Philosophy for Dummies

Rating:
Summary: from one dummy to another
Review: I recently discovered "Philosophy for Dummies" and enjoyed the book so much that i visited amazon.com to purchase the book for a friend. I couldn't help but notice the conversation that has evolved in the reviews of this book on the posted web site. I had to comment.
I wasn't so surprised to see the striking division in the reaction to such a challenging and dynamic book. Most of the reviews are either entirely negative (allotting one star) or entirely positive (allotting 4-5 stars).
You see, the book is a little unusual in its approach and stance. The author is committed to philosophizing in a way that is relevant to life. Many of the dissenter's seemed disappointed that the author didn't take up a stance of neutrality and passive reflection or even cover all the facts and faces in the history of philosophy. But, you see, these misperceived failings in the book actually point towards its merit.
The author believes that philosophy matters, that we all do reason toward truth, find some things out, and place our bets. This is why it matters so much that we reason well; truth has consequences.
The book actually calls its reader to examine life and give a rational account for it, personal and otherwise, which is just what philosophy at its roots is intended to be. Morris even suggests that we will have to place our bets (or perhaps already have), but that is so much less comfortable than an impersonal academic encounter with supposed unsolvable problems, logical twists, unending argument, passive reflection, and memorizing the facts, faces, and history of philosophy, which is probably why some have taken offense.
Time and space in the book have not allowed for a full deliberation which I think is what some commentators are calling an easy dismissal of some of philosophy's best critiques of any position of meaning and hope, including Nietzsche's, another helpful thinker.
But hey, its an open-ended discussion that the author has clearly and candidly invited all of us to participate in. In any case, i would hate to see anyone interested in thinking hard about life pass up this great book. Its a gem.