Showing results for "The Means" in History

Distinguished author of Mortal Questions and The View from Nowhere sets forth the central problems of philosophical inquiry for the beginning student. Arguing that the best way to learn about philosophy is to think about its questions directly, Thomas Nagel considers possible solutions to nine problems - knowledge of the world beyond our minds, knowledge of other minds, the mind-body problem, free will, the basis of morality, right and wrong, the nature of death, the meaning of life, and the meaning of words.

Philosophy - the term sounds fascinating, beautiful, somehow romantic and harmonious, and at the same time like great intellectual effort. Yet philosophy is actually neither particularly romantic nor particularly strenuous. It is true that one has to use one's brain, and perhaps some things exceed normal common sense, but basically philosophy only means to be interested in man and the world. The image one has in one's mind of ancient Greek philosophers strolling in their long robes in the Athenian sun while exchanging their thoughts may seem romantic, but they often dealt with serious topics.