Philosophy: A Text with Readings, 11th Edition

Book Preface

Although things in philosophy change relatively slowly, change—even in philosophy—is inevitable. Philosophical views concerning the nature of truth, for example, had long coalesced around the traditional trilogy of the correspondence, coherence, and pragmatic theories of truth. However, during the last few years, deflationist theories of truth—which actually have been around for several decades—have begun to exercise a new influence on our view of the nature of truth. Virtue theory and just war theory, once dismissed as antiquated, have recently forced many of us to revise our views on ethics and on the use of force. Not only do the substantive theories of philosophy gradually change, but new interpretations of old philosophies also force change in our philosophical beliefs. For example, recent new interpretations of Aquinas, Hegel, and Heidegger have changed philosophers’ understanding of natural law, the self, and culture. And as the technological, political, and social world around us changes, we come to new understandings of ourselves and our society; this, too, introduces change into the world of philosophy. New technologies, for example, have forced us to rethink our views on euthanasia and the environment, and the proliferation of terrorism has led us to rethink our views on the proper responses to violence.

So although Philosophy: A Text with Readings continues to excite readers about philosophy, changes in philosophy—as well as changes in the world we inhabit—regularly necessitate revising the text. I have tried to retain what users have said they like best about this book: that it provides depth and rigor yet is easy to read, fun to use, and manages to cover all the traditional issues with a unique combination of attention to the history of philosophy, regard for interesting contemporary concerns, and substantial selections from classic and contemporary texts. But I have made several revisions and changes to ensure that the text incorporates new philosophical developments, continues to meet teachers’ needs, and provides a substantive yet enjoyable experience of philosophy for the reader who wonders what we and our rapidly changing world are all about.