Abstract

The disadvantages of both the historical and the "problems" approaches to a first course in philosophy are all too familiar. Beck's proven introductory text is organized according to "perspectives" or schools, a loose grouping in terms of "continuity of intention," so that versions of the same attitude are presented ranging in time from Plato to Gilson for realism, or Lucretius to Nagel for naturalism. This second edition differs from the first in the inclusion of a greater variety of statements on the nature of philosophy, and a fuller treatment of the mind-body problem in keeping with its contemporary ascendancy. Perspectives are introduced in a generally chronological order: Realism, Naturalism, Idealism, Positivism, Linguistic philosophy, and Existentialism, with selections in each on epistemology, metaphysics, ethics, esthetics, social philosophy of man, philosophy of science, and philosophy of religion. The rationalist-empiricist division, and Kant's attempted resolution do not fit the perspectives selected--Hobbes, Spinoza, Locke, Leibniz and Kant appear only peripherally. But for those who concur with the author's emphasis or intend to supplement the text, Beck's Perspectives offers advantages of teachability, size, and price.--M. B. M.