David Roochnik 
Thinking Philosophically 
An Introduction to the Great Debates

Thinking Philosophically: An Introduction to the Great Debates presents a highly accessible introduction to five of the most fundamental debates in world philosophy.

* Introduces five fundamental philosophical debates in a highly engaging and accessible manner that invites readers to enter the discussion themselves

* Features chapters that each consider a central philosophical question dialectically by exploring the conflicting approaches of different philosophers

* Argues that the work of philosophers like Plato and Rousseau is just as relevant today as it was in their own time

* Provides a structure that encourages readers to apply philosophical principles to their everyday lives

Table of Content

Prologue xii

1 An Introduction to Philosophy 1

2 Alone or With Others? 27

3 What Should We Do? 65

4 Whom Should We Emulate? (1) 98

5 Whom Should We Emulate? (2) 127

6 What Do You Know? 145

7 Being in Time 175

Epilogue 206

Works Cited 209

Index 214

About the author

David Roochnik is the Maria Stata Professor of Classical Greek Studies at Boston University, and is the recipient of numerous awards for excellence in teaching. His books include Retrieving Aristotle in an Age of Crisis (2013), Retrieving the Ancients: An Introduction to Greek Philosophy (Blackwell, 2004), Beautiful City: The Dialectical Character of Plato’s Republic (2003), Art and Wisdom: Plato’s Understanding of Techne (1996) and The Tragedy of Reason: Toward a Platonic Conception of Logos (1991).