assessing Claims: Necessary Truths - Analytic Truths, Logical Truths, Necessary-Synthetic Truths; Contingent Truths - Synthetic Truths, Truths of Natural Law; Essential Terms of Epistemology. Part 3 Assessing Inferences: Deductive Inferences - Analytic, Logical/Categorical, Necessary-Synthetic Transcendental, Completely Enumerative; Inductive Inferences - Relative Frequency, Sui-Generis Making-Probable Relation, Incompletely Enumerative, Causal/Lawful Regularity; Abductive Inference; Essential Terms of Epistemology. Part 4 Philosophical Analysis: Kinds of Analysis - Same and New-Level Analysis; Tools of Analysis - the Negative Way, Abstraction and Precision, Distinction and Principled Distinction Thought-Experiments; Essential Terms of Philosophical Analysis. Part 5 Philosophical Writing: Criticize, Understand, Then Write; Be Negative at First; Identify Philosophical Commitments of Your View; Distinguo! Using Latin and Special Terms; Special Terms for Writing Philosophy.

Editorial Reviews

An excellent compact survival guide for undergraduate and graduate students, explaining philosophy's conceptual mainstays, terms, and writing standards in an informal and sometimes humorous style. Chapters discuss metaphysics and tools philosophers use to clarify its issues, including epistemological tools, tools of philosophical analysis, and tools related to philosophical writing. Each chapter ends with detailed definitions. Paper edition (unseen), $15.95. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

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