Metaphysics : Contemporary Readings (Routledge Contemporary Readings in Philosophy)

Rating:
Summary: Very Useful Introductory Anthology
Review: This volume is intended to be read in conjunction with Loux's capable introduction to the metaphysics in the Routledge Contemporary Introductions to Philosophy series. And, of course, it is an ideal text to be read in conjunction with that book. The subjects discussed in that book are given sections in this anthology, and Loux includes many, though not all, of the primary sources on which he relied in that book. Nevertheless, I see no reason why this book has to be read in conjunction with the other book. It is a perfectly fine selection of readings for a person who wants a picture of some of the main areas of debate in contemporary analytic metaphysics. Loux has provided a brief (roughly ten-page) introduction to each of the topics on which there are readings. Some of these introductions sketch the problems and quickly describe the main theses of each of the readings and how the readings relate to one other, and others simply provide a general overview of the problems without saying much about the particular readings. But all of these introductions, which are intended to explain and motivate the problem(s) to which the particular selections respond, should be very helpful to the beginner, and they probably provide enough background to begin reading the selections even if one has had no prior experience in these areas. So while this anthology doesn't cover everything of interest in contemporary metaphysics, it includes selections on enough topics that it provides the reader with a sense of what is going on in analytic metaphysics at the moment.

The subjects covered in this anthology are universals, particulars, possible worlds, time, persistence through time, and global realism vs. anti-realism. Most of the sections include four or five readings apiece, and Loux has wisely decided not to dumb down this volume by selecting only works written for beginners. The individual selections, which primarily come from journal argues and monographs on the particular subjects, aren't easy, but most of them aren't forbiddingly difficult either. They should be accessible to anyone who has had a little philosophy and who carefully reads Loux's introductions to the particular sections. (It would, of course, help to read through the relevant sections in Loux's textbook before tackling the particular selections in this volume.) Furthermore, he has wisely selected work that has been very influential but that isn't overly technical. Most of the selections here are by important figures (Russell, Quine, Putnam, Lewis, Dummett, Plantinga, Kripke, Armstrong, van Inwagen, et al.) in the field, and many of them concern views that have set the agenda in these debates.

But the reader should note that Loux has not included any work from the historical figures he discusses in his book. This is an anthology of selections in contemporary metaphysics, and so it does not include selections from important historical figures in the field. The reader should also note that Loux does not include any readings on the general structure and methods of metaphysical inquiry, though this is one of the subjects frequently discussed in his textbook. Naturally, though, the reader should acquire a sense of the general structure and methods of metaphysics by reading the various selections included here. But if you're looking for more explicit coverage of these issues, you'll need to look elsewhere.

This is a very nice anthology, and it's especially good for the price. It's not as extensive as it might have been--but, then again, it is intended as an introduction to work in contemporary metaphysics and not as an exhaustive survey of the subject. (For a more in-depth and extensive anthology in contemporary metaphysics, check out the Metaphysics volume edited by Sosa and Kim and published in Blackwell's Philosophy Anthologies series.) I'd recommend this anthology for classes aimed at advanced undergraduate students and for anyone with some philosophical background who's interested in the areas of contemporary metaphysics that it covers.

Rating:
Summary: Very Useful Introductory Anthology
Review: This volume is intended to be read in conjunction with Loux's capable introduction to the metaphysics in the Routledge Contemporary Introductions to Philosophy series. And, of course, it is an ideal text to be read in conjunction with that book. The subjects discussed in that book are given sections in this anthology, and Loux includes many, though not all, of the primary sources on which he relied in that book. Nevertheless, I see no reason why this book has to be read in conjunction with the other book. It is a perfectly fine selection of readings for a person who wants a picture of some of the main areas of debate in contemporary analytic metaphysics. Loux has provided a brief (roughly ten-page) introduction to each of the topics on which there are readings. Some of these introductions sketch the problems and quickly describe the main theses of each of the readings and how the readings relate to one other, and others simply provide a general overview of the problems without saying much about the particular readings. But all of these introductions, which are intended to explain and motivate the problem(s) to which the particular selections respond, should be very helpful to the beginner, and they probably provide enough background to begin reading the selections even if one has had no prior experience in these areas. So while this anthology doesn't cover everything of interest in contemporary metaphysics, it includes selections on enough topics that it provides the reader with a sense of what is going on in analytic metaphysics at the moment.

The subjects covered in this anthology are universals, particulars, possible worlds, time, persistence through time, and global realism vs. anti-realism. Most of the sections include four or five readings apiece, and Loux has wisely decided not to dumb down this volume by selecting only works written for beginners. The individual selections, which primarily come from journal argues and monographs on the particular subjects, aren't easy, but most of them aren't forbiddingly difficult either. They should be accessible to anyone who has had a little philosophy and who carefully reads Loux's introductions to the particular sections. (It would, of course, help to read through the relevant sections in Loux's textbook before tackling the particular selections in this volume.) Furthermore, he has wisely selected work that has been very influential but that isn't overly technical. Most of the selections here are by important figures (Russell, Quine, Putnam, Lewis, Dummett, Plantinga, Kripke, Armstrong, van Inwagen, et al.) in the field, and many of them concern views that have set the agenda in these debates.

But the reader should note that Loux has not included any work from the historical figures he discusses in his book. This is an anthology of selections in contemporary metaphysics, and so it does not include selections from important historical figures in the field. The reader should also note that Loux does not include any readings on the general structure and methods of metaphysical inquiry, though this is one of the subjects frequently discussed in his textbook. Naturally, though, the reader should acquire a sense of the general structure and methods of metaphysics by reading the various selections included here. But if you're looking for more explicit coverage of these issues, you'll need to look elsewhere.

This is a very nice anthology, and it's especially good for the price. It's not as extensive as it might have been--but, then again, it is intended as an introduction to work in contemporary metaphysics and not as an exhaustive survey of the subject. (For a more in-depth and extensive anthology in contemporary metaphysics, check out the Metaphysics volume edited by Sosa and Kim and published in Blackwell's Philosophy Anthologies series.) I'd recommend this anthology for classes aimed at advanced undergraduate students and for anyone with some philosophical background who's interested in the areas of contemporary metaphysics that it covers.