As the title of Scott Samuelson s manuscript suggests, his project introduces philosophy not as a special, insular form of thought as Stanley Fish recently described philosophy but rather as the very real and widespread search for meaning. Samuelson frames his personal presentation of philosophy with his own story of how he came to a community college as a classically-trained philosopher and rediscovered the true nature and power of philosophy among soldiers and chiropractors, preschool music teachers and aspiring ...
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As the title of Scott Samuelson s manuscript suggests, his project introduces philosophy not as a special, insular form of thought as Stanley Fish recently described philosophy but rather as the very real and widespread search for meaning. Samuelson frames his personal presentation of philosophy with his own story of how he came to a community college as a classically-trained philosopher and rediscovered the true nature and power of philosophy among soldiers and chiropractors, preschool music teachers and aspiring undertakers, ex-cons and cancer patients real people who surprised him with their need and flair for philosophy. A serious thematic and historical introduction to philosophy as way of life, the book is organized around four questions: What is philosophy?What is happiness?Is knowledge of God possible?And what is the nature of good and evil?Samuelson connects and compares some of the world s great philosophers to his students, teachers, and himself, revealing that there is a pattern to the search for wisdom, even though it often leads to fascinatingly different places.This is a serious but accessible introduction to philosophy that empowers its readers as philosophers. "
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