The Modern Scholar: Discovering the Philosopher in You

The Big Questons in Philosophy

De: Professor Colin McGinn

Narrado por: Colin McGinn

"Everyone has their own inner philosopher - a voice within that asks, oh so insistently, philosophical questions. Everyone wants to know what the ultimate nature of the world is, what the self is, whether we have free will, how our minds relate to our bodies, whether we can really know anything, where ethical truth comes from, what the meaning of life is, and whether or not there is a God.

"This inner philosopher is related to the inner child, since the child too is prone to asking philosophical questions. But it is much better to have a disciplined guide through philosophy than simply to try to do all the thinking by yourself.

"I will be acting as your guide. I will cover all the main problems of philosophy, from logic to ethics, from the human mind to God, introducing you to how philosophers think and the theories they have come up with. The first four lectures focus on foundational questions that need to be clarified before we engage upon more applied discussions. We need to know what knowledge is, what truth is, and what logical reasoning is before we start discussing ethics, the mind, free will and God. So let's start with the basics, then break into a run only when we have learned how to walk."

Please note: You may obtain the bonus material that accompanies the Modern Scholar course by going to www.recordedbooks.com. Once that page loads, look to the left for the category "Browse our Imprints". Select Modern Scholar which is the first choice listed. Select the course you are interested in from the drop down course menu.

Download the accompanying reference guide.©2003 Colin McGinn (P)2003 Recorded Books

Tremendous insight for an introductory course

McGinn has written some of the most insightful philosophy I've read on the "hard-problem" of consciousness. The theme of this course -- examining philosophy through the lens of the really important questions that motivate philosophical inquiry -- gives McGinn the opportunity to motivate and include some of his key philosophical insights. McGinn is more than just another professor summarizing other people's arguments. He is in fact a serious philosopher in his own right and this is an important introduction to his thought.

Very Enlightening on Most Subjects Undertaken

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. It is very enlightening on the big questions for the most part, but it does fall short on the question of God and does not address death as a component with that or any other big issue in philosophy. It does not deal wth life after death which seems to reflect on the total failure of dealing with the question of God.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

The author is very adept at being objective and speaking from that point of view for the most part. He is also very knowledgeable and lucid giving information and insight that develops the theme along very logical lines.

What does Colin McGinn bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His presentation carries a perspective that brings an insight into what the narrative delivers. One can discern from his voice and its fluctuations and tone what he means by the words where one might give a heavier interpretation to a different pursuasion if one did not hear him speak them.

If you could give The Modern Scholar a new subtitle, what would it be?

Developing an Understanding of the Fundamental Philosophical Questions of Life.

Any additional comments?

The book was very engaging and easy to follow and it does cover the fundamental questions of life that are not addressed in other forums as they have a philosophical nature. It was very comforting even, to delve into these questions and become informed and enlightened in a way that spawns good logical thinking.

Informative

A good introductory guide to the world of philosophy. The Professor is informative and passionate and does his best to remain neutral.

However when it comes to argument on the topic of God and the relationship between Faith and Reason his thoughts should be supplemented by Professor Peter Kreeft's Faith and Reason, also in the Modern Scholar Series.

Good content, not so good narrator

This is a good introduction to the essential questions of philosophy. Unfortunately the lecturer has a voice which is somewhat soporific. So this comes with a warning not to listen in the car or in other locations where falling asleep might be dangerous.
On the other hand, hearing parts of the lecture more than once does not harm and can even help following the chain of thought.

Key questions and concepts presented beautifully

Philosophy has a limited number of concepts and questions that animate the field and professor McGinn introduces them all with skill. I appreciated the fact professor McGinn made it clear which arguments are most convincing to him, he is no overly evasive professor that keeps his own view hidden. McGinn is famous for his mysterian arguments, and his book the Mysterious Flame is a very interesting argument attempting to show that the mind cannot be explained in physical terms. However his strong views were not forced upon the reader, rather he showed how a serious person tends to take up a position and that this can actually help illuminate the field. Very enjoyable and interesting to anyone no matter their level of exposure to philosophy.