Peter Cave

Can a Robot Be Human?

33 Perplexing Philosophy Puzzles

• Broschiertes Buch

Produktbeschreibung

The philosophers’ Does Anything Eat Wasps? Can you believe someone who says 'I'm telling the truth now'? Can a robot be human? What's the best way to win a game of chicken? And how do you know you're not dreaming right now? In this book of puzzles and paradoxes, Peter Cave introduces some of life's most important questions with tales and tall stories, jokes and arguments, common sense and bizarre conclusions. From how to get to heaven, to speedy tortoises, here are some of the most mind-bending problems in subjects like logic, ethics, art, and politics - and some tips on how to solve them! Illustrated with quirky cartoons throughout, The Unusual, Please! takes the reader on a taster tour of the most interesting and delightful parts of philosophy. For everyone who puzzles about the world.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: Oneworld Publications
• 2nd edition
• Seitenzahl: 248
• Erscheinungstermin: 1. Juli 2009
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 201mm x 129mm x 27mm
• Gewicht: 277g
• ISBN-13: 9781851686476
• ISBN-10: 1851686479
• Artikelnr.: 24603739

Autorenporträt

Writer and broadcaster Peter Cave teaches philosophy for The Open University and City University London. Author of the bestselling Can A Robot Be Human?, he chairs the Humanist Philosophers’ Group, frequently contributes to philosophy journals and magazines, from the academic to the popular, and has presented several philosophy programmes for the BBC. He lives in London.

Inhaltsangabe

Preface ix
Acknowledgements
1. The dangers of health 1
2. Fictional feelings? 6
3. Sympathy for the Devil 12
4. He would say that, wouldn't he? 19
5. Therapy for tortoises 24
6. In the beginning 30
7. The innocent murderer: a nobody dunit 35
8. Will you still love me tomorrow? 41
9. Sand, sun, sea and . . . 46
10. Mary, Mary, quite contrary 53
11. Just hanging around 60
12. It's all relative . . . isn't it? 66
13. Wolves, whistles and women 72
14. Don't tell him, Pike! 79
15. A bale of woe 84
16. Just helping ourselves 89
17. Girl, cage, chimp 94
18. Vote! Vote! Vote? 101
19. Where am I? 105
20. Out of time 112
21. Saints, sinners and suicide bombers 118
22. A bit rich 125
23. Uniquely who? 130
24. Lucky for some 137
25. 'I shot the sheriff' 142
26. You'll never get to heaven . . .? 148
27. Chicken! Chicken! Chicken! 154
28. Tensions in tense 160
29. 'I am a robot' 166
30. Eye spy 172
31. Don't read this notice 178
32. Mysteries 184
33. Is this all there is? 191
Appendix 197
Further reading 197
Notes, sources and references 199
Index

Rezensionen

"A chirpy introduction to philosophy through thought-experiments and paradoxes." The Guardian