Reading Metaphysics: Selected Texts with Interactive Commentary(Reading Philosophy)

This collection brings together key contemporary texts in metaphysics and features an interactive commentary which helps readers engage the texts critically and to use them to develop their own views. Each text is followed by a detailed commentary, setting it in context Includes questions designed to help readers think hard about what the author is saying and why, to think of objections, and to formulate his or her own views Aims to improve the reader's ability to engage critically with philosophical texts, and to use them as a springboard for philosophical thought and writing Introduces readers to the perennial problems of metaphysics and the ways that different analytic philosophers have approached them

Table of Contents:
Sources and Acknowledgements viii Introduction 1 1 Personal Identity 9 Introduction 9 Derek Parfit, ‘Personal Identity’ 13 Commentary on Parfit 30 Marya Schechtman, ‘Personhood and Personal Identity’ 36 Commentary on Schechtman 54 Further Reading 59 Essay Questions 59 2 Free Will 60 Introduction 60 Peter van Inwagen, ‘The Incompatibility of Free Will and Determinism’ 62 Commentary on van Inwagen 75 Daniel Dennett, ‘Could Have Done Otherwise’ (extract from Elbow Room) 82 Commentary on Dennett 93 Further Reading 97 Essay Questions 97 Appendix 98 3 Realism and Anti-realism 100 Introduction 100 Donald Davidson, ‘On the Very Idea of a Conceptual Scheme’ 106 Commentary on Davidson 117 Thomas Nagel, ‘Thought and Reality’ (extract from The View from Nowhere) 125 Commentary on Nagel 139 Further reading 145 Essay questions 145 4 Realism and Nominalism 146 Introduction 146 Michael Devitt, ‘ ‘‘Ostrich Nominalism’’or ‘‘Mirage Realism’’?’ 150 Commentary on Devitt 157 D. M. Armstrong, ‘Against ‘‘Ostrich’’ Nominalism: A Reply to Michael Devitt’ 160 Commentary on Armstrong 170 Further reading 173 Essay questions 174 5 Possible Worlds 175 Introduction 175 David Lewis, extract from Counterfactuals 183 Commentary on Lewis 187 Saul Kripke, extract from Naming and Necessity 192 Commentary on Kripke 197 Further reading 203 Essay questions 203 6 Persistence over Time 204 Introduction 204 David Lewis, extract from On the Plurality of Worlds 209 Commentary on Lewis 212 Sally Haslanger, ‘Endurance and Temporary Intrinsics’ 214 Commentary on Haslanger 220 David Lewis, ‘Tensing the Copula’ 223 Commentary on Lewis 230 Further reading 233 Essay questions 233 Bibliography 234 Index 240

About the Author :
Helen Beebee is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Birmingham. She is the author of Hume on Causation (2006) and co-editor, with Julian Dodd, of Truthmakers: The Contemporary Debate (2005). Julian Dodd is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Manchester. He is the author of Works of Music: An Essay in Ontology (2007) and An Identity Theory of Truth (2000), and co-editor of Truthmakers: The Contemporary Debate (2005).

Review :
“A book that speaks directly to students. By combining accessible text selections with insightful commentary, clear graphic devices for navigating within each chapter, and thoughtful questions, this new collection provides an invaluable teaching tool for major areas of contemporary metaphysics.” Dale Jacquette, The Pennsylvania State University “Reading Metaphysics is the perfect hybrid of an attentively edited anthology and a lucidly instructive textbook. Instead of overwhelming us with dozens of selections, the editors have expertly chosen a small number of contemporary readings, thus giving readers the time to probe deeply into the selected topics and, more importantly, the time to learn how to take apart and interact with a philosophical text. While the readings are well-selected, the true strength of this book lies in the editors’ commentary. Students will leave this book ready, and eager, to take on more metaphysics and teachers will notice a marked improvement in their students’ philosophical ability.” Andrew P. Mills, Otterbein College