Academic philosophy has become so technical and inbred that it often fails to connect with the questions and concerns of educated nonspecialists. Martin Benjamin aims to bridge this gap. Presupposing little or no formal background,Philosophy & This Actual World addresses general questions of knowledge, reality, mind, will, and ethics, as well as more specific questions about moral pluralism, assisted suicide, the nature of death, and life's meaning. At the same time, it incorporates the advances of academic philosophers like Wittgenstein, Rorty, Putnam, and Rawls, making it equally as valuable to the scholar as to the philosophically uninitiated.

"An impressive coverage of philosophical issues relevant to almost anyone. Using insights from classical pragmatists, such as William James, and also from contemporary pragmatists, especially Richard Rorty, this text is an accessible entryway to some perennial philosophical questions and answers. Students or academics wondering how pragmatism is practical must read this lively and provocative book. General readers will also profit from its wisdom. Perhaps its greatest usefulness will be in the classroom, where its unimposing size, clear writing, and good bibliographies will serve introductory courses at universities or community colleges. Highly recommended." - CHOICE

"This book is an easy read, not because it is entertaining in a simplistic way, but because it is intellectually engaging on a level that most readers, regardless of the level of their philosophical sophistication, can grasp. The prose is clear and not cluttered with footnotes and attempts to prove its academic merit." - Metapsychology Online

"Like the work of some other philosophers who have appreciated the relevance of pragmatism's insights to 'practical philosophy' (Glenn McGee and Micah Hester, for example), Martin Benjamin's book is an illuminating reflection on the craft of philosophy, both as it has been and as some are hoping it may become." - Medical Humanities