Too Weird to Believe, Too Plausible to Deny by Sosis, Cliff;

Short description:

Anyone new to philosophy soon encounters new ideas that challenge their hidden biases and cherished beliefs, or are at odds with common sense and tradition. Yet, these philosophical ideas are backed by strong arguments, arguments so strong that it?s difficult to identify what is wrong with them.

Long description:

Anyone new to philosophy soon encounters new ideas that challenge their hidden biases and cherished beliefs, or are at odds with common sense and tradition. Yet, these philosophical ideas are backed by strong arguments, arguments so strong that it?s difficult to identify what is wrong with them. Too Weird to Believe, Too Plausible to Deny: Mind-Blowing Philosophical Ideas explores these strange yet cogent ideas in 29 short, clear chapters written by some of the best philosophers alive today.

Some of these ideas include:

• Nobody should reproduce.


• You are not responsible for your actions.


• Consciousness is in everything, everywhere.


• Your property doesn?t really belong to you.


• Absolutely anything can be art.


• Biases are morally good and help us understand reality.


• We can?t know what scientific facts are correct.


• Having a disability can be good for you.


• You should never ever lie, even to save a life.


• You have no moral duty to obey the law.


• You don?t exist because there is no self.

Each chapter starts with a seemingly counterintuitive philosophical conclusion and a simple, accurate description of the underlying argument supporting the conclusion, including historical and cultural context. This is followed by an outline of objections for the purposes of conversation and debate, and a discussion of the implications of the idea, or how it may relate to the reader?s interests and attitudes. Each chapter closes with suggested readings and a list of references for readers who want to learn more about the idea.

?A mind-bending collection of brief, plausible arguments for a wide variety of unusual philosophical views, by an impressive range of contributors. If it doesn't rouse you from your dogmatic slumbers, you must be deeply asleep. It will inspire you to rethink the reasons behind your implicit "common sense" assumptions about ethics and the nature of reality.?

-- Eric Schwitzgebel, Professor of Philosophy at UC Riverside, USA.

?Finally, we have an introductory reader with a distinctively 21st-century orientation towards philosophy. These original essays are about timeless questions, like what counts as art, how to be happy, and what kinds of beings are conscious, and timely questions like the ethics of polyamory, or whether to have children in today?s world. Written by provocateurs who want us to radically revise our preconceptions, or defend them, this is philosophy at its best and most engaging.?

-- Barry Lam, Professor of Philosophy at UC Riverside, USA. Host and Producer of Hi-Phi Nation podcast.

?Each of the essays in