The Department of Philosophy is pleased to announce that instructor Sam Hillier has co-edited an introductory philosophy textbook. The anthology, entitled Introducing Philosophy: Questions and Readings and co-edited by James Cunningham, Samuel Hillier, and Donal O'Reardon has been published by Emond Montgomery Publications.
The book is designed to serve as an introductory text to either a one-term or two-term intro class. The main reason to use this text is the editors' focus on philosophical skills. From the opening chapter, "Skills of the successful philosophy student," to the practice exercises throughout, the editors aim to improve students' ability to hear, read, write, and do philosophy. They discuss how to actively read a piece of philosophy (including samples of readings that the editors have marked up as one would if one read them), how to structure a convincing argumentative essay, and how to productively engage in a dialectic. (See the chapter as a sample.)
The editors also include introductory essays to each of the parts of the book, where the main ideas in the field are discussed. They explain the readings and their philosophical context, and present opportunities for further thought. For example, while Gettier cases are not included in the epistemology readings, they are mentioned in the essay and a list of suggested readings is given. This gives instructors the ability to extend the text in whatever directions they wish.
Finally, the list of readings is a mixture of classical and contemporary choices, with an emphasis on questions. The editors contemporary choices, especially in social and political thought, and the meaning of life, include a diverse mix of authors and viewpoints. They also include philosophical reflections on current events, stories in the media, and other topics that will grab students' attention.