The philosophers toolkit : a compendium of philosophical concepts and methods Philosophy can be an extremely technical and complex affair one whose terminology and procedures are often intimidating to the beginner and demanding even for the professional. Like that of surgery the art of philosophy requires mastering a body of knowledge as well as acquiring precision and skill with a set of instruments or tools. The Philosophers Toolkit may be thought of as a collection of just such tools. Unlike those of a surgeon or a master woodworker however the instruments presented by this text are conceptual tools that can be used to enter analyse criticise and evaluate philosophical concepts arguments visions and theories. The Toolkit can be used in a variety of ways. It can be read cover to cover by those looking for instruction on the essentials of philosophical reflection. Or it can be used as a course book on basic philosophical method or critical thinking. It can also be used as a reference book to which general readers and more advanced philosophers can turn in order to find quick and clear accounts of the key concepts and methods of philosophy. The book is assembled so that there is a natural logical order from start to finish but one can also start wherever one likes just as one might play any song on a record album first. The aim of the book in other words is to act as a conceptual toolbox from which all those from neophytes to master artisans can draw instruments that would otherwise be distributed over a diverse set of texts and require long periods of study to acquire Basic tools for arguments More advanced tools Tools for assessment Tools for conceptual distinctions Tools of historical schools and philosophers Tools for radical critique Tools at the limit.