Think Again

Are there any things it is impossible to know? What is the point of punishing people? What was there before the Big Bang? Is a perfect forgery as good as an original painting? Are good intentions more important than being successful? If you find questions like these fascinating, you are a philosopher. And if you are a philosopher, this book is for you. Like its predecessor, Just Think, this book is aimed at intelligent children aged 9 to 14 and their parents and teachers. At the front are thirty more philosophy puzzles, like the ones above, written for the young people themselves. These are followed by commentaries giving parents and teachers more background on each question. The book can be used by a young person on their own, or as a resource for adults leading discussions. The puzzles are divided into sections on six major areas of philosophy: ethics, language & epistemology, social & political philosophy, philosophy of science, aesthetics, and logic. Each starts with a discussion between Philip and Phoebe, an argumentative brother and sister, followed by what some philosophers have said on the topic. Then there are three tricky questions, with which the reader can test family, friends, and teachers, and finally one or more websites for research. The adult commentaries on each puzzle are in a separate section at the back of the book. Philip West taught students aged 8 to 18 for many years in a variety of schools. He has a degree in Natural Sciences, and a PhD in Philosophy and related subjects, both from Cambridge University. The puzzles originated in a popular Philosopher of the Week competition which he ran at Westminster Under School.