Philosophy: The Basics

184 Pages·2004·1.34 MB·English

by  Nigel Warburton

PHILOSOPHY
THE BASICS
‘Philosophy: The Basics deservedly remains the most recommended introduction
to philosophy on the market. Warburton is patient, accurate and, above all, clear.
There is no better short introduction to philosophy.’
Stephen Law, Heythrop College, University of London
‘Introductory philosophy can be a lot like learning to ride a bike: intriguing but
laced with bumps, bruises, and frustrations. Warburton retains the intrigue but
softens the bumps, bruises, and frustrations. And students have a unique
opportunity to learn how to ride!’
Paul K. Moser, Loyola University of Chicago
‘Simply and lucidly, does exactly what it says on the cover. An excellent way into
the basics of philosophy, this book doesn’t just instruct but tries to set the reader
thinking as well.’
Edward Craig, University of Cambridge
‘Nigel Warburton offers an excellent guide to the practice of philosophical think-
ing aimed squarely at the newcomer.’
Dave Leal, University of Oxford
‘After ten years and three previous editions, this is still the best book of its kind.’

Don Cupitt, University of Cambridge
‘The book is beautifully written, admirably clear without being at all solemn,
pretentious or patronising.’
D.H. Mellor, University of Cambridge
‘It is hard to imagine an introduction to philosophy which, in equally compact
form, would cover the basic issues of philosophy with greater clarity, fairness,
and relative thoroughness.’
Ronald E. Santoni, Denison University
Nigel Warburton is Senior Lecturer at the Open University. He is editor of
Philosophy: Basic Readings, second edition, co-author of Reading Political
Philosophy and author of Philosophy: The Classics, second edition, Thinking
from A-Z, second edition, Freedom: An Introduction with Readings, The Art
Question, Ernö Goldfinger: the Life of an Architect and Philosophy: the Essential
Study Guide.
You may also be interested in the following Routledge titles:
Philosophy: The Classics, second edition
Nigel Warburton
Thinking from A to Z, second edition
Nigel Warburton
Freedom: An Introduction with Readings
Nigel Warburton
Philosophy: the Essential Study Guide
Nigel Warburton
Philosophy: Basic Readings, second edition
Edited by Nigel Warburton
Paradoxes from A to Z
Michael Clark
Critical Reasoning: A Practical Introduction, second edition
Anne Thomson
A Short History of Modern Philosophy
Roger Scruton
The Concise Encyclopedia of Western Philosophy and Philosophers, second edition
Edited by J. O. Urmson and Jonathan Rée
PHILOSOPHY
THE BASICS
Fourth edition
Nigel Warburton
First edition published 1992
Reprinted 1992, 1993, 1994
Second edition published 1995
Reprinted 1996, 1998
Third edition published 1999
Reprinted 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003
Fourth edition published 2004
by Routledge
11 New Fetter Lane, London EC4P 4EE
Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada
by Routledge
29 West 35th Street, New York, NY 10001
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group
This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2004.
© 1992, 1995, 1999, 2004 Nig el Warburton
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or
reproduced or utilized in any form or by any electronic, mechanical,
or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including
photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or
retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
A catalog record for this book has been requested
ISBN 0-203-50641-3 Master e-book ISBN
ISBN 0-203-57444-3 (Adobe eReader Format)
ISBN 0–415–32772–5 (hbk)
ISBN 0–415–32773–3 (pbk)
FOR MY MOTHER

CONTENTS
Preface xiii
Introduction 1
Philosophy and its history 2
Why study philosophy? 3
Is philosophy difficult? 5
The limits of what philosophy can do 6
How to use this book 6
Further reading 7
Internet resources 9
1 God 11
The Design Argument 12
Criticisms of the Design Argument 13
Fine Tuning 15
Criticism of Fine Tuning 16
The First Cause Argument 16
Criticisms of the First Cause Argument 17
The Ontological Argument 18
Criticisms of the Ontological Argument 19
Knowledge, proof and the existence of God 20
The Problem of Evil 21
Attempted solutions to the Problem of Evil 22
The Free Will Defence 24
Criticisms of the Free Will Defence 24
viii Contents
The argument from miracles 27
Hume on miracles 27
The Gambler’s Argument: Pascal’s Wager 30
Criticisms of the Gambler’s Argument 31
Non-realism about God 32
Criticisms of non-realism about God 33
Faith 33
Death 35
Criticism of Epicurus 36
Would immortality be tedious? 36
Criticism of the tedium of immortality 36
Conclusion 37
Further reading 37
2 Right and wrong 39
Duty-based theories 40
Christian ethics 40
Criticisms of Christian ethics 41
Kantian ethics 42
Criticisms of Kantian ethics 46
Consequentialism 48
Utilitarianism 48
Criticisms of utilitarianism 49
Negative utilitarianism 52
Criticism of negative utilitarianism 53
Rule utilitarianis m 53
Virtue theory 54
Criticisms of virtue theory 55
Applied ethics 56
Ethics and meta-ethics 59
Naturalism 59
Criticisms of naturalism 60
Moral relativism 62
Criticisms of moral relativism 62
Emotivism 63
Criticisms of emotivism 64
Conclusion 65
Further reading 66
Contents ix
3 Politics 67
Equality 67
Equal distribution of money 69
Criticisms of equal distribution of money 69
Equal opportunity in employment 71
Reverse discrimination 72
Criticisms of reverse discrimination 73
Political equality: democracy 74
Direct democracy 74
Representative democracy 75
Criticisms of democracy 75
Freedom 77
Negative freedom 77
Criticisms of negative freedom 78
Positive freedom 79
Freedom of speech 80
Criticisms of Mill on free speech 81
Removing freedom: punishment 82
Punishment as retribution 82
Criticisms of retributivism 83
Deterrence 83
Criticisms of deterrence 84
Protection of society 84
Criticisms of protection of society 85
Reform 85
Criticisms of reform 86
Civil disobedience 86
Criticisms of civil disobedience 88
Conclusion 90
Further reading 90
4 The external world 92
Common-sense realism 92
Scepticism about the evidence of the senses 93
The Illusion Argument 93
Criticisms of the Illusion Argument 94
Could I be dreaming? 95
Hallucination 96
Memory and logic 98