A Companion to Philosophy in Australia and New Zealand (Second Edition)

Description

Philosophy in Australia and New Zealand has for some time now been experiencing something of a 'golden age'. The richness of Australasia's philosophical past, though less well known, should also not be forgotten. Australasian philosophy, although heavily indebted to overseas trends, includes much distinctive and highly original work. The Companion contains a wide range of articles contributed by prominent philosophers and scholars, and includes biographical essays on selected philosophers, topics and controversies, as well as shorter entries on associations, research centres, departments, journals, pedagogy, and international links. Important philosophical contributions made by those working outside of the academy are also included, along with philosophy's recent inroads into the wider community - in primary and secondary schools, community-based forums and 'philosophy cafes'. This book will provide scholars and the wider community, in Australia, New Zealand and beyond, with a greater appreciation of the philosophical heritage of this region, and will be a standard work of reference for many years to come.Soon after the original edition of The Companion to Philosophy in Australia and New Zealand was published in 2010 we noticed, or were made aware of, some significant omissions and errors. We therefore almost immediately embarked upon the present revised edition with the aim of correcting any errors and including some articles that did not make it into the first edition. In particular, articles on the following topics have now been added: Australian Aboriginal Philosophy; History and Philosophy of Science; and The Oxbridge Connection. Also, an Addendum has been added to the article on the Australian Society of Legal Philosophy. The generally favourable reception of the first edition gives us hope that the Companion will continue to serve as a useful and insightful guide for students and observers of philosophy in Australasia.

Graham Oppy is Professor and Head of the School of Philosophical, Historical and International Studies, Faculty of Arts, Monash University. His recent publications include Philosophical Perspectives on Infinity (CUP, 2006) and Arguing about Gods (CUP, 2006), as well as the five-volume History of Western Philosophy of Religion (Acumen, 2009), co-edited with N. N. Trakakis. N. N. Trakakis is a Lecturer in Philosophy and Religious Studies at Monash University and Deakin University. He is a founding member of the Australasian Philosophy of Religion Association (APRA) and is the author of The God Beyond Belief (Springer, 2006) and The End of Philosophy of Religion (Continuum, 2008).

Oppy and Trakakis' judicious and authoritative Companion to Philosophy in Australia & New Zealand reveals much that will be news even to Australasian readers. This magnificent achievement outshines even Selwyn Grave's loving A History of Philosophy in Australia (1984). -- Professor Graham Priest