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Philosophy For Dummies

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Before considering whether to buy this book or not you need to learn something about its title. It's completely wrong. It should've been called "Tom Morris' Religious Philosophy for dummies."

This is indeed not an introduction to philosophy book for two simple reasons. The first is that it hardly covers any areas of philosophy other than the religious aspect. For example, superficial mentions of social philosophy are scattered across a couple of chapters, hardly any serious discussion of logic can be found anywhere, and not even the slightest footnote was dedicated to political philosophy at all. One look at the book's table of contents should demonstrate that to you.

The second reason this is not an introduction to philosophy book is that Tom Morris is a heavily biased author to the extent that clearly makes this book a prejudiced study in religious philosophy. Plus, the author devotes long chapters to discussions of some of his own ideas that has nothing to do with mainstream philosophy, which is why I think the title should explain that this is a book about Tom Morris' philosophy.

The book's first part is typical of the "For Dummies" series in its humorous layman's definition of philosophy and its initial discussion of the applications of philosophy in real life. The second part jumps directly into the most daring and basic issue of philosophy, which is skepticism. The author discusses how skepticism attacks our basic beliefs about the notion of evidence and the whole personal experience with its absolute reliance on memory, testimony, and senses. Then he suggests a solution to live with skepticism without annihilating the whole body of human knowledge. He also explains why relativism is popular among students of Philosophy 101 even though it's evidently self-defeating.

Up to this point the book was up to par as per my expectations and my experience with several books about the history of philosophy. The part about skepticism is very good and if you are planning to buy the book and read up to there only then that would be fine. If you decide to carry on, however, like I did then you'll be amazed at how fast the quality of the discussions deteriorates as you go along.

The author begins a discussion of what "good" is and the meaning of happiness according to philosophical studies. Ethical philosophy and the study of morals are deep subjects and the majority of philosophers dedicated great portions of their works to the study of ethics. This is why it was very disappointing to realize that the author limited his discussion to a very narrow perspective of linguistic philosophy and didn't even talk about popular theories for the sources of moral code such as utilitarianism and objectivism. In addition, his brief remark about the religious sources of moral code turned on bias-warning lights in my head, although his bias doesn't get clearly manifest yet at that point.

Subsequently, quality takes a nosedive as the author takes on complex and controversial topics such as the free will, materialism versus dualism, the existence of god, and the meaning of life.

Mr. Morris' bias in these discussions is striking. But you can't expect anyone to be completely unbiased, one might argue. I agree to that, and I have my own biases in these discussions just like everybody else. What disturbed me though is the fact that Mr. Morris' bias is demeaning to the intelligence of the reader at best and is a betrayal at worst. As a rule of thumb, Tom will commence the discussion with the views that he disagrees with. I was able to come up with two explanations only to excuse the superficiality of the arguments Tom extends in favor of those views, and both are disappointing since you can either conclude that Tom does not understand those views appropriately, or that he does not wish to burden himself with harder arguments to refute. Sometimes you can even sense a tone of ridicule and belittling in the author's tone as he extends positions not in line with his beliefs. Needless to say, it's not too hard to prove your point when you make the other viewpoint seem so shallow and silly.

The only plausible argument he extends in favor of an idea that he opposes is the scientific argument for materialism. He laid the grounds for that point rather fairly even though his tone was demonstrative of his disagreement. I was looking forward to see how he'll come back at such a strong argument only to be disappointed (I got used to that by then) by arguments such as asserting that this is how he feels about it although he can't explain it or that evidence is not necessary since it is common knowledge!

Surprised? Don't be. Once you read stories about the author's unbelievable psychic abilities and the alleged ability of some of his relatives and acquaintances to see vividly and consistently into the future or to communicate with dead people you'll realize what kind of a person wrote this book. Be also prepared for boring lengthy anecdotes that hardly have any connection to the topics being discussed.

You finish the book with the feeling that you have been dragged unsuspectingly into a church or a missionary base and was ordered to suspend reason and take whatever you are being taught. In fact, I felt a little irritated by the author's attitude.

I realize that I might have sounded prejudiced myself in this review, but in my defense I have nothing to be prejudiced about. I do not have firm opinions (yet) about the controversies in philosophy as I'm still learning about all viewpoints out there. I was hoping that this book would teach me more about mainstream ideas in philosophy. Instead, it taught me about the religious philosophy of Tom Morris. A person, based on the character and the mind that the book reveals, I do not expect to learn much from.

Tom Morris has given us an outstanding introduction into great philosophy. Most major topics of concern in life are covered. Now, I must point out that Tom Morris has two Ph.D.s, from Yale. One of them is in philosophy, and the other is in theology. One of the first things this book does is debunk relativism, moral and otherwise. In this book Morris discusses the proofs for the existence of God, the major theodices surrounding the explanation of the problem of evil, and the major thinking around the nature of God.

I was lucky to have a thoroughly Catholic education, the sort of Catholic education you rarely get in Catholic schools these days, and none of Morris' thinking was new to me. This stuff was in my blood by the time I graduated high school. If you are an atheist, you may not like this book. If you are a relativist, or a nihilist you will probably not like this book. Morris is not out to handhold liberals and nut-jobs by giving bad philosophy equal time with scholasticism.

If you want a great, and sane, introduction to the philosophy that gave birth to the West, i.e. the theistic philosophy of our greatest minds, like Aquinas, then this book is for you. If you are out to take a bath in the tepid waters of relativism and postmodernism, you had best look elsewhere.

I worked my way through Morris' book from cover to cover. While there were pieces of the first section that left me scratching my head (feeling like something was being left out, connections weren't being made), I mostly enjoyed the first half of the book. It was interesting to explore the various ideas and questions that Morris put forth, and they were put forth in an engaging and thoughtful way.

However, the second half lacks the engagement and thoughtfulness. On the contrary, Morris seems to believe that we can only be "happy" and "successful" if we buy into his own beliefs, and those are aligned with a theism that is not presented in a convincing way. Why did he feel that he had to present theism as the only valid conclusion by always giving it the last word? I know that there are philosophers who have compelling arguments to many of his beliefs, but the tone of his writing is to debunk them and convert us to his philosophical position. Of course there will always be bias, but coverage should have been much more equal.

Near the end of the book he degenerates completely into pop psychology, filling the pages with platitudes that are almost unbearable to read. They seem to be taken directly from the corporate speaking engagements that he is certainly paid a lot of money for. Telling us to set attainable goals and stick to them is an embarrassment and doesn't belong in a book of philosophical thought.

I give the book some credit because the first half is fairly well done. I would not suggest to anyone that they buy the book though. The second half is without merit.

I was noticing all the extreme's of opinion on the reviews for this book. I have finished Morris's Philosophy for Dummies and although I did read it cover to cover and enjoy his writing style, the whole time I felt like there were serious defects with the coverage of the subject. Specifically, I bought this book because I've tried to pour through Kant, Nietzche and even The Republic, and couldn't get my mind around it. There was very little in this book about Nietzche except that he is described as a 19th century wildman and something about the abdomen. Coverage of the Greeks and early modern philosophers (Descarte) was much better. I was dissapointed that basically only Mr. Morris was there, with his stories and perspective. He is obviously an intelligent and persuasive writer, but is that enough?

So, here is my suggestion for improving edition II: Morris is obviously a strong and powerful arguer for Theism. I can respect that, and philosophy needs those views. However, the book needs to be CO-AUTHORED by strong and powerful arguer for Atheism and Naturalism. It can be set up in chapters like edition I, but instead they are spilt into sections like "The case for God" and "the case against God". I think then the book would be a real bang up intoduction to living, breathing philosophy. Also, I want to hear more about the Kant, the Nihilists and the 19th century wildman. I think it's funny that Morris goes on for a whole chapter about Skepticism, and then bases his later beliefs on stories of the supernatural!

OK, one final specific gripe and I'm out: Regarding the cosmological reason for the existance of God, Morris fails to explain to my satisfaction why the universe cannot have an essential explanation. Seems like he's grasping at straws as to why the universe exists in its current form. Check it out on page 252...what do you think?

Having read some of the negative reviews below, I elected to borrow this book from the public library. I have to say that I am delightfully surprised at its clarity and accessibility.

Tom Morris has written a lucid introduction to the discipline of philosophy. And as an intro to the art itself, the book does a remarkable job of giving the uninitiated ("dummies") some insight into philosophy as it is normally practiced by philosophers. I believe this is the author's true intention (he implies as much in the introduction, and it is heralded all over the cover).

The book isn't intended to serve as an intro to the *history* of philosophy. If Morris seems to give some philosophers little attention (as some reviewers charge), that's probably why. As for concerns about the author's arguments for the existence of God, the accusation made by one reviewer that Morris advocates for a "Christian, conservative republican" theology is simply ludicrous; he does no such thing. While Morris believes that the universe is ordered by some type of creative intelligence (as have most philosophers throughout history), he doesn't take the side of any one faith. And his arguments are clear, intelligent, and hard to refute.

So if you're looking for a historical survey of philosophy, there are lots of good ones out there. If, however, you are interested in learning how philosophers engage their discipline (indeed, how to philosophize), you have come to the right place.

If one wants a sound grounding in philosophy, then get this book.
It shall get your mind reshaping, and reshaping, and reshaping from the moment you realize that its views make you think differently (or must I say philosophically?) When it hits you that the book's contents could help you in your everyday life, be it in personal or professional situations, then you'll be very thankful for having "a great conversation with Dr. Tom Morris." And I tell you, that just might take a few moments from the time you read the first few pages of the book!

This book is an excellent guide for those who want to know what life is all about, student and layman alike. It explores many of the "ultimate" questions about life that science can't explain, using many of the ideas the philosophers from ancient to modern times have come up with. Morris' explanations and humor are down to earth, allowing the beginner to grasp philosophical ideas easily. He even uses examples from his own life, which help to visualize what he is talking about. So if you want a good introduction to the world of philosophy, this book is definitely an excellent buy!

An excellent introduction to philosophy by a man who has earned his laurels. The other reviews have warned us all: Morris is (gasp!) a theist (how DARE he write books?)--no surprise that atheists and agnostics will whine and protest. (After all, Morris is not the only one who tends to legitimize what supports his own worldview.) A well-done intro, and worth having in one's philosophical library. (And if you're a public atheist, you can always buy a Bertrand Russell volume to balance out your shelves and save your reputation.)

I won't belabor the strengths outlined by other reviews. The book's organization, humor and brevity serves the intro philosophy student or the seasoned thinker who is seeking a review. (Yes, even by "one of those Notre Dame Catholics!") But as noted above--one can never be too careful in the books one chooses, if one wants to preserve one's worldview.

Never mind what these eggheads below say, this is a great book for the BEGINNER, in my opinion. Tom actually presents philosophy in a relevant and easy to understand manner, actually engaging and a delight to read. This is not the dusty, dry and deep stuff that you normally find in philosophy books, it's actually an easy read. Does he have a pro-theist bias? Yes, maybe, but perhaps that is because this is the road philosophy has taken him? He does present anti-theist arguments, and quite well, I feel, but those atheists out there are quite put off that Tom didn't come to their (hopeful) conclusion.
Philosophy is a fascinating subject, and deserves engaging, relevant books like this one.

I read this with the hope that it would give me an overview of the major philosophical schools of thought developed over the centuries, and to an extent it did. What I primarily took away from reading this was a new knowledge of the major questions that philosophy hopes to address. While you won't walk away from this book knowing all there is to know about Kierkegaard, Kant and Aristotle, you will have a better idea what it is that those who study philosophy think and talk about. I possessed the ignorant person's skepticism about philosophy, and I am glad I read this book if only because I now know there's more to philosophy than rhetoric.

The major concern that I have about this book is about the format. The Dummies format is not entirely suitable for this subject matter, even though the title is admirably suited to attracting people who want to know something about philosophy without biting off more than they can chew. The Dummies format works best for software applications, in that it is set up to point out useful tips, warnings and key points to the reader. I quickly came to realize that whenever I encountered one of the Dummies icons, such as "warning", that I wasn't going to necessarily be in danger of entering dangerous territory, but rather that Morris was explaining a concept that was flawed in some way. Similarly, the "great idea" and "tip" icons are sort of misleading, and to me, distracting.

On the other hand, chapters are broken down into meaningful and concise sections, which makes the subject matter that much more manageable. I particularly found the chapters on belief in God well constructed and fair. As a practicing Christian, I approached this part of the book with some trepidation, expecting something that I might find hard to take, but I was glad to see that Morris handles the topic in a fair-minded fashion. I enjoyed learning about the various major arguments for Theism and comparing them to my personal justifications for my faith.

I would not hesitate to recommend this book to anyone who will take the time to read it and be willing to think through the ideas that Morris presents. He has a talent for bringing concepts "home", and using his own experiences and anecdotal evidence to illustrate the topics he presents.