Cohen - 101 Philosophy Problems

101 PHILOSOPHY PROBLEMS

FOURTH EDITION

Does Farmer Field really know his prize cow, Daisy, is in the field? When is an unexpected exam not wholly unexpected? Are all bachelors (really) unmarried? Martin Cohens 101 Philosophy Problems, Fourth Edition introduces philosophy in an entertaining but informative and stimulating way. Using philosophical puzzles, conundrums and paradoxes he skilfully unwraps some of the mysteries of the subject, from what we know or think we know to brain-teasing thought experiments about ethics, science and the nature of the mind.

For the Fourth Edition there are many new problems, including Maxwells Moving Magnets, Einstein Changes Train Times, and Zenos Paradox of Place; as well as two brand new sections including puzzles such as Lorenzs Waterywheel, the Battle for Fractal Farm, and perplexing ethical dilemmas. The book has been extensively revised to bring it up to date with new developments in philosophy and society.

With an updated glossary of helpful terms and possible solutions to the problems at the end of the book, 101 Philosophy Problems is essential reading for anyone coming to philosophy for the first time.

Martin Cohen has established a worldwide reputation as a radical philosopher and unconventional thinker. He has published many books, which have been translated into around twenty different languages.

PRAISE FOR PREVIOUS EDITIONS

Are all moral claims synthetic? Or analytic? Or a priori? Or a posteriori? Or both? Or neither? What about tables? Can you see one? Ask yourself: does it exist? Too easy? Go out of the room and ask yourself again. The next sentence is true. The previous sentence is false. Obey the brain warning at the beginning and dont read all 101 problems at once. On free will: You dont always act yourself if youre suffering from a paranoid personality disorder.

Guardian

Martin Cohens 101 Philosophy Problems introduces philosophy in a novel way. This book has 101 humorous little stories, each with a philosophical problem [offering] helpful tools for leading students into the world of philosophy.

Times Higher Education Supplement

Tired of yet more introductions, anthologies and textbooks, publishers are beginning to wake up to the fact that, especially for the non-academic reader, what is needed in philosophy are different kinds of books that can engage the interest of the enthusiast. It has long been recognised that philosophy is among other things, something that needs to be engaged in. You cant just read philosophy, youve got to actually do it. Given that, its surprising how few introductions actually try and get their readers to join in. 101 Philosophy Problems is an all too rare example of a book that does just that, and I wouldnt be surprised if it is soon joined by many others. Cohen takes as his starting point, not the history of philosophy, nor the various sub-disciplines of it, nor its great and good. Rather he gets the reader stuck straight into some philosophical puzzles.

The PhilosophersMagazine

Cohen examines the main currents of classical thought as well as outlining the dilemmas which tax the brains of contemporary philosophers. Using a fascinating array of examples, he draws the aspiring philosopher into increasingly complex problems and points the readers in the direction reason will eventually lead them.

Ilkley Gazette

Cohen continually delights or infuriates us with his irreverent opinions. He tells us, for example, that Kant reduced philosophy to esoteric monologues of professionals and that Aristotle suffered from a particularly severe taxonomical disorder. Logic is irrelevant, a point he reinforces by not using it to clarify philosophical problems.

Harry Gensler, John Carroll University, Cleveland, USA

Dr Martin Cohens sense of humour is internationally acknowledged. Now translated into many other languages, 101 Philosophy Problems is sought after by people of many countries. Through the fascinating problems and stories you will discover that the seemingly high-up there philosophy is actually to be found around every corner of everyday life.

Athena Publishers, Tai Bei

Cohen challenges the reader to think philosophically. http://www.academicmaterials.com

PRAISE FOR 101 ETHICAL DILEMMAS

a chatty, jokey journey through philosophical dilemmas, ancient and modern but the philosophy is the real thing.

New Scientist

Cohen does a good job in weaving some intriguing stories and classic philosophical ideas.

Times Higher Education

The logical positivists might have called ethics gobbledygook, but its well and truly on the menu here in 101 courses.

The Age

always thought-provoking, funny and iconoclastic about the whole business of doing philosophy the most perfect toilet reading I know.

http://www.fish.co.uk

101 PHILOSOPHY PROBLEMS

FOURTH EDITION

Martin Cohen

Fourth edition published 2013

by Routledge

2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN

Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada

by Routledge

711 Third Ave, New York City, NY 10017

Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business

1999, 2002, 2007, 2013 Martin Cohen

The right of Martin Cohen to be identified as the author of this book has been asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.

Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe.

First published 1999

Reprinted 1999, 2000

Second edition published 2001

Reprinted 2002, 2003, 2004

Third edition published 2007

Reprinted 2008

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data

Cohen, Martin, 1964

101 philosophy problems / by Martin Cohen. -- 4th ed.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

1. Philosophy--Introductions. I. Title. II. Title: One hundred one philosophy problems. III. Title: One hundred and one philosophy problems.

BD21.C635 2013

100--dc23

2012034882

ISBN: 978-0-415-63574-5 (pbk)

ISBN: 978-0-203-06985-1 (ebk)

For Bee

This is quite a three-pipe problem and I beg you not to disturb me for at least forty-five minutes.

(Sherlock Holmes in The Red Headed League, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, first published 1891)

Forward!

One hundred and one?! (the reader may exclaim) I didnt think there were that many philosophical problems! After all, Bertrand Russell, in his definitive account The Problems of Philosophy (1912, 1980), only seemed aware of about a dozen, and most of these were just to do with varieties of knowledge. There was the problem of appearance and reality, the problem of mind and matter, the issue of idealism, and the various problems of knowledge: knowledge by acquaintance or by description, knowledge of general principles, a priori knowledge and knowledge of universals, intuitive knowledge, knowledge as opposed to error (truth and falsehood), even probable knowledge. And, overarching all, the question of the value of philosophy.