How to Think Philosophically

"Philosophy" is understood in many ways. Its meaning and method have been debated for thousands of years. But at its core, philosophy is a way of life and a way of thought. In this concise introduction to the philosophical task, W. David Hall guides readers into the heart of these ways. How to Think Philosophically invites both novice and expert to reflect on their own experience of curiosity, wonder, and inquiry. Part I explains philosophy as a way of being, of developing the disciplines and intellectual virtues for seeing and inhabiting the world as it is. Part II introduces the specific domains of philosophical thinking: epistemology (how we know), metaphysics (what we know), and ethics (how we should live). These traditional fields of philosophy, though, follow upon philosophical ways of being. It is by first being philosophical that we learn to think philosophically. The good life, the life worth living, is one that is lived in accord with the way things are. To live well requires thinking methodically. That methodical habit of thought, the love of wisdom, is thinking philosophically.

About the Author :
W. David Hall is W. George Matton Professor of Philosophy and Religion at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky. He is the author or editor of several books, including Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Theology, and Political Resistance (2020).

Review :
Professor Hall's work is not just an introduction or guide to philosophy as an academic discipline, but an excellent guide to how to live philosophically. Bringing in ancient Greek philosophy (particularly Plato) and Buddhist philosophy (sticking close to the Buddha himself) also provides a multicultural richness not generally found in such a concise introductory text. Highly recommended for students but really for anyone interested in some of the ways that philosophy can help us live intellectually richer, morally better, and generally more fulfilling lives. --Eric Bain-Selbo, dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Southeast Missouri State University, and author of The End(s) of Religion: A History of How the Study of Religion Makes Religion Irrelevant Writing in the tradition of Pierre Hadot but with a voice and perspective honed by decades of undergraduate teaching, W. David Hall makes a compelling case for the value of philosophy as a fundamentally human endeavor whose goal is to avoid self-deception and attune one's life to reality. Hall writes in an engaging prose style that provides lucid summaries of major philosophical schools and figures without ever getting bogged down or losing track of his larger theme: that the human capacity for self-delusion makes philosophy necessary. The result is a clearly structured volume that packs a wealth of content and insight into a concise frame. It will be a helpful and timely guide to living and thinking philosophically for anyone who wonders how to live a good and meaningful life--especially in a cultural moment when the ability to distinguish truth from falsehood is severely strained. --Maria Antonaccio, professor of religious ethics, Bucknell University, and author of A Philosophy to Live By: Engaging Iris Murdoch