Product Description

‘A definitive work…explains clearly and succinctly concepts and theories at the heart of European and American philosophy.’ - Brenda Almond What do philosophers mean by 'absolute' and 'akrasia'? What are 'Polish notation' and 'prime matter'? What contributions to human thought were made by Plato, Machiavelli, Kant and Derrida? These questions and many more are answered by this illuminating dictionary, which draws on contributions from over 100 leading philosophers.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #81143 in Books
• Published on: 2005-07-28
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 688 pages

From the Publisher

Some sample entries:

DEONTOLOGY

1 This word was devised by Jeremy Bentham (1748 - 1832), and used by him to mean the `science of morality'. He also used the word as a name for his whole elthical theory, including both the basic principle of utility and a vast number of detailed applications. Bentham's Deontology 1834 was compiled by his editor in a way frowned upon by many of Bentham's followers, including John Stewart Mill. 2 a code of ethics for certain professions, e.g. the medical profession.

LAPLACE

Pierre Simon de (1749 - 1827) French astronomer and probability theorist. On the basis of Newtonian physics, he held the view that the total course of events in the universe would be perfectly predictable to an intelligence who knew the position of every particle in the universe and the forces acting upon it. In the absence of such perfect knowledge, however, we should be guided by a rational estimate of probabilities.

SOLIPSISM

1 (in ontology) The view that nothing exists except one's own self and the contents of its consciousness. 2 (in epistemology) The view that nothing can be known except one's own self and the contents of its consciousness.

In an older sense, solipsism means egoism, the view that nothing is to be valued except one's own interests and pleasures. This usage occurs e.g. in Kant's Critique of Practical Reason 3, section 3. The invention of the word and its use in this sense have been traced to a satirical anti-Jesuit work dating from the 1650s. It accused Jesuits of unscrupulous pursuit of self-interest, i.e. of what is now called egoism. On the other hand, `egoism' signified until the nineteenth century what in present-day usage is called solipsism. It seems that the two words exchanged their meanings in the course of the nineteenth century.

About the Author
Thomas Mautner is Visiting Fellow in the School of Humanities at the Australian National University, He has published papers in academic journals and has lectured widely on 17th and 18th century philosophy, moral and political thought and national rights.

Customer Reviews

The best dictionary of philosophy available?
This may well be the best dictionary of philosophy available: better value for money than many of its bigger competitors. Its secret is clear writing: one compact paragraph from this book conveys more than pages from more run-of-the-mill dictionaries. A special feature of this book is the self-portraits by major contemporary philosophers: there's enormous value in hearing where they've come from and where they believe they are headed. Briefer, clearer and more memorably written than most histories of philosophy, if you can afford only one reference work in philosophy, put this one on your shelf. You won't regret it. (And for those who already have many philosophy reference works, this is a must-have addition. The self-portraits alone make it invaluable.)

Very, very useful
I am studying philosophy with the Open University and this modestly priced book has proved invaluable. Even if you are not a philosophy student this book is still worth having as it presents an array of philosophy related subjects in an interesting and readable way. I enjoy just dipping into it and seeing what's there. Buy it.

Fascinating and immensely readable
Despite being technically a 'dictionary', this book can easily be read a a 'primer' on philosophy. Concise, informed, well cross-referenced and comprehensive, even the more complicated and enigmatic philosophical theories are explained clearly, critically and without over-simplification or overt bias.

My one reservation is that some entries which deal with issues which cross into theological grounds are rather sparsely expanded upon. While I appreciate that these issues are best dealt with in depth in a 'Dictionary of Theology', the effect many of them (such as Original Sin) had on contemporary philosophical thought (not to mention contemporary Western society) would justify a little more expansion than the dozen lines with which they are summarised.