- Hardcover: 256 pages
- Publisher: Granta Books (July 29 2005)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1862077487
- ISBN-13: 978-1862077485
- Product Dimensions: 21.6 x 13.8 x 3.6 cm
- Shipping Weight: 522 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #546,386 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
Review
"An eloquent and engaging introduction to the major philosophical quandaries." -- Scotland on Sunday
"An excellent adventure in logic ... Baggini has a light, popular touch." -- National Post --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
"An excellent adventure in logic ... Baggini has a light, popular touch." -- National Post --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
Book Description
Julian Baggini presents 100 interesting thought experiments covering identity, religion, art, ethics, language and knowledge. He sets up the problem, then offers readers ways to approach it. Answers are rarely right or wrong; the real point is to explore the question. From Zeno's paradox to Groundhog Day (how do you make sense of a life of eternal recurrence?), this book makes philosophy not only mind-stretching but also entertaining.
Inside This Book
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First Sentence
Is anything so self-evident that it cannot be doubted? Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
Is anything so self-evident that it cannot be doubted? Read the first page
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Concordance
Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Wonderful Collection of Logical and Moral Puzzles,
By
This review is from: The Pig That Wants To Be Eaten (Paperback)
This book consists of 100 logical and moral puzzles. For example, a doctor is not allowed to end a patient life, yet if the janitor accidentally pulls the plug, the doctor is not required to put that plug back in. What is the difference?These puzzles and brain teasers are like a greatest hits album covering the entire history of civilization. Some date back to Greek or Roman times, while others are far more modern, including the title entry which is based on a passage from Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Few, if any, of the entries are original, as the author readily admits. Each entry is occupies a page or less, and is then followed by a page or two of commentary. You can read and think about one entry for five or ten minutes, then put the book down for a while without losing continuity. Of course, these brief discussions are anything but exhaustive. Personally, I had read most or all of these puzzles before. Still, I found it interesting to see them presented in one succinct collection.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Don't read this in one sitting!,
By Stephen A. Haines (Ottawa, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews (HALL OF FAME) (TOP 50 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)
This review is from: The Pig That Wants to Be Eaten: And 99 Other Philosophical Fantasies (Hardcover)
Douglas Adams posed many a philosophical question in his works. For some, the most hilarious - or disturbing, was the meal that introduced itself and recommended certain portions for consumption. In a society fully detached from the processing of living flesh into oven-ready tidbits, Adams portrayal of "the pig that wants to be eaten" seems outlandish. Yet, is there truly a moral issue in developing a food that not only embraces the opportunity to be consumed, but has the capacity to help the diner choose the more desireable cut. ?Julian Baggini poses this and ninety-nine other questions in this tantalising collection. Many of the topics he raises have been with us for millennia - remaining unresolved today. The author draws the old questions to centre stage, clad in modern finery and make-up. The new appearance helps bring the reader into the questions with a greater sense of comfort, one hopes. But when the last line has been read, it's clear that this isn't just an entertaining recasting of old conundrums, but of serious issues we confront daily. Reading them all in one go could be dangerous to your mental health! Many readers will have encountered these issues previously: if your brain is transplanted to another body, are you still you? Or if that bastion of "consciousness" is instead placed in a vat of nutrients and wired into a computer that feeds it sensory information, are you still "real"? If your ATM grants you ten thousand dollars when you asked for a hundred, are you "morally bound" to return it [assuming the bank's auditors can't track where it went]? On a lighter note, we might consider whether a sculpture produced by Nature is a work of art. If it is, who sets a value on it? How much would you pay for it? Baggini manages to prompt us with [mostly] plausible circumstances and definitely important questions. He does it in a couple of pages dedicated to each, and never provides a satisfactory answer to any of them. That's right and proper, since the questions posed must be applied by the reader to their own circumstances. He raises questions of who can pollute and the options confronting us all on how far our committments can reach in an increasingly interconnected world. The author's style is that of a fellow commuter on the bus or train every morning. The reading is easy, the format is simple. And each question generates long periods of reflection or exchanges over a beer. Few are resolved easily. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Things that make you go Hmmm...,
By
This review is from: The Pig That Wants to Be Eaten: And 99 Other Philosophical Fantasies (Hardcover)
Here is a book you simply cannot sit down and read in a single afternoon. In fact, I could only read, and really ponder, a few of these "experiments" at a time. This books attacks and/or makes you think about a variety of subjects. Nothing is taboo. I read passages on vegetarian verses meat, religion of all types, the environment, political situations, many moral, social, and personal dilemmas, and even zombies!The author drew upon many sources. The title of this book is from an issue brought up in the well-known book "The Restaurant At The End Of The Universe" by Douglas Adams. Not impressed? How about just some of the other sources, such as René Descartes, Thomas Nagel, David Hume, Antony Flew, and Bjorn Lomborg? **** There is no need to be a doctor, professor, or anything else which requires higher education. Each experiment of philosophy is written in such a way that your intelligence will not be offended, no matter your normal or higher education status. If you are looking for a book that will make you actually sit back and THINK, then I highly suggest this one. **** Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.
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