Think: A Compelling Introduction to Philosophy

I was struggling to read some of the more advanced material and this book really helps you get to grips with the basics of the books in its text. Its a must read if you plan on getting started in philosophy. I cannot recommend it enough.

Simon Blackburn has a very nice, easy writing style. The book is well written and thought-provoking. This is an easy to understand introduction to philosophy. Particularly enjoyed the early chapters dealing with mind and consciousness.

This was a gift for me after having fallen in love with philosophy at sixth form college. I loved it. I've since earned two degrees in philosophy and I still love this book. It is a book that is not at all ashamed in taking seriously the big questions of philosophy - and why should it be? - so it's not like some of the more gimmicky introductory books out there (Philosophy and TV Show, Philosophy and Comic Book Character, etc.) I don't think those gimmicky books are bad - there is plenty of good philosophy explored by smart people outside of universities - or cynical sales pitches (in my experience, purists of all sorts who sneer at popularisations of their subject, rarely read the work they criticise, and prefer the great unwashed remain ignorant of their hallowed turf); I only mention this in case you are looking at the book as a gift. I'd suggest it's for someone already quite sympathetic to sceptical reflection on cherished 'truths', sacred beliefs, or common sense notions. So, it's written in an accessible style and you don't need anything but curiosity and an open mind, but do expect it to make you do what the title suggests. Enjoy!

Great book

I tried but I wasn't getting it, I found much the same with AC Grayling's A History of Philosophy although I did find the latter easier to follow, mostly. I guess it must be me and not the authors, I think a certain mindset is required, a suspension of all you think you know and trust as reality to really appreciate philosophy. Still, thanks to Descartes at least I know I exist,at least I think i do!

Great little starter book. But don't be deceived by this statement. The book delves straight into what you need to be thinking about and how to organise your brain and why studying philosophy is useful and transferable to so many areas of life. It teaches you how to think and gives you insight questions to ponder. I find the smaller format much more achievable to slowly read and then reflect and jouranl on a couple of pages at a time. Highly recommend.

Worth reading and thought provoking in places, but I found his treatment of therapy and religion both suffered from being unnecessarily shallow. He dismisses therapy as being little more than an attempt to make people feel better - I guess there are some therapists that do that but most approaches have a philosophical basis and several - for example CBT and REBT - are particularly strongly associated with a philosophical stance. Similarly, he devotes a lot of space to religion - I didn't quite understand why - but doesn't seem to do much more than run through the basic challenges made familiar by Dawkins et al. - which are certainly valid when addressing a certain kind of classic realist religiosity - but don't really address the more modern philosophical approaches to faith - say those taken by McGrath and Plantinga. However very readable, good on more modern ideas about ethics and held together with a cheerful pragmatism which kept me interested and reading to the end.

Simon Blackburn writes well and is aware of the needs of struggling intellects such as myself. I am making my way into the book at several places and may not finish it soon, but that is the way I proceed with this subject. SB includes details of other books he has referenced and seems to make his and their ideas easy enough to set me thinking for many days. I recommend also the use of a dictionary of philosophy as a rapid means of reading about ideas and technical terms.

Loved it, and I bought this copy to give away.

Pour la fac..RAS. Reçu rapidement et sans embûches.

A good book to read as an intro to philosophy.

bien

very good book