This book is about philosophy.  It is sensible to ask, ‘what is philosophy?’ One important aspect of philosophy concerns answers to life’s big questions—questions about God, human nature, morality, the meaning of life, what can and cannot be known, among others. Philosophy surveys answers to such questions given by people in different times, places, and cultures; and it can lead us to reflect on our own answers. Philosophy can heighten our awareness that there are many disagreements about how to answer life’s big questions, and that our own answers are not the only answers: they are one of many.  

Another central aspect of philosophy has to do with responses to disagreements. How do people typically respond to disagreements?  Some people resort to name-calling to dismiss the beliefs of people who disagree with them: people who disagree are called “stupid”, “idiots”, among other colorful names.  Many people hold their own views, and reject alternatives, based on biases, prejudices, dogmatism, and other kinds of irrationality.  Disagreements can lead to shouting matches, fights, and wars.  

Philosophy has a different approach to disagreements. Philosophy assumes that having a belief is one thing; and having a true belief is another thing. Philosophy is interested in true beliefs; and it assumes that critical evaluation of evidence for and against beliefs is an important part of determining which opinions are most likely to be true. This book is largely concerned with evaluating evidence for and against different answers to life’s big questions, including our own.

Many people, including the author, find that philosophy can be exhilarating in the way it challenges assumptions that many of us take for granted, and opens our minds to possibilities that most of us rarely, if ever, consider.