Philosophy Skills Book

Chris Case is an Instructor of Philosophy at the United States Military Academy, West Point, USA. He is also a Research Fellow at the Centre for the Army Profession and Ethic. Bob Underwood is an Instructor of Philosophy at the United States Military Academy, West Point, USA. He is also a Research Fellow at the Centre for the Army Profession and Ethic.

One of the most challenging things about teaching introductory courses in philosophy is that our memory of our own experience as a student is often the worst guide to teaching. The Philosophy Skills Book understands what philosophy looks like for a typical intro student rather than for the student who will end up in graduate school. It isolates the most basic questions -- how to read a text, what do these words mean that the teacher thinks we know -- and explains them in a way that students can understand. It is a great resource for both students and professors.

• Introduction Part I: Reading Philosophy Assignments Part II: Reading Philosophical Texts 1. Reading Historical Texts 2. Close Reading for Alternative Meanings 3. Drawing Inferences 4. Discovering Arguments 5. Finding and Resolving Inconsistencies Part III: Writing Philosophy - Content 1. Brainstorming and Outlining 2. Summarizing a Philosophical Argument 3. Elaborating 4. Responding Critically 5. Arguing 6. Introductions and Conclusions Part IV: Writing Philosophy - Style 1. Writing Clearly 2. Using Quotations 3. Common Errors Index