Classic Philosophical Questions

This book stimulates readers' interest in philosophy with an innovative and appropriate " sides of the argument" presentation, and readings that represent a position on each of the fundamental philosophical questions. Using debate and argument as a vehicle, this reader highlights the fundamentals of philosophy. It also demonstrates that philosophy is a discourse that has spanned centuries while stressing the importance of the philosophical debate. Classic and contemporary readings cover over twenty-five issues and current topics such as free will, abortion, metaphysics, pornography, and ethics. Social, political and religious philosophy are discussed through contributions ranging from the works of Plato, St. Thomas Aquinas, Kierkegaard, Aristotle, Descartes, Hume, Tolstoy, and Locke. For anyone ready for the challenge of the basic inquiries that philosophers have pondered for centuries.