The Penguin Dictionary of Philosophy (Penguin Reference)

Is (German) 'Geist' a 'mass noun'? Yes, for the world-spirit is without plural. No, for there are many languages naming it. An 'insolubile'?If we use English to translate the German, we can say 'Geist' is mind, but 'Geister' – the plural as in Kant's title on the '...Geisterseher...' or Spirits-Seer (Swedenborg) – stands for ghosts leaving (English) 'spirit' – more mental than the German equivalent.Other occurrences of 'paradox' are found in articles on antinomy ('near-synonym' to 'paradox'), on Jean-Paul Sartre ('playful paradox').What is philosophy? is itself a philosophical question, and this 'autological' quality is shared by both, philosophy and language. But philosophy is less important than its practice, doing philosophy, or philosophizing. Judged by how close a wordbook brings us to this activity Dictionary of Philosophy, edited by Thomas Mautner (second edition, 2005; formerly 'The Blackwell Dictionary of Philosophy', 1996; 'The Penguin Dictionary of Philosophy', 1997) is the most philosophical currently available. It is also still the most comprehensive single volume small format manual on the subject in English.Dictionary of Philosophy is excellent on relativism, on logic ('iff'), often on cross-language comparisons ('right'; 'apperception'), as well as on the classical languages ('predicables'; 'rhetoric'), and on semantic change over time. It includes multiple tables and figures. Let me tell you, this handy book has a wealth of epiphanic experience(s) in store, an abundance of detail and literature on 664 + xxiv pages, small print.I would situate it in humanities philosophy (cf. also: 'antihumanism') as distinguished from philosophy understood as (a) social (meta-)science. This includes a good amount of language criticism – e. g. '-ism, -ist'; 'philosophy of...'.Dictionary of Philosophy is a five star enterprise. I'd purchase a new edition – (Edwards's) Encyclopedia of Philosophy got one.Gosh, that 'perennial intellectual magnetism' (William Gerber) – of words!

Helps decipher meanings of words when reading essays or books about past philosophers

I have the Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy and it is falls seriously short of what the Penguin contains. If you get one dictionary for Philosophy, I recommend the Penguin.

I bought this as a supplement to teach English Lit and have been extremely happy. It allows me to answer into-level philosophy questions without bringing out this big books!

Without a doubt the handiest book for a student of philosophy.

A nice addition to three other such dictionaries. Definitions that I have reviewed so far seem good and accessible. I particularly like the items that allow living philosophers to describe their own projects.

Basically in Philosophy, everything is nearly to one's own taste. For example, if I were to show you a Red-like color Apple and ask you what color it is specifically, many could not agree to the hue or contrast of the color Red itself. A person would state that the Apple is of Crimson Red while another one would say it's of a Burgundy color. Therefore, this book of itself only covers a specific amount of "Philosophy" that is of Western origin.My biggest gripe was that this dictionary -- being ~688 pages, would cover all the fundamentals, i.e. vocab, short but concise explanations of origins and history, only covers that is the most complex or at least the least used words in Philosophy itself. Don't get me wrong, this book covers the needed terms related to Western Philosophy but it lacks the Dharma of the Eastern Philosophy, i.e. words that are more specific to the plight of the Human Condition.For example, the Eastern Philosophical word Karma is not an entry, nor is the word The Tao (Dao) or even the Tao (Dao) Te Ching which is essential for a aspiring Philosopher to get a rounded understanding of what Philosophy really is -- both the Existentialism and the Inner-elements (Kneosis for the lack of term)that make an individual whole by allowing all perspectives of ideas -- Eastern and Western.3 out of 5 for only covering Western Philosophical ideals. Would have given 5 of 5 if it included Eastern Philosophical ideas as well.

I own three dictionaries of philosophy, but the Penguin Reference Dictionary of Philosophy has become my go-to guide. Its extensive entries are neither simplistic nor overbearing for the non-professional interested in topical summaries concerning individuals, systems, and terms commonly encountered in the study of philosophy. Highly recommended.