How to Think like a Philosopher
“An essential, inspiring guide to the challenges of our time” from the author of the UK bestseller The Pig That Wants to Be Eaten (Sarah Bakewell, New York Times–bestselling author).
By now, it should be clear: in the face of disinformation and disaster, we cannot hot take, life hack, or meme our way to a better future. But how should we respond instead? In How to Think Like a Philosopher, Julian Baggini turns to the study of reason itself for practical solutions to this question, inspired by our most eminent philosophers, past and present.
Baggini offers twelve key principles for a more humane, balanced, and rational approach to thinking: pay attention; question everything (including your questions); watch your steps; follow the facts; watch your language; be eclectic; be a psychologist; know what matters; lose your ego; think for yourself, not by yourself; only connect; and don’t give up. Each chapter is chockful of real-world examples showing these principles at work—from the discovery of penicillin to the fight for trans rights—and how they lead to more thoughtful conclusions. More than a book of tips and tricks (or ways to be insufferably clever at parties), How to Think Like a Philosopher is an invitation to develop the habits of good reasoning that our world desperately needs.
“A witty primer on the art of thinking [and] an excellent guide to reasoning better as an ethical imperative.” —The Irish Times
“While not what we would normally call a ‘self-help’ book, How to Think Like a Philosopher is designed to help us help ourselves by being a bit more attentive, thoughtful, precise, and, in the end, philosophical.” —Metascience