BLACKWELL PHILOSOPHY ANTHOLOGIES
Each volume in this outstanding series provides an authoritative and comprehensive collection of the essential primary readings from philosophy’s main fields of study. Designed to complement the Blackwell Companions to Philosophy series, each volume represents an unparalleled resource in its own right, and will provide the ideal platform for course use.
1 Cottingham: Western Philosophy: An Anthology (third edition)
2 Cahoone: From Modernism to Postmodernism: An Anthology (expanded second edition)
3 LaFollette: Ethics in Practice: An Anthology (third edition)
4 Goodin and Pettit: Contemporary Political Philosophy: An Anthology (second edition)
5 Eze: African Philosophy: An Anthology
6 McNeill and Feldman: Continental Philosophy: An Anthology
7 Kim and Sosa: Metaphysics: An Anthology
8 Lycan and Prinz: Mind and Cognition: An Anthology (third edition)
9 Kuhse and Singer: Bioethics: An Anthology (second edition)
10 Cummins and Cummins: Minds, Brains, and Computers – The Foundations of Cognitive Science: An Anthology
11 Sosa, Kim, Fantl, and McGrath: Epistemology: An Anthology (second edition)
12 Kearney and Rasmussen: Continental Aesthetics – Romanticism to Postmodernism: An Anthology
13 Martinich and Sosa: Analytic Philosophy: An Anthology
14 Jacquette: Philosophy of Logic: An Anthology
15 Jacquette: Philosophy of Mathematics: An Anthology
16 Harris, Pratt, and Waters: American Philosophies: An Anthology
17 Emmanuel and Goold: Modern Philosophy – From Descartes to Nietzsche: An Anthology
18 Scharff and Dusek: Philosophy of Technology – The Technological Condition: An Anthology
19 Light and Rolston: Environmental Ethics: An Anthology
20 Taliaferro and Griffiths: Philosophy of Religion: An Anthology
21 Lamarque and Olsen: Aesthetics and the Philosophy of Art – The Analytic Tradition: An Anthology
22 John and Lopes: Philosophy of Literature – Contemporary and Classic Readings: An Anthology
23 Cudd and Andreasen: Feminist Theory: A Philosophical Anthology
24 Carroll and Choi: Philosophy of Film and Motion Pictures: An Anthology
25 Lange: Philosophy of Science: An Anthology
26 Shafer-Landau and Cuneo: Foundations of Ethics: An Anthology
27 Curren: Philosophy of Education: An Anthology
28 Shafer-Landau: Ethical Theory: An Anthology
29 Cahn and Meskin: Aesthetics: A Comprehensive Anthology
Western Philosophy An Anthology
Third edition
Edited by
John Cottingham
Editorial material and organization © 1996, 2008, 2020 by Blackwell Publishing Ltd
BLACKWELL PUBLISHING
350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148–5020, USA
9600 Garsington Road, Oxford OX4 2DQ, UK
550 Swanston Street, Carlton, Victoria 3053, Australia
The right of John Cottingham to be identified as the Author of the Editorial Material in this Work has been asserted in accordance with the UK Copyright, Designs, and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, except as permitted by the UK Copyright, Designs, and Patents Act 1988, without the prior permission of the publisher.
Designations used by companies to distinguish their products are often claimed as trademarks. All brand names and product names used in this book are trade names, service marks, trademarks, or registered trademarks of their respective owners. The publisher is not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book.
This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold on the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering professional services. If professional advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought.
First edition published 1996 by Blackwell Publishers Ltd Second edition published 2008 by Blackwell Publishing Ltd Third edition 2021
12 2015
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Cottingham, John, 1943- editor.
Title: Western philosophy : an anthology / Edited by John G Cottingham.
Description: Third edition. | Malden, MA : Blackwell Publishing, [2021] | Series: Blackwell philosophy anthologies | Includes index. Identifiers: LCCN 2020040690 (print) | LCCN 2020040691 (ebook) | ISBN 9781119165729 (paperback) | ISBN 9781119165736 (pdf) | ISBN 9781119165743 (epub) | ISBN 9781119165750 (ebook other) Subjects: LCSH: Philosophy--Introductions. Classification: LCC BD21 .W43 2021 (print) | LCC BD21 (ebook) | DDC 190-dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020040690
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020040691
A catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.
Cover image: Frederic Edwin Church, Twilightin the Wilderness, 1860, oil on canvas,© The Cleveland Museum of Art,Mr. and Mrs. William H. Marlatt FundCover design by Wiley
Set in 10.5/12.5pt Minion
by Integra Software Services, Pondicherry, India
Printed and bound in Singapore
by COS Printers Pte Ltd The publisher’s policy is to use permanent paper from mills that operate a sustainable forestry policy, and which has been manufactured from pulp processed using acid-free and elementary chlorine-free practices. Furthermore, the publisher ensures that the text paper and cover board used have met acceptable environmental accreditation standards.
For further information on
Blackwell Publishing, visit our website:
John Cottingham’s Western Philosophy: An Anthology Praise for the first edition
‘It is difficult to imagine how this volume could be improved upon as the very best historically based anthology of the essential philosophical writings. Cottingham’s commentary and introductions are extremely clear and helpful. It will provide an ideal text for an excellent introductory course in philosophy’. Christopher Hookway, University of Sheffield
‘This volume is a superb resource for beginning students and their teachers. Not only is it an excellent anthology – a comprehensive, well-chosen, well-edited collection of classic texts, from Plato to Sartre, Aristotle to Rawls