This is my preferred text for intro classes. Whether it works for you will depend on what you are looking for. The text consists entirely of excerpts and abridged versions of primary sources as well as full-length articles, and therefore the readings are moderately difficult. There is no commentary from the editor, Abel, other than a short introduction giving historical context to each piece. Instructors who wish students to have more structured readings with editorial comments and interpretations of the text would do well to look elsewhere.

That said, I find the topical breakdown of this text very intuitive, and ideal for survey & intro type courses, where you have a limited amount of time to expose students to some of the major areas of philosophical thought.

The third edition does not differ too much from the second. A few readings were added from less traditional sources, but those readings which were lost as a result were not crucial to the progression of the text. ( )

This is my preferred text for intro classes. Whether it works for you will depend on what you are looking for. The text consists entirely of excerpts and abridged versions of primary sources, and therefore the readings are moderately difficult. There is no commentary from the editor, Abel, other than a short introduction giving historical context to each piece. Instructors who wish students to have more structured readings with editorial comments and interpretations of the text would do well to look elsewhere.

That said, I find the topical breakdown of this text very intuitive, and ideal for survey & intro type courses, where you have a limited amount of time to expose students to some of the major areas of philosophical thought. ( )