Congratulations to Paul Harris, Instructor of Philosophy and participant in the Teaching & Learning Center’s eTextbook Initiative, for completing his new electronic textbook Introduction to World Philosophies. Paul’s book, which replaces a $105 commercial textbook, will be provided to WCU students for free and used in PHI 101 – Introduction to Philosophy.

As he describes, “This book provides historical context along with a thematic exploration of the most important philosophical problems and solutions from both Western and non-Western traditions. By analyzing primary texts alongside in-depth commentary, readers will gain an understanding of the original philosophical ideas and their lasting impact.

This course covers a broad range of philosophical topics, including meta-philosophy, epistemology, moral philosophy, and the philosophy of religion. Some of the major thinkers of the Western tradition are included, such as Plato, Aristotle, and Descartes, but special attention will also be given to thinkers and traditions outside of the mainstream Western canon, such as those from Hinduism, Buddhism, and feminism. Readers will be able to see how past thinkers have grappled with fundamental questions like the nature of philosophy, the sources of knowledge, the meaning of morality, and the role of religion in human life.”

The eTextbook Initiative was founded in 2017 as a way to help combat the rising costs of textbooks by teaching WCU faculty how to build their own high-quality, interactive electronic textbooks. These textbooks are then provided to WCU students for free, helping to lower the overall cost of their education while removing the financial barrier to obtaining these educational materials. If you are a WCU faculty member who is interested in building their own eTextbook, please contact Marc Drumm, Senior Instructional Designer, at mdrumm@wcupa.edu.