Fundamentals of Philosophy

You'd think that with so many Intro to Philosophy textbooks out there, it would be easy to find several that offer everything, "everything" being: a thorough selection of historical- and issue-based topics from key Western philosophers; relevancy to pop culture and contemporary concepts; Eastern thought; fair treatment of value theory (ethics AND aesthetics) as well as metaphysics, epistemology, and a comprehensive section on logic; easy-to-read explanations; well-selected excerpts from original sources; end-of-chapter questions; glossary and index. Okay, maybe that sounds like a lot to ask. And yet, it's all here, in this book. And it's not the most expensive. It's a paperback that's easy to carry. It comes with an interactive CD. It's all good. Some of the adjustments from the 6th to 7th edition I don't agree with (they removed some passages that were considered more religion than philosophy, such as the Bhagavad Gita). But it's still about the best intro text I've found in nearly a decade of teaching this material.

Although the book is meant to introduce philosophy in a simplified manner, the reading is still a little abstruse; I've found myself re-reading many sections repetitiously in order for the material to sink in. Expect to do plenty of active reading. Overall, I find the book more than adequate, however the reading a bit arduous to grasp. The back of the book contains numerous material, including a glossary full of terms, which is quite helpful when you need to review for an exam.

Shipment was orderly and timely, no problems with this seller at all.