While well-known for his book-length work, philosopher Peter Unger's articles have been less widely accessible. These two volumes of Unger's Philosophical Papers include articles spanning more than 35 years of Unger's long and fruitful career. Dividing the articles thematically, this first volume collects work in epistemology and ethics, among other topics, while the second volume focuses on metaphysics. Unger's work has advanced the full spectrum of topics at the heart of philosophy, including epistemology, metaphysics, philosophy of language and philosophy of mind, and ethics. Unger advances radical positions, going against the so-called "commonsense philosophy" that has dominated the analytic tradition since its beginnings early in the twentieth century. In epistemology, his articles advance the view that nobody ever knows anything and, beyond that, argue that nobody has any reason to believe anything--and even beyond that, they argue that nobody has any reason to do anything, or even want anything. In metaphysics, his work argues that people do not really exist--and neither do puddles, plants, poodles, and planets. But, as Unger has often changed his favored positions, from one decade to the next, his work also advances the opposite, "commonsense" positions: that there are in fact plenty of people, puddles, plants and planets and, quite beyond that, we know it all to be true. On most major philosophical questions, both of these sides of Unger's significant work are well represented in this major two volume collection. Unger's vivid writing style, intellectual vitality, and fearlessness in the face of our largest philosophical questions, make these volumes of great interest not only to the philosophical community but to others who might otherwise find contemporary philosophy dry and technical.

About the Author
One of the world's most original and unorthodox philosophers, Peter Unger has been a major contributor to metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, and philosophy of mind. A native New Yorker, for the past thirty years he has been a Professor of Philosophy at New York University.

Reviews
Unger has always been a very original and independent philosopher,.... Unger's earlier papers are classics partly because of their originality, and partly because they give concise expression to deep and difficult philosophical problems.... in an appealing style. Fortunately, Oxford University Press has recently reprinted Unger's papers in two useful volumes. * Tim Crane, Times Literary Supplement *
...these two volumes bring together some excellent papers by one of the greatest contemporary analytic philosophers.... Unger pulls it off with a style and a sense of humour that is inviting to professionals and laymen alike.... Given Unger's wide range of published interests, there is something (if not a few things) in this collection for everyone. * Neil E. Williams, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews *
...these two volumes bring together some excellent papers by one of the greatest contemporary analytic philosophers.... Unger pulls it off with a style and a sense of humour that is inviting to professionals and laymen alike.... Given Unger's wide range of published interests, there is something (if not a few things) in this collection for everyone. * Neil E. Williams, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews *
Unger has always been a very original and independent philosopher,.... Unger's earlier papers are classics partly because of their originality, and partly because they give concise expression to deep and difficult philosophical problems.... in an appealing style. Fortunately, Oxford University Press has recently reprinted Unger's papers in two useful volumes. * Tim Crane, Times Literary Supplement *



Book Information
ISBN 9780195155525
Author Peter Unger
Format Hardback
Page Count 352
Imprint Oxford University Press Inc
Publisher Oxford University Press Inc
Weight(grams) 646g
Dimensions(mm) 155mm * 239mm * 28mm