tag:open.umn.edu,2005:/opentextbooks/subjects/34?page=3Open Textbook Library - Philosophy Textbooks2019-09-21T14:04:57Zhttps://open.umn.edu/assets/common/favicon/favicon-1594c2156c95ca22b1a0d803d547e5892bb0e351f682be842d64927ecda092e7.icohttps://open.umn.edu/assets/library/otl_logo-f9161d5c999f5852b38260727d49b4e7d7142fc707ec9596a5256a778f957ffc.png7762019-09-21T14:04:57Z2024-01-22T14:52:21ZIntroduction to Philosophy: Philosophy of Mind<img alt="Read more about Introduction to Philosophy: Philosophy of Mind" title="Introduction to Philosophy: Philosophy of Mind cover image" class="cover " width="350" height="525" data-controller="common--cover" data-placeholder="/assets/common/placeholder-0e0607cbc50663ddb9e8fd188058bcd2630c730ef6ee322801278607b7d5af8e.png" src="/rails/active_storage/blobs/redirect/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6NzMzLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--1e4caaa1a7475f49941abfb0bb5dbae9b6a3bae2/978-1-989014-07-3.jpg" />Introduction to Philosophy: Philosophy of Mind surveys the central themes in philosophy of mind and places them in a historical and contemporary context intended to engage first-time readers in the field. It focuses on debates about the status and character of the mind and its seemingly subjective nature in an apparently more objective world.7452019-07-21T13:35:12Z2024-01-22T14:52:13ZLogical Reasoning<img alt="Read more about Logical Reasoning" title="Logical Reasoning cover image" class="cover " width="652" height="802" data-controller="common--cover" data-placeholder="/assets/common/placeholder-0e0607cbc50663ddb9e8fd188058bcd2630c730ef6ee322801278607b7d5af8e.png" src="/rails/active_storage/blobs/redirect/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6NjkyLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--220938d6e649c5da5f2640a3db6c81ccf3f8f3cc/0000LogicaRea.png" />The goal of this book is to improve your logical-reasoning skills. These skills are also called "critical thinking skills." They are a complex weave of abilities that help you get someone's point, generate reasons for your own point, evaluate the reasons given by others, decide what or what not to do, decide what information to accept or reject, explain a complicated idea, apply conscious quality control as you think, and resist propaganda. Your most important critical thinking skill is your skill at making judgments─not snap judgments that occur in the blink of an eye, but those that require careful reasoning. This book is also available as an adaptable Word file.7282019-06-22T16:46:01Z2024-01-22T14:52:18ZMetaethics from a First Person Standpoint: An Introduction to Moral Philosophy<img alt="Read more about Metaethics from a First Person Standpoint: An Introduction to Moral Philosophy" title="Metaethics from a First Person Standpoint: An Introduction to Moral Philosophy cover image" class="cover " width="160" height="241" data-controller="common--cover" data-placeholder="/assets/common/placeholder-0e0607cbc50663ddb9e8fd188058bcd2630c730ef6ee322801278607b7d5af8e.png" src="/rails/active_storage/blobs/redirect/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6NjczLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--1f39ef2d132a3a03163d77c546b9ae8c52cd3227/9781783742004.jpg" />Metaethics from a First Person Standpoint addresses in a novel format the major topics and themes of contemporary metaethics, the study of the analysis of moral thought and judgement. Metathetics is less concerned with what practices are right or wrong than with what we mean by ‘right’ and ‘wrong.’ Looking at a wide spectrum of topics including moral language, realism and anti-realism, reasons and motives, relativism, and moral progress, this book engages students and general readers in order to enhance their understanding of morality and moral discourse as cultural practices. Catherine Wilson innovatively employs a first-person narrator to report step-by-step an individual’s reflections, beginning from a position of radical scepticism, on the possibility of objective moral knowledge. The reader is invited to follow along with this reasoning, and to challenge or agree with each major point. Incrementally, the narrator is led to certain definite conclusions about ‘oughts’ and norms in connection with self-interest, prudence, social norms, and finally morality. Scepticism is overcome, and the narrator arrives at a good understanding of how moral knowledge and moral progress are possible, though frequently long in coming.Accessibly written, Metaethics from a First Person Standpoint presupposes no prior training in philosophy and is a must-read for philosophers, students and general readers interested in gaining a better understanding of morality as a personal philosophical quest.6612019-01-31T03:05:55Z2024-01-22T14:52:03ZInferring and Explaining<img alt="Read more about Inferring and Explaining" title="Inferring and Explaining cover image" class="cover " width="2591" height="3364" data-controller="common--cover" data-placeholder="/assets/common/placeholder-0e0607cbc50663ddb9e8fd188058bcd2630c730ef6ee322801278607b7d5af8e.png" src="/rails/active_storage/blobs/redirect/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6NjA0LCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--65ba0848a870b610b033082cb483d308d0cd9ab9/Inferring.jpg" />Inferring and Explaining is a book in practical epistemology. It examines the notion of evidence and assumes that good evidence is the essence of rational thinking. Evidence is the cornerstone of the natural, social, and behavioral sciences. But it is equally central to almost all academic pursuits and, perhaps most importantly, to the basic need to live an intelligent and reflective life. The book further assumes that a particular model of evidence— Inference to the Best Explanation—not only captures the essence of (good) evidence but suggests a very practical, and pedagogically useful, procedure for evidence evaluation. The book is intended primarily for two sorts of introductory courses. First and foremost are courses in critical thinking (or informal or practical logic). In addition, however, the book has application in more general courses (or major sections of courses) in introductory philosophy.5982018-09-07T17:22:12Z2024-01-22T14:52:13ZAn Introduction to Philosophy<img alt="Read more about An Introduction to Philosophy" title="An Introduction to Philosophy cover image" class="cover " width="151" height="196" data-controller="common--cover" data-placeholder="/assets/common/placeholder-0e0607cbc50663ddb9e8fd188058bcd2630c730ef6ee322801278607b7d5af8e.png" src="/rails/active_storage/blobs/redirect/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6NTIxLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--96ceb4821c397448ce583ff7d4f1de15fcd8aa68/0000IntrToPhi.png" />The goal of this text is to present philosophy to newcomers as a living discipline with historical roots. While a few early chapters are historically organized, the goal in the historical chapters is to trace a developmental progression of thought that introduces basic philosophical methods and frames issues that remain relevant today. Later chapters are topically organized. These include philosophy of science and philosophy of mind, areas where philosophy has shown dramatic recent progress. This text concludes with four chapters on ethics, broadly construed. Traditional theories of right action is covered in a third of these. Students are first invited first to think about what is good for themselves and their relationships in a chapter of love and happiness. Next a few meta-ethical issues are considered; namely, whether they are moral truths and if so what makes them so. The end of the ethics sequence addresses social justice, what it is for one's community to be good. Our sphere of concern expands progressively through these chapters. Our inquiry recapitulates the course of development into moral maturity. Over the course of the text, the author has tried to outline the continuity of thought that leads from the historical roots of philosophy to a few of the diverse areas of inquiry that continue to make significant contributions to our understanding of ourselves and the world we live in.5902018-09-07T17:22:12Z2024-01-22T14:52:17ZAn Introduction to Ontology Engineering<img alt="Read more about An Introduction to Ontology Engineering" title="An Introduction to Ontology Engineering cover image" class="cover " width="340" height="446" data-controller="common--cover" data-placeholder="/assets/common/placeholder-0e0607cbc50663ddb9e8fd188058bcd2630c730ef6ee322801278607b7d5af8e.png" src="/rails/active_storage/blobs/redirect/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6NTEzLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--d7ba4baec8d3bb6db540ac7324a6e18ccbb1d8d7/0000IntOntEng.png" />This first general textbook An introduction to ontology engineering has as main aim to provide the reader with a comprehensive introductory overview of ontology engineering. A secondary aim is to provide hands-on experience in ontology development that illustrate the theory. The book is divided into three blocks: Block I: logic foundations for ontologies both regarding the languages (mainly First Order predicate Logic, Description Logics, and OWL) and automated reasoning. Block II: developing good ontologies with methods and methodologies, the top-down approach with foundational ontologies, and the bottom-up approach to extract as much useful content as possible from legacy material. Block III: advanced topics with a selection of areas of specialisation, including Ontology-Based Data Access, the interaction between ontologies and natural languages (multilingual ontologies, controlled natural language), and advanced modelling with additional language features (fuzzy and temporal ontologies).5692018-09-07T17:22:10Z2024-01-22T14:51:59ZKeys to Understanding the Middle East<img alt="Read more about Keys to Understanding the Middle East" title="Keys to Understanding the Middle East cover image" class="cover " width="1536" height="2048" data-controller="common--cover" data-placeholder="/assets/common/placeholder-0e0607cbc50663ddb9e8fd188058bcd2630c730ef6ee322801278607b7d5af8e.png" src="/rails/active_storage/blobs/redirect/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6NDkyLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--0cbca00d2d38fc3707875b0a55d52f929c2d3f02/0000KeyUndMEa.png" />This book is intended for readers who have never studied the Middle East, or experts who may wish to fill gaps in their knowledge of the region from other disciplines. Whether for establishing or deepening one's knowledge of the region, these fundamentals are important to know. The languages, cultural, religious and sectarian communities of the region, and selected turning points and influential people in history are starting points for gaining an understanding of the diverse contexts of the region. It isbased on introductoryand graduatecourseson thecontemporaryMiddle East, which the Center's director, Dr. Alam Payind, has been teaching for the past 30 years. The book's co-author,Melinda McClimans,hastaught these and other courses with him, as well as her own,for the past 15years. The material isintendedengage with diverse – even conflicting – culturaland historicalperspectives,andways of perceivingboth Middle Easternandworld historyfrom perspectives within the region. It is not intended to reinforce a monolithic or matter-of-fact perception of the region.For this and many other reasons, images are an important aspect of the knowledge presented. Each chapter starts with links to its image galleries, along with other visual aids and key elements.5552018-09-07T17:22:10Z2024-01-22T14:52:16ZWords of Wisdom: Intro to Philosophy<img alt="Read more about Words of Wisdom: Intro to Philosophy" title="Words of Wisdom: Intro to Philosophy cover image" class="cover " width="2500" height="3750" data-controller="common--cover" data-placeholder="/assets/common/placeholder-0e0607cbc50663ddb9e8fd188058bcd2630c730ef6ee322801278607b7d5af8e.png" src="/rails/active_storage/blobs/redirect/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6NDc5LCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--de62afb6d1f6cb625eea36597d3c3da5f16e5855/0000WordsWisd.png" />Words of Wisdom can come from anyone. In this text we discuss topics ranging from "Are Humans good by nature?" to "Is there a God?" to "Do I have the right to my own opinion?" Philosophy is the study of wisdom, and can emerge in our conversations in social media, in school, around the family dinner table, and even in the car. The text uses materials that are 2,500 years old, and materials that were in the news this year. Wise people come in all shapes and types, and from every culture on earth. We have poetry and folktales, sacred writings and letters. Dialogues and interviews, news columns, Ted Talks, You Tube recordings and even comedy are all a part of the content in this text.You will be most successful reading this on line. The formatting in the downloadable versions is not wonderful. There is work being done by the software, but in the meantime, you will want to use it by clicking here on "read book:".5532018-09-07T17:22:09Z2024-01-22T14:52:18ZWellbeing, Freedom and Social Justice: The Capability Approach Re-Examined<img alt="Read more about Wellbeing, Freedom and Social Justice: The Capability Approach Re-Examined" title="Wellbeing, Freedom and Social Justice: The Capability Approach Re-Examined cover image" class="cover " width="932" height="1340" data-controller="common--cover" data-placeholder="/assets/common/placeholder-0e0607cbc50663ddb9e8fd188058bcd2630c730ef6ee322801278607b7d5af8e.png" src="/rails/active_storage/blobs/redirect/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6NDc3LCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--b674ec650f1f09ab98922e09c552e3e49f180cb2/9781783744237.png" />How do we evaluate ambiguous concepts such as wellbeing, freedom, and social justice? How do we develop policies that offer everyone the best chance to achieve what they want from life? The capability approach, a theoretical framework pioneered by the philosopher and economist Amartya Sen in the 1980s, has become an increasingly influential way to think about these issues. Wellbeing, Freedom and Social Justice: The Capability Approach Re-Examined is both an introduction to the capability approach and a thorough evaluation of the challenges and disputes that have engrossed the scholars who have developed it. Ingrid Robeyns offers her own illuminating and rigorously interdisciplinary interpretation, arguing that by appreciating the distinction between the general capability approach and more specific capability theories or applications we can create a powerful and flexible tool for use in a variety of academic disciplines and fields of policymaking. This book provides an original and comprehensive account that will appeal to scholars of the capability approach, new readers looking for an interdisciplinary introduction, and those interested in theories of justice, human rights, basic needs, and the human development approach.5422018-09-07T17:22:09Z2024-01-22T14:51:57ZSix Ways of Being Religious<img alt="Read more about Six Ways of Being Religious" title="Six Ways of Being Religious cover image" class="cover " width="116" height="150" data-controller="common--cover" data-placeholder="/assets/common/placeholder-0e0607cbc50663ddb9e8fd188058bcd2630c730ef6ee322801278607b7d5af8e.png" src="/rails/active_storage/blobs/redirect/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6MTk4OSwicHVyIjoiYmxvYl9pZCJ9fQ==--a4dd0334c2c7e82bd3947e08f29413688f54aa7a/thumbnail%20(2).jpg" />The book proposes the hypothesis that six generic ways of being religious may be found in any large-scale religious tradition such as Christianity or Buddhism or Islam or Hinduism: sacred rite, right action, devotion, shamanic mediation, mystical quest, and reasoned inquiry. These are recurrent ways in which, socially and individually, devout members of these traditions take up and appropriate their stories and symbols in order to draw near to, and come into right relationship with, what the traditions attest to be the ultimate reality.
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