Philosophy

Andrew Beards, PhD, is reader in philosophy and director of the distance-learning B.A. Philosophy and the Catholic Tradition program at Maryvale Institute, an international institute for philosophy and theology based in Birmingham, UK.

• ContentsPreface   viiAcknowledgments ixChapter 1:  What Is This Thing Called “Philosophy”?   1Chapter 2:  The Process of Coming to Know   8Chapter 3:  Knowing in Common Sense, Science, History, and Art   30Chapter 4:  Positions on the Theory of Knowledge   48Chapter 5: Metaphysics: What Philosophy Can Tell Us about Reality   70Chapter 6:  A Short Introduction to Ethics   99Chapter 7:  Philosophy of Religion and the Question of God   112Concluding Remarks   134Suggested Further Reading   136Index   138

When I read Method in Metaphysics, by Andrew Beards, I was impressed with its clarity of prose and argumentation. Now, after having read Philosophy: The Quest for Truth and Meaning, I have proof that obscurity isn’t the sole fate of philosophy. In his latest book, Beards takes us on a philosophical journey that is both illuminating and self-affirming. With deft subtlety, he discusses a breadth of philosophical topics ranging from reflections on the nature of philosophy itself to the existence of God. Importantly, he does this without leaving the reader awash in jargon that only a few can interpret. I highly recommend this book to those whose philosophical journeys are just starting, and especially to those who have been at it for a long time.Lance Grigg, PhD, University of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada