Praise for previous editions
‘The Philosopher’s Toolkit provides a welcome and useful addition to the introductory philosophy books available. It takes the beginner through most of the core conceptual tools and distinctions used by philosophers, explaining them simply and with abundant examples. Newcomers to philosophy will find much in here that will help them to understand the subject.’
David S. Oderberg,University of Reading
‘. . . the average person who is interested in arguments and logic but who doesn’t have much background in philosophy would certainly find this book useful, as would anyone teaching a course on arguments, logic, and reasoning. Even introductory courses on philosophy in general might benefit because the book lays out so many of the conceptual “tools” which will prove necessary over students’ careers.’
About.com
‘Its choice of tools for basic argument . . . is sound, while further tools for argument . . . move through topics and examples concisely and wittily . . . Sources are well chosen and indicated step by step. Sections are cross‐referenced (making it better than the Teach Yourself “100 philosophical concepts”) and supported by a useful index.’
Reference Reviews
“This book is . . . an encyclopedia of philosophy. It should be of great use as a quick and accurate reference guide to the skill of philosophy, especially for beginners, but also for instructors . . . highly recommended.”
Choice
“The Philosopher’s Toolkit is a very good book. It could be highly useful for both introductory courses in philosophy, or philosophical methodology, as well as independent study for anyone interested in the methods of argument, assessment and criticism . . . It is unique in approach, and written in a pleasant and considerate tone. This book will help one to get going to do philosophy, but more advanced students might find this text helpful too. I wish I had had access to this book as an undergraduate.”
Teaching Philosophy
PETER S. FOSL and JULIAN BAGGINI
THE PHILOSOPHER’S
A Compendium of PhilosophicalConcepts and Methods
THIRD EDITION
This third edition first published 2020
© 2020 Peter S. Fosl and Julian Baggini
Edition history: Blackwell Publishing Ltd (1e, 2003; 2e, 2010)
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Library of Congress Cataloging‐in‐Publication Data
Names: Fosl, Peter S., author. | Baggini, Julian, author.
Title: The philosopher’s toolkit : a compendium of philosophical concepts and methods / Peter S. Fosl and Julian Baggini.
Description: Third edition. | Hoboken : Wiley‐Blackwell, 2020. | Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2019053537 (print) | LCCN 2019053538 (ebook) | ISBN 9781119103219 (paperback) | ISBN 9781119103226 (adobe pdf) | ISBN 9781119103233 (epub)
Subjects: LCSH: Reasoning. | Methodology.
Classification: LCC BC177 .F675 2020 (print) | LCC BC177 (ebook) | DDC 101–dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019053537 LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019053538
Cover Design: Wiley
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For Rick O’Neil, colleague and friend, in memoriam
Acknowledgements
We are indebted to Nicholas Fearn, who helped to conceive and plan this book, and whose fingerprints can still be found here and there. We are deeply grateful to Jeff Dean at Wiley‐Blackwell for nurturing the book