Think - Simon Blackburn

...at getting the reader to think and is in a very conversation style. There are not a lot of technical words to confuse the reader and the style is very much what one might find in a broadsheet newspaper article. Certainly it will not confuse anyone who can handle the Guardian!

It does not claim to be the final world on philosophy or any aspect of the subject subject. Generally as philosophy is not about a right or wrong answer so it ...
...rather than shows the arguments). Think is possibly aimed more at the layman than student.

This book really considers the English/American tradition of philosophy. This means it ignores much of the contential postmodernism, which whilst interesting is often unnecessarily abstract and difficult for the amateur to follow.

The introduction to philosophy market is quite crowded. I like the book because it has a conversation ... more

I have an interest in philosophy that I developed and as a result I did an A-Level course at night school on Philosophy. This book was one of several recommended by the tutor and I found it to be great introduction to philosophy.

This book provides an introduction to many areas of philosophy. It looks at breadth rather than depth of the subject. Although he doesn't really look at aesthetics, politics and postmodernism.

The main emphasis of this book is on what we can know, the existence of god and the nature of reality. It deals with the "big questions" that we all tend to associate with philosophy. The author tries to present both sides, but he is obviously not religious. Most of the book is balanced though.

The book is not about the history of ideas, so it does not place ideas within a historical context. Nor does it seek to introduce lots of text by the original thinkers. Instead it seeks to present an argument and then it considers counter arguments - and it takes the reader by the hand and guides them through the issues.

This book is very much aimed at getting the reader to think and is in a very conversation style. There are not a lot of technical words to confuse the reader and the style is very much what one might find in a broadsheet newspaper article. Certainly it will not confuse anyone who can handle the Guardian!

It does not claim to be the final world on philosophy or any aspect of the subject subject. Generally as philosophy is not about a right or wrong answer so it pays to have several different viewpoints. I would recommend that A-Level or first year univeristy students get this. However I also recommend the Teach Yourself Philosophy and Guide to Philosophy(by Nigel Warburton - my review http://www.ciao.co.uk/Philosophy_the_Basics__Review_5471918 ) to supplement your learning(these two other books tell rather than shows the arguments). Think is possibly aimed more at the layman than student.

This book really considers the English/American tradition of philosophy. This means it ignores much of the contential postmodernism, which whilst interesting is often unnecessarily abstract and difficult for the amateur to follow.

The introduction to philosophy market is quite crowded. I like the book because it has a conversation style rather than being a dry text book. It is also quite small so it can fit into your pocket, ideal for reading whilst of public transport!

I recommend this book, it is my favourite philosophy primer. However you need to get more than one perspective on philosophy so I would recommend you get several others. Also at some point it is necessary to read the actual works of the great philosophers to better understand their arguments and see how they are constructed. However for a beginner this can be difficult and a routemap is needed. The weakness in the book could not really be corrected without lossing its target audience. Maybe for an absolute beginner something like the Consolation of Philosophers might be preferred.  

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