Includes bibliographical references and index.

1. Philosophers' Doubts -- 2. Minds and the External World -- 3. Primary and Secondary Qualities -- 4. Mind, Brain and Self -- 5. The Self and Others -- 6. Criteria and Forms of Life -- 7. Moral Possibilities -- 8. Disagreements and Dilemmas -- 9. Political Obligation -- 10. Aesthetic Values -- 11. Believing in God -- 12. Behaviour, Explanation and Criticism -- 13. Interrupting the Conversations of Mankind.

Written specifically for beginning undergraduates who have little or no previous knowledge of the subject, this is a distinctive and thoughtful introduction to the main problems of philosophy, structured around a philosophical argument which is clearly and carefully developed throughout the book. This argument takes the form of a sustained response to the challenge of scepticism, and deals with this challenge in a coherent and unified manner. In this way, not only does the reader begin to understand philosophy itself, but also how a philosophical mind works. The text explores forms of the sceptical challenge in connection with our knowledge of the external world: the self and other beings, moral obligation, political obligation, aesthetic values, and the existence of God. Throughout, the author engages his readers in thought and discussion through his lively and refreshing style, and encourages them to embark on their own philosophical reflections.