First Philosophy Main

“First Philosophy has a good selection of articles for my purposes, and the accompanying introductory background material is absolutely brilliant.” - Jillian Scott McIntosh, Simon Fraser University

“This is an extremely well-done philosophy text. The readings are well chosen, and each is accompanied by an unusually thorough introductory discussion. These introductions do an excellent job of putting the readings themselves in context, and of helping students to see the philosophical importance of each selection. This text should become a standard in introductory philosophy classes.” - Patricia Blanchette, University of Notre Dame

“The main difference between other anthologies and First Philosophy is Bailey’s supplementary material, which is excellent. The biographical materials are very interesting.... The explicative material is likewise excellent: clear, highly relevant, useful, easily understood.... The wonderful supplementary material makes this a very good text indeed, which should, I think, gain a large share of the market.” - Jeff Foss, University of Victoria

“The editor has selected challenging readings for first-year students that cover a broad range of topics.... The introductions are fabulous; ... students find them very helpful.... Overall, First Philosophy is an excellent anthology for first-year students; the text has made my job significantly easier.” - Jennifer M. Phillips, Indiana University, Bloomington

First Philosophy: Fundamental Problems and Readings in Philosophy. Peterborough, ON: Broadview Press, 2002. ISBN: 1-55111-360-0, 966 pp.

This introductory anthology brings together forty-eight readings on eight topics central to philosophy. Mindful of the intrinsic difficulty of much of the material, the editor has provided comprehensive introductions both to the eight topics and to each individual selection. By providing a detailed discussion of the historical and intellectual background to each piece, he aims to enable readers to approach the material without unnecessary barriers to understanding. The topics—from “Does God exist?” to “Do we have free will?” and “What is justice?”—have been chosen with a view both to their philosophical importance and to their interest to the first-year student.

In an introductory chapter, the editor provides a brief introduction to the nature of philosophical enquiry, to the nature of argument, and to the process of reading and writing within the academic discipline of philosophy.

View Table of Contents

Visit publisher’s web site

Buy this book at

First Philosophy: Fundamental Problems and Readings in Philosophy. Concise Edition. Peterborough, ON: Broadview Press, 2006. ISBN: 1-55111-823-8, 593 pp.

This concise edition of the acclaimed introductory anthology First Philosophy brings together thirty readings on six topics central to philosophy. Mindful of the intrinsic difficulty of much of the material, the editor has provided comprehensive introductions both to the six topics and to each individual selection. By providing a detailed discussion of the historical and intellectual background to each piece, he aims to enable readers to approach the material without unnecessary barriers to understanding. The topics––from “Does God exist?” to “Do we have free will?” and “What is justice?”––have been chosen with a view both to their philosophical importance and to their interest to the first-year student. In an introductory chapter, the editor provides a brief introduction to the nature of philosophical enquiry, to the nature of argument, and to the process of reading and writing within the academic discipline of philosophy.

Visit Book Website (password protected)

View Table of Contents

Visit publisher’s web site

Buy this book at

First Philosophy: Fundamental Problems and Readings in Philosophy. Volume I: Values and Society. Peterborough, ON: Broadview Press, 2004. ISBN: 1-55111-657-X, 340 pp.

First Philosophy: Values and Society brings together classic and ground-breaking readings on ethics and social and political philosophy. Mindful of the intrinsic difficulty of much of the material, the editor has provided comprehensive introductions both to the central topics and to each individual selection. By providing a detailed discussion of the historical and intellectual background to each piece, he aims to enable readers to approach the material without unnecessary barriers to understanding. In an introductory chapter, the editor provides a brief introduction to the nature of philosophical enquiry, to the nature of argument, and to the process of reading and writing within the academic discipline of philosophy.

View Table of Contents

Visit publisher’s web site

Buy this book at

First Philosophy: Fundamental Problems and Readings in Philosophy. Volume II: Knowledge and Reality. Peterborough, ON: Broadview Press, 2004. ISBN: 1-55111-658-8, 319 pp.

First Philosophy: Knowledge and Reality brings together classic and ground-breaking readings on epistemology and the philosophy of science. Mindful of the intrinsic difficulty of much of the material, the editor has provided comprehensive introductions both to the central topics and to each individual selection. By providing a detailed discussion of the historical and intellectual background to each piece, he aims to enable readers to approach the material without unnecessary barriers to understanding. In an introductory chapter, the editor provides a brief introduction to the nature of philosophical enquiry, to the nature of argument, and to the process of reading and writing within the academic discipline of philosophy.

View Table of Contents

Visit publisher’s web site

Buy this book at

First Philosophy: Fundamental Problems and Readings in Philosophy. Volume III: God, Mind, and Freedom. Peterborough, ON: Broadview Press, 2004. ISBN: 1-55111-659-6, 393 pp.

First Philosophy: God, Mind, and Freedom brings together classic and ground-breaking readings on metaphysics, the philosophy of mind, and the philosophy of religion. Mindful of the intrinsic difficulty of much of the material, the editor has provided comprehensive introductions both to the central topics and to each individual selection. By providing a detailed discussion of the historical and intellectual background to each piece, he aims to enable readers to approach the material without unnecessary barriers to understanding. In an introductory chapter, the editor provides a brief introduction to the nature of philosophical enquiry, to the nature of argument, and to the process of reading and writing within the academic discipline of philosophy.

View Table of Contents

Visit publisher’s web site

Buy this book at

Please see here for a list of errata for First Philosophy.