Core Questions in Philosophy

In this 9th edition of Core Questions in Philosophy, Elliott Sober and Joel Velasco use an engaging lecture-style format to show students how philosophy is best used to evaluate many different kinds of arguments and to construct sound theories. Well-known historical texts are discussed, not as a means to honor the dead or merely to describe what various philosophers have thought, but to engage with, criticize, and even improve ideas from the past. In addition—because philosophy cannot function apart from its engagement with the wider society—traditional and contemporary philosophical problems are brought into dialogue with the physical, biological, and social sciences. Text boxes highlight key concepts, and review questions, discussion questions, and a glossary of terms are also included.

Core Questions in Philosophy has served as a premier introductory textbook for three decades, with updates to each new edition.

Key updates to this 9th edition include:

A new concluding chapter on the meaning of life.
The integration of non-Western thinkers throughout the book.
Expanded discussions on utilitarianism, virtue ethics, free will, and epistemology.
Updated material from philosophy and empirical research throughout.

Revisions to the online list of recommended resources include:

Additional recommendations of supplementary readings, with updated source links to all reading material.
New recommended videos and podcasts, all organized by their relevance to each chapter in the book.

Author Biography

Elliott Sober is Hans Reichenbach Professor and William F. Vilas Research Professor in the Philosophy Department at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. His most recent book is The Philosophy of Evolutionary Theory (2024).

Joel Velasco is Department Chair and Professor in Philosophy at Texas Tech University. He specializes in the philosophy of biology as well as the more general philosophy of science.