Dynamic combinations of first-rate philosophers and fiction writers make Philosophy: A Literary & Conceptual Approach an important tool for introductory philosophy students and scholars looking for a fresh approach to traditional schools of thought. Evocative literary excerpts from writers such as Margaret Atwood, Ralph Ellison, Emile Zola, and Albert Camus are paired with standard philosophic texts from theorists such as Simone de Beauvoir, Shelby Steele, Karl Marx, and Jean-Paul Sartre. Features: * Paralles use of philosophical and literary readings provides a more accessible introduction to philosophy. * Coverage includes discussion of metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, aesthetics, philosophy of religion, and philosophy of art. * Introductions to both literary and philosophical readings give students a context in which to approach selections. New to this edition: * Updated coverage relates classic philosophic concepts to contemporary concerns - diversity, feminism, racism and skepticism. * New coverage in Chapter 1 includes discussion of identity as defined by society and relates this concept to an exploration of feminism. * New discussion of deconstruction in Chapter 5 explores skepticism as it relates to the nature of reality.