Nothing So Absurd 7/15/03 11:53 AM Page i Review Copy N O T H I N G S O A B S U R D Nothing So Absurd 7/15/03 11:53 AM Page ii Review Copy Nothing So Absurd 7/15/03 11:53 AM Page iii Review Copy N O T H I N G S O A B S U R D An Invitation to Philosophy P H I L L I P H O F F M A N N broadview press Nothing So Absurd 7/15/03 11:53 AM Page iv Review Copy © 2003 Phillip Hoffmann All rights reserved. The use of any part of this publication reproduced, transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, or stored in a retrieval system, without prior written consent of the publisher–or in the case of photocopying, a licence from Access Copyright (Canadian Copyright Licensing Agency), One Yonge Street, Suite 1900, Toronto, on m5e 1e5–is an infringement of the copyright law. National Library of Canada Cataloguing in Publication Hoffmann, Phillip, 1956 – Nothing so absurd : an invitation to philosophy / Phillip Hoffmann. Includes bibliographical references and index. isbn1-55111-408-9 1. Philosophy—Introductions. i. Title. bd21.h64 2003 100 c2003-904195-6 Broadview Press Ltd. is an independent, international publishing house, incorporated in 1985. Broadview believes in shared ownership, both with its employees and with the general public; since the year 2000Broadview shares have traded publicly on the Toronto Venture Exchange under the symbol bdp. We welcome comments and suggestions regarding any aspect of our publications–please feel free to contact us at the addresses below or at [email protected]. North America POBox 1243, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada k9j 7h5 Tel: (705) 743-8990; Fax: (705) 743-8353 email: [email protected] 3576California Road, Orchard Park, ny,usa 14127 UK, Ireland, and continental Europe Plymbridge Distributors Ltd. Estover Road, Plymouth, pl6 7py,UK Tel: (01752) 202301; Fax: (01752) 202333 email: [email protected] Australia and New Zealand UNIREPS, University of New South Wales Sydney, nsw,2052 Tel: 61 2 9664 0999; Fax:61 2 9664 5420 email: [email protected] www.broadviewpress.com This book is printed on acid-free paper containing 30% post-consumer fibre. PRINTED IN CANADA Nothing So Absurd 7/15/03 11:53 AM Page v Review Copy To Ingrid, in fulfillment of a promise made long ago, and to the memory of Albert Polsky (1925–2001). Nothing So Absurd 7/15/03 11:53 AM Page vi Review Copy Nothing So Absurd 7/15/03 11:53 AM Page vii Review Copy chapter 1 Contents Acknowledgements / ix Preface / xi Introduction: What is Philosophy? / 1 chapter 1: Metaphysics: The Nature of Existence / 17 chapter 2: Logic: Language, Reason, and Truth / 44 chapter 3: Epistemology: Knowledge and Doubt / 69 chapter 4: Ethics: Values and Virtues / 98 chapter 5: Science: Space, Time, Change, and the Infinite / 125 chapter 6: Religion: God, Evil, and the Meanings of Life / 150 chapter 7: Some Metaphysical Musings / 176 Further Reading / 188 Index / 192 vii Nothing So Absurd 7/15/03 11:53 AM Page viii Review Copy Nothing So Absurd 7/15/03 11:53 AM Page ix Review Copy chapter 1 Acknowledgements I have accrued debts to a number of individuals and organizations in the course of writing this book. Foremost among these are the Philosophy Department and Faculty of Continuing Education at the University of Calgary for having given me abundant opportu- nities to learn and teach philosophy. In particular, I wish to thank Professors C.B. Martin, John Heintz, Jack MacIntosh, and David Sharp (University of Alberta) for years of counsel, scholarly assis- tance and encouragement. Without the support and confidence of Janet Sisson and Don LePan, I might never have completed this project. Thanks to DeVry Institute of Technology, Calgary, for a sabbatical in the summer of 2000, during which I completed two chapters of the book. Colleagues and students of mine at DeVry have enriched and furthered my teaching career in ways too numerous to detail. I owe special thanks to Maria Neuwirth, Graham Bolton, Allan Brown, and Stephanie Davis for reading various draft chapters and excerpts, and for providing me with valuable feedback and insights. Like all teachers, I learn from my students, and am grateful to them for what they have taught me about pedagogy and philosophy. I especially want to thank Louise Feroze, Jacquie Jacobi, Peter Pavey, Andre Lanz and Brendan O’Connor for the friendships that grew out of their participation in one of my courses. I owe the idea of the multiple meanings of life in § 6.7to discussions with Ivan Zendel. Special thanks go to ix Nothing So Absurd 7/15/03 11:53 AM Page x Review Copy Nothing So Absurd Jude Polsky for her love, support, guidance, generosity, and superb editorial assistance. The duck-rabbit image in Figure 1comes cour- tesy of <www.alphalink.com.au/~park/images/image8.htm>. Finally, I want to thank three anonymous reviewers for Broadview Press and John Burbidge, whose valuable criticisms of earlier drafts made for a better book than I could otherwise have written. Whatever shortcomings remain redound to me alone. x