What is this thing called Philosophy? is the definitive textbook for all who want a thorough introduction to the field. It introduces philosophy using a question-led approach that reflects the discursive nature of the discipline. Edited by Duncan Pritchard, each section is written by a high-profile contributor focusing on a key area of philosophy, and contains three or four question-based chapters offering an accessible point of engagement.

The core areas of philosophy introduced and explained are:

Ethics
Political Philosophy
Aesthetics
Epistemology
Philosophy of Mind
Philosophy of Language
Metaphysics
Philosophy of Science
Philosophy of Religion
The Meaning of Life

This second edition has been revised throughout, with chapters being brought up to date and improved. There is also a new section on the philosophy of language and the addition of ‘spotlight’ questions at the end of each section, as well as an updated Introduction and Glossary of Key Terms.

An outstanding textbook written by experienced teachers, What is this thing called Philosophy? is ideal for students approaching philosophy for the first time.

Author Biography

Duncan Pritchard is UC Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at the University of California, Irvine, USA. His books include Epistemic Luck (2005), Epistemological Disjunctivism (2012), and Epistemic Angst: Radical Skepticism and the Groundlessness of Our Believing (2015). His Routledge books include Scepticism (with A. Coliva, 2022), The Routledge Companion to Epistemology (with S. Bernecker, 2013), and What is this thing called Knowledge? (5th edition 2023). His scholarly work has been recognized by such distinctions as the Philip Leverhulme Prize in Philosophy (2007), being elected to a Fellowship of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (2011), delivering the Annual Soochow Lectures in Philosophy (2013), and the Paul H. Silverman Award for Outstanding Work in Ethics (2024).

Contributors

Michael Brady is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Glasgow, UK.

Berit Brogaard is Professor and Director of the Brogaard Lab for Multisensory Research at the University of Miami, USA.

Thom Brooks is Professor of Law and Government at Durham University, UK.

Axel Gelfert is Professor of Philosophy at the Technical University of Berlin, Germany.

Teresa Marques is Associate Professor in the Philosophy Department at the University of Barcelona, Spain.

Tim Mawson is Edgar Jones Fellow and Tutor in Philosophy at the University of Oxford, UK.

Thaddeus Metz is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa.

Kristie Miller is Challis Professor of Philosophy at the University of Sydney, Australia.

Kathleen Stock OBE is a British philosopher and writer. She was a Professor of Philosophy at the University of Sussex until 2021.