The Philosophy Gym: 25 Short Adventures in ThinkingFrom Descartes to designer babies, The Philosophy Gym poses questions about some of history's most important philosophical issues, ranging in difficulty from pretty easy to very challenging. He brings new perspectives to age-old conundrums while also tackling modern-day dilemmas -- some for the first time. Begin your warm up by contemplating whether a pickled sheep can truly be considered art, or dive right in and tackle the existence of God. In this radically new way of looking at philosophy, Stephen Law illustrates the problem with a story, then lets the argument battle it out in clear, easily digestible and intelligent prose. This perfect little mental health club is sure to give each reader's mind a great workout. |
Contents
Where Did the Universe Come From? | 1 |
Whats Wrong with Gay Sex? | 10 |
BrainSnatched | 25 |
4 | 33 |
Is Time Travel Possible? | 34 |
Into the Lair of the Relativist | 46 |
Could a Machine Think? | 58 |
Does God Exist? | 68 |
Why Expect the Sun to Rise Tomorrow? | 152 |
Do We Ever Deserve to Be Punished? | 163 |
The Meaning Mystery | 175 |
Killing Mary to Save Jodie | 183 |
The Strange Realm of Numbers | 193 |
What Is Knowledge? | 206 |
Is Morality like a Pair of Spectacles? | 218 |
Should You Be Eating That? | 229 |
The Strange Case of the Rational Dentist | 80 |
But Is It Art? | 92 |
10 | 96 |
Can We Have Morality without God and Religion? | 104 |
Is Creationism Scientific? | 117 |
Designer Babies | 130 |
The Consciousness Conundrum | 141 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
animal appear argument atheists Bassett behaviour believe Big Bang body brain brain-in-a-vat Bridie CATEGORY WARM-UP MODERATE causal loop cause Chapter Chris Horner claim Clerque conclusion correct counterexample course creationists Dentist designer babies divine command theory Divney Emit emotivism example existence explain fact false female circumcision Figgerson Finnucane Freyja genetic GYM CATEGORY WARM-UP happen Hatchjaw homosexuality human Hume's hypothesis induction inductive reasoning Jarvis Jodie justified Kimberley knowledge Kraus logical behaviourism look MacCruiskeen machine mathematical McDadd mean Meers mind miracles MODERATE MORE CHALLENGING moral relativism morally acceptable mystery Mystica Nigel Warburton O'Corky objects observe Paradox Pegeen Perhaps person philosophical PHILOSOPHY GYM PHILOSOPHY GYM CATEGORY physical Pluck problem Prof Clone properties psychic question rational reason relativism religion rise tomorrow scepticism Schnapper scientists seems Selby sense Siddery someone sort spectacles model stallions stream theory suggestion supernatural suppose surely there's things truth universe what's Wittgenstein