Introductory Readings in Philosophy: An Historical Approach is grounded in the belief that no idea can really be understood or exist separate from the historical context in which it is born. This anthology encourages students to consider not only seminal writings by historical philosophers, but also the philosophers’ values, who they were as people, and the society in which they lived. Through this approach, students form a holistic understanding of key philosophical principles and then reflect on how these principles can apply to our modern lives.

The anthology is laid out topically, with each chapter referencing works from important figures from the history of philosophy. The chapters pose a series of questions to readers: What is philosophy? What is epistemology? What is the foundation for belief? What is metaphysics? What is moral philosophy? And what is meaning in, and of, human life? Within these chapters, students read a variety of philosophical works by Plato, Rene Descartes, Thomas Aquinas, Friedrich Nietzsche, Aristotle, Confucius, and Immanuel Kant. Topics addressed include moral philosophy, logical defense of our actions, creating one’s own method of inquiry, the formation of belief, metaphysics as a way to explain real existence, the concept of duty, and much more.

Introductory Readings in Philosophy challenges students to examine their lives and thought processes through the lens of seminal philosophical writings. It is an exceptional resource for introductory courses in philosophy.