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Zeno and the Tortoise: How to Think Like a Philosopher
 
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Zeno and the Tortoise: How to Think Like a Philosopher (Paperback)

by Nicholas Fearn (Author)
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
RRP: £7.99
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Product details

  • Paperback: 192 pages
  • Publisher: Atlantic Books; New edition edition (13 Jan 2005)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 1903809614
  • ISBN-13: 978-1903809617
  • Product Dimensions: 19.6 x 12.2 x 1.6 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 83,986 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Product Description

Product Description

There is a saying that goes "Don't learn the tricks of the trade, learn the trade", but philosophy is all tricks. This work explains not just who each philosopher was and what he thought, but exactly how he came to think in the way that he did. Philosophy is presented as a collection of tools - from Ockham's Razor to Hume's Fork - each of which can be brought to bear on a variety of predicaments. Written in short chapters, each readable during the journey to work, "Zeno and the Tortoise" provides a course in intellectual self-defence. It aims to arm the reader with the perfect cognitive weapons to tackle any situation - from meeting a stranger in a dark alley to arranging a first date.


About the Author

Nicholas Fearn, a philosophy graduate from King's College, London, writes for the Spectator, New Statesman, Independent on Sunday and Financial Times. He lives in London and this is his first book.

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4 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
4.5 out of 5 stars (4 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars informative, witty and intelligent, 27 Nov 2001
This review is from: Zeno and the Tortoise: How to Think Like a Philosopher (Paperback)
For anyone with absolute minimal understanding and knowlege of philosophy, then this book is perfect. Rather than becoming a history book though, it instead serves as a self-educational tool which the reader can use to learn how the greatest philosophers through the ages thought and analysed every subject they deemed worthy. But the main idea behind the book is not so you can sit and ponder the meaning of life (although this is certainly one thing you can do) but rather how you can use philosophy to examine your own life.
a thoroughly enjoyable read that may reveal certain things about yourself
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Easily digestible philosophy., 14 Feb 2009
By Steven Unwin "Steve Unwin" (Preston, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
I really enjoyed reading this book and if the topic of philosophy and thinking is of interest but seems somewhat impenetrable, this could be a book you'd enjoy.

The book is divided into 25 brief chapters each covering a major philosopher and their ideas. I was initially attracted by the intriguing title and the accessible format of the book. Each chapter is limited to around half a dozen pages which immediately creates confidence that even if you felt you were drowning, the far bank is close at hand. Add to this Nicholas Fearn's style and approach and you have an entertaining and engaging read and actually learn something of philosophy.

The danger with any book on this topic is that philosophy can feel somewhat distant and crusty. To counter this within each chapter the relevance of each idea and the desire to read on is established by setting the idea in a modern situation. For example the chapter on Plato's thinking relates this to the anti-trust law suit brought against Microsoft for including an internet browser within Windows and the thinking of Protagoras is related to the efforts of Sting to help the Kayapo Indians of the Amazon. Each chapter provides background to the philosopher's life and those ideas and other thinkers that influenced and sometimes competed with them.

The book provides a roughly chronological view of some of the key thinkers who have made a significant contribution to the development of understanding and links their work to the social, technical and other changes that have accompanied the advances, It includes one or two interesting modern names that I hadn't thought of as philosophers which further helps break down the barriers between philosophy as a subject and its application in our everyday lives. For example Alan Turing the computing pioneer who played a key role in breaking the German Enigma codes is included for his thinking on consciousness.

If philosophy is one of those topics that you would like to know a little more about but never quite get around to this could be what you need. It an educational and fun read and I suspect that can't be said for many books on the topic.

Incidentally the book title is taken from the paradox described by Zeno of a race between Achilles and a tortoise. The tortoise is given a 10 yard head start and in the time taken by Achilles to cover these ten yards the tortoise advances a further yard. Achilles advances this further yard and in the time it takes the tortoise advances three inches. Achilles now covers this three inches but in this time the tortoise advances a further inch. As Achilles advances this one inch the tortoise again moves some albeit small distance forwards. Zeno's parable argues that no matter how fast Achilles runs he can never overtake the tortoise as he must first draw level with it. An interesting thought.
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4 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, 23 Jul 2002
By C. MUMMERY (Örnsköldsvik, Sweden) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
I really enjoyed this book. I has read "Consolations of Philosophy" and was looking for something to take me deeper into philosophy. This book was exactly what I needed. My only criticism is that it could cover more philosphers but the author explains his decision to leave out certain things.
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5.0 out of 5 stars Accessible and entertaining
I read this several years ago, and recommend it to all my friends. Fantastic introduction to great philosophical ideas.
Published 3 months ago by Booballoo

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