Steven M. Cahn

The most inclusive anthology of its kind, Exploring Moral Problems covers both classic issues and often-neglected topics including the meaning of life, prostitution, organ sales, pornography, drug legalization, gun control, immigration, reparations, racism, sexism, sex and consent, sexual harassment, and climate change. The readings have been carefully edited to make them understandable to every reader. Each selection is accompanied by an introduction and study questions that help students comprehend the material. Reflecting the major role of women in philosophy today, more than 1/3 of the contemporary essays are authored by women.

Political Philosophy: The Essential Texts is ideal for survey courses in political philosophy. Offering unprecedented coverage from antiquity to the present, this historically organized collection presents the most significant works from nearly 2,500 years of political philosophy. The readings are substantial or complete texts, not fragments. An especially valuable feature of this volume is that the works of each author are introduced with an engaging essay by a leading contemporary authority.

Exploring Philosophy: An Introductory Anthology is a uniquely accessible and engaging introduction to philosophy. Steven M. Cahn brings together exceptionally clear recent essays by noted philosophers and supplements them with influential historical sources. Most importantly, the articles have been carefully edited to make them understandable to every reader. The readings are enhanced by concise introductions, study questions, explanatory notes, and suggestions for further reading.

Too many professors view themselves primarily not as teachers but researchers. How can the system be changed so that success in the classroom will be promoted and receive greater emphasis? Noted philosopher and educator Steven M. Cahn presents proposals to achieve that end, including changes in graduate education, the appointment process, the evaluation of teaching, the tenure system, and the choice of administrators. Filled with actual examples from academic life, the book is jargon-free and compellingly argued.

Too many professors view themselves primarily not as teachers but researchers. How can the system be changed so that success in the classroom will be promoted and receive greater emphasis? Noted philosopher and educator Steven M. Cahn presents proposals to achieve that end, including changes in graduate education, the appointment process, the evaluation of teaching, the tenure system, and the choice of administrators. Filled with actual examples from academic life, the book is jargon-free and compellingly argued.

This volume completes a trilogy of Steven M. Cahn's shorter writings that includes The Road Traveled and Other Essays (2019) and A Philosopher's Journey (2020). Included here are his contributions to three philosophical debates: first, whether events are fated to occur; second, whether God is knowable; and third, whether morality can conflict with happiness. The book contains not only Cahn's essays but also edited versions of the writings to which he is responding, thereby putting his remarks into context and rendering them accessible to all. These pieces make clear why Professor Cahn is regarded as one of the leading philosophy teachers of his generation.

This engaging collection of recent essays reveals how a professorial career involves not only pursuit of a scholarly discipline but also such unwelcome features as the tribulations of graduate school, the trials of teaching, and the tensions that develop from membership in a department. The author, who enjoyed a distinguished career as a professor of philosophy and senior university administrator, draws on his extensive experience to offer candid advice about handling the frustrations of academic life. Combining philosophical principles, practical concerns, and personal observations, this book serves as a reliable guide for both new and veteran academics as well as for anyone seeking to understand the inner workings of colleges and universities.

This engaging collection of recent essays reveals how a professorial career involves not only pursuit of a scholarly discipline but also such unwelcome features as the tribulations of graduate school, the trials of teaching, and the tensions that develop from membership in a department. The author, who enjoyed a distinguished career as a professor of philosophy and senior university administrator, draws on his extensive experience to offer candid advice about handling the frustrations of academic life. Combining philosophical principles, practical concerns, and personal observations, this book serves as a reliable guide for both new and veteran academics as well as for anyone seeking to understand the inner workings of colleges and universities.

For over fifty years Steven M. Cahn has been a prolific contributor to discussions of philosophical and educational issues. In this volume he has chosen his favorite articles from the 1960s to the present, reflecting his long-standing interests in the concept of free will, the rationality of religious belief, the insights of John Dewey, the affirmative action debate, the aims of higher education, and the nature of living well. Also included are several philosophical puzzles. Professor Cahn is a noted teacher and lecturer, and these essays reflect his skills at explaining complex ideas with clarity and defending challenging positions with cogency. His work demonstrates how philosophical inquiry can be both engaging and enlightening.

For over fifty years Steven M. Cahn has been a prolific contributor to discussions of philosophical and educational issues. In this volume he has chosen his favorite articles from the 1960s to the present, reflecting his long-standing interests in the concept of free will, the rationality of religious belief, the insights of John Dewey, the affirmative action debate, the aims of higher education, and the nature of living well. Also included are several philosophical puzzles. Professor Cahn is a noted teacher and lecturer, and these essays reflect his skills at explaining complex ideas with clarity and defending challenging positions with cogency. His work demonstrates how philosophical inquiry can be both engaging and enlightening.

Philosophical Adventures is an accessible, engaging introduction to philosophical issues falling under six broad themes: reasoning, free will, religious belief, ethics, well-being, and society. Each topic is thoughtfully introduced and discussed in a way that is easily intelligible and relatable yet philosophically rigorous. Steven M. Cahn's clear style and vivid examples provide a welcoming path to these often-difficult issues, encouraging readers to begin their own philosophical adventures.Key FeaturesAn unusually clear and accessible introduction to many of the central topics of philosophy.Vivid examples are used to illustrate key points.Addresses a number of engaging issues that are relevant inside and outside of academia, such as the possibility of free will, religious belief with and without God, and democracy vs. its alternatives.Written by one of the discipline's pre-eminent teachers, author of numerous widely-used textbooks.

Ethics: History, Theory, and Contemporary Issues, Seventh Edition, features fifty-nine selections organized into three parts, providing instructors with great flexibility in designing and teaching a variety of courses in moral philosophy. Spanning 2,500 years of ethical theory, the first part, Historical Sources, ranges from Plato to Nietzsche. The second part, Modern Ethical Theory, includes many of the most important essays of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. The third part, Contemporary Moral Problems, presents the current debates over such issues as abortion, social justice, environmentalism, affirmative action, and sexual harassment. Nearly forty percent of the modern readings are authored by women. The book is enhanced by part introductions, selection introductions, and study questions. The seventh edition includes twelve new essays.

Thinking about Logic is an accessible and thought-provoking collection of classic articles in the philosophy of logic. An ideal companion to any formal logic course or textbook, this volume illuminates how logic relates to perennial philosophical issues about knowledge, meaning, rationality, and reality. The editors have selected each essay for its brevity, clarity, and impact and have included insightful introductions and discussion questions. The puzzles raised will help readers acquire a more thorough understanding of fundamental logic concepts and a firmer command of the connections between formal logic and other areas of philosophical study: epistemology, philosophy of language, philosophy of science, and metaphysics.

Classic Essays. Thinking about Logic is an accessible and thought-provoking collection of classic articles in the philosophy of logic. An ideal companion to any formal logic course or textbook, this volume illuminates how logic relates to perennial philosophical issues about knowledge, meaning, rationality, and reality.

This highly anticipated anthology, compiled by noted author and scholar Steven Cahn, presents the seven major works central to any introductory philosophy course in their entirety.nbsp Each work has had a profound influence on philosophical thought, and the authors are generally regarded as among the worlds greatest philosophers. Seven Masterpieces in Philosophy features the most well-respected and admired translations, and offers introductions and annotations by Steven Cahn.nbsp Anyone seeking to understand the challenges of philosophy could hardly do better than concentrate attention on these seven masterpieces. A great alternative to

The Road Traveled and Other Essays presents the recent work of philosopher and educator Steven M. Cahn. This book offers his latest reflections on the nature of well-being, the rationality of religious belief, and the aims of higher education. Also included are a selection of his challenging philosophical puzzles. The work concludes with a detailed account of his career as a faculty member, foundation executive, and university administrator. ""Professor Cahn's mastery of the art of philosophical writing shines on every page of this superb volume. Its capstone is an autobiographical essay charting his fascinating academic and professional journey."" --Robert B. Talisse, Vanderbilt University ""These essays are clear and concise gems. They are always straightforward, controversial, and convincing."" --Alan H. Goldman, College of William and Mary ""Steven M. Cahn, for fifty years a force in philosophy and higher education, offers these wise reflections on happiness, academic life, belief in God, the politics of hiring in departments, affirmative action, and the path of his own career. A thoroughly enjoyable read by a professor who has been at the center of many important, contemporary controversies and who helped shape some of the key events."" --Gregory Pence, University of Alabama at Birmingham Steven M. Cahn is professor emeritus of philosophy at the City University of New York Graduate Center, where he served for nearly a decade as provost and vice president for academic affairs, then as acting president. He is the author or editor of more than sixty books. Most recently he wrote From Student to Scholar: A Candid Guide to Becoming a Professor; Religion Within Reason; Teaching Philosophy: A Guide; and Inside Academia: Professors, Politics, and Policies.

Drawing on decades of experience as a renowned teacher, advisor, administrator, and philosopher, Steven M. Cahn diagnoses problems plaguing America’s universities and offers his prescriptions for improvement. He explores numerous aspects of academic life, including the education of graduate students, the quality of teaching, the design of liberal arts curricula, and the procedures for appointing faculty and considering them for tenure. Inside Academia uses real cases to illustrate how faculty members, deans, and provosts often do not serve the best interests of schools or students. Yet the book also highlights efforts of those who have committed themselves and their institutions to the pursuit of academic excellence.

Drawing on decades of experience as a renowned teacher, advisor, administrator, and philosopher, Steven M. Cahn diagnoses problems plaguing America’s universities and offers his prescriptions for improvement. He explores numerous aspects of academic life, including the education of graduate students, the quality of teaching, the design of liberal arts curricula, and the procedures for appointing faculty and considering them for tenure. Inside Academia uses real cases to illustrate how faculty members, deans, and provosts often do not serve the best interests of schools or students. Yet the book also highlights efforts of those who have committed themselves and their institutions to the pursuit of academic excellence.