Product Description

The Philosopher's Toolkit provides all the intellectual equipment necessary to engage with and participate in philosophical argument, reading and reflection. Each of its 87 entries explains how to use an important concept or argumentative technique accurately and effectively.
Beginning with the basics of argumentation, the book moves on to deal with tools for assessment and criticism, as well as the limits of argumentation and some of the radical critiques of standard philosophical methodology. Written in an engaging style, the entries are brought to life with vivid and colourful examples and are accompanied by suggestions for further reading.

This ingenious compendium of the methods and techniques of philosophy can be used in a variety of ways; as an introduction to the essentials of philosophical reflection, as a comprehensive course on philosophical method, or as a reference book to which readers can turn to find quick and clear accounts of key concepts and methods. The Philosopher's Toolkit is essential reading for anyone who wants to philosophise well.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #47426 in Books
• Published on: 2002-09-12
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 232 pages

Reference Reviews
Sources are well chosen and indicated step by step. Sections are cross-referenced and supported by a useful index.

Synopsis
The Philosopher's Toolkit provides all the intellectual equipment necessary to engage with and participate in philosophical argument, reading and reflection. Each of its 87 entries explains how to use an important concept or argumentative technique accurately and effectively.Beginning with the basics of argumentation, the book moves on to deal with tools for assessment and criticism, as well as the limits of argumentation and some of the radical critiques of standard philosophical methodology. Written in an engaging style, the entries are brought to life with vivid and colourful examples and are accompanied by suggestions for further reading. This ingenious compendium of the methods and techniques of philosophy can be used in a variety of ways: as an introduction to the essentials of philosophical reflection, as a comprehensive course on philosophical method, or as a reference book to which readers can turn to find quick and clear accounts of key concepts and methods. The Philosopher's Toolkit is essential reading for anyone who wants to philosophise well.

About the Author
Julian Baggini is editor and co-publisher of The Philosophers' Magazine. He has written on philosophy for the general reader in The Independent, Independent on Sunday and Times Educational Supplement. His PhD was awarded by University College London in 1996.

Peter Fosl is Bingham Associate Professor of Philosophy and Program Chair at Transylvania University, Lexington, Kentucky. He serves as contributing editor to The Philosopher's Magazine. A graduate of Bucknell University and Emory University, Fosl also studied at the LSE and took a Fullbright Scholarship to the University of Edinburgh. He has published on Hume, scepticism and topics in the history of philosophy.

Customer Reviews

Useful
Not a large tome, not exhaustive but it doesn't claim to be. It is a rather useful aide memoire of the main points, topics and techniques of philosophy.It could pass as a bluffer's guide but that would demean it. If you are new to philosophy or are wanting an accessible manual on the important bits in philosophy this book is for you. Laid out in alphabetical order, very easy to use. Recommended.