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The Big Questions: Philosophy

by Simon Blackburn

3.60 · rating details · 15 ratings · 2 reviews

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Published by Quercus Books

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Oct 20, 2010

Al Bità rated it

For me, philosophy is one of the great pleasures for the inquiring mind. Take any subject, and there is bound to be a thinker somewhere who has expostulated upon it.

This book is one of a series put out by Quercus under the general title 'The Big Questions'. It's intent, apparently, is to make some of the major issues of various subjects (Physics, Mathematics, and the Universe, for example, are separate books in the series) more accessible to the general public. From this perspectiv...moreFor me, philosophy is one of the great pleasures for the inquiring mind. Take any subject, and there is bound to be a thinker somewhere who has expostulated upon it.

This book is one of a series put out by Quercus under the general title 'The Big Questions'. It's intent, apparently, is to make some of the major issues of various subjects (Physics, Mathematics, and the Universe, for example, are separate books in the series) more accessible to the general public. From this perspective Blackburn does a generally good job in at least broaching some often thorny subjects in Philosophy. He is limited, however, in that he must do so within a framework that will not frighten ordinary mortals away.

There is a risk in this kind of venture that the reader may simply find it all too confusing, and too 'clever' by half, making them think that perhaps all philosophers are simply wankers determined to confound with subtleties. There is a real sense wherein the 'big questions' in philosophy are simply those questions for which either there is no clear answer (since philosophers can provide three or four interpretations) or which persistently end up in paradoxes, implying that no definitive answer is possible. If so, one risks the response that philosophy ultimately does not help at all. Or perhaps the 'answer' is that the questions are the wrong kind of questions...

My main concern, however, is in something not directly linked with philosophy: the design of the book. Quercus has gone for a type of moleskine note-book presentation (the ones with the rounded corners and the elastic band) perhaps to create a stylistic impression for the possessor... And each of the articles appears to be designed as if it were meant for some kind of magazine, with blocked off inserts and headings. These headings seem to be arbitrarily inserted without due regard for the content, often splitting an argument in the middle. Sloppy! Overall, then, I personally found this book slightly disappointing.(less)

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Aug 28, 2011

Alireza Behzadnia rated it

Very simplified but at the same time enriched with useful material.
a very good book, i would recommend it to who ever is interested in philosophy.
Simon Blackburn is one of the best writers, he keeps the reader focus and doesnt try to confuse his readers by injecting loads of information at once into their brain.

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About Simon Blackburn

Simon Blackburn is Bertrand Russell Professor of Philosophy in the University of Cambridge.

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