Introduction to World Philosophies

By Paul Harris

eTextbook Cover - Intro to World Philosophies

 

Introduction to World Philosophies

By Paul Harris

Copyright © 2024

Subject: Philosophy

Keywords: Philosophy, World Philosophies, Diversity, Decolonialism

About the Book

Introduction to World Philosophies is an introductory text for Phi 101: World Philosophies at West Chester University of Pennsylvania. This book provides historical context along with a thematic exploration of the most important philosophical problems and solutions from both Western and non-Western traditions. By analyzing primary texts alongside in-depth commentary, readers will gain an understanding of the original philosophical ideas and their lasting impact.

This course covers a broad range of philosophical topics, including meta-philosophy, epistemology, moral philosophy, and the philosophy of religion. Some of the major thinkers of the Western tradition are included, such as Plato, Aristotle, and Descartes, but special attention will also be given to thinkers and traditions outside of the mainstream Western canon, such as those from Hinduism, Buddhism, and feminism. Readers will be able to see how past thinkers have grappled with fundamental questions like the nature of philosophy, the sources of knowledge, the meaning of morality, and the role of religion in human life.

Usage

Please note that this book is available for use by any West Chester University (WCU) faculty member or student but should not be distributed to anyone outside of WCU. The Teaching and Learning Center keeps usage statistics on all books created by the eTextbook Initiative, so any faculty member who plans to use one or more of these books in their WCU course(s) will need to complete a short usage survey.

Usage Survey

Downloads

If using an Apple device, we recommend downloading the ePub file in order to read via Apple Books, but if using a Windows or Android device, we recommend downloading the PDF file for easier use. For assistance and more information please reference our student support guidelines, found under Student Support.

Download the Book

Table of Contents

  • Introduction to World Philosophies
  • Topic 1: The Origins of Philosophy
    • Chapter 1: What is Philosophy?
    • Chapter 2: Before Philosophy
    • Chapter 3: The First Philosophers
    • Chapter 4: Athens, The Sophists, and Relativism
    • Chapter 5: Socrates
  • Topic 2: Epistemology
    • Chapter 6: Plato’s Epistemology
    • Chapter 7: Aristotle
    • Chapter 8: Descartes
    • Chapter 9: David Hume
    • Chapter 10: Hinduism
  • Topic 3: Moral Philosophy
    • Chapter 11: Plato’s Virtue Theory
    • Chapter 12: Utilitarianism
    • Chapter 13: Kant’s Moral Philosophy
    • Chapter 14: Feminist Ethics
    • Chapter 15: Buddhism and Jainism
  • Topic 4: The Philosophy of Religion
    • Chapter 16: Anselm and Aquinas
    • Chapter 17: The argument Against God
    • Chapter 18: Friedrich Nietzsche
    • Chapter 19: Soren Kierkegaard
    • Chapter 20: Existentialism
  • Works Cited
  • Full Texts

Information

General

  • Publication Year: 2024
  • Edition: First

Recommended Citations

  • MLA: Harris, Paul. Introduction to World Philosophies. First, West Chester University, 2024.
  • APA: Harris, P. (2024). Introduction to World Philosophies (First). West Chester University.
  • Chicago: Harris, Paul. Introduction to World Philosophies. First. West Chester University, 2024.

License

  • Copyright © 2024, Paul Harris, West Chester University of Pennsylvania, All rights reserved.