John Passmore was one of Australia's most important twentieth-century philosophers, best known for his lucid histories of philosophy and his insistence that philosophical problems should be approached with clarity rather than mystification. 

Philosophical Reasoning, first published in 1961, became one of his most influential works: not a textbook in formal logic, but an investigation into the distinctive forms of argument philosophers actually employ. Rather than asking what philosophers have believed, Passmore asks how philosophical arguments work, why they persuade, and where they break down.

Drawing on thinkers from Plato and Aristotle through to Wittgenstein and the analytic tradition, Passmore examines classic argumentative structures including infinite regress, self-refutation, two-worlds arguments and appeals to meaninglessness. His writing is notably accessible without sacrificing rigour, making this an excellent bridge between introductory philosophy and more advanced work. More than sixty years after publication, it remains an elegant demonstration of philosophical method itself—a book for readers interested in logic, epistemology, analytic philosophy and the craft of careful thinking rather than the defence of any particular doctrine.

1961 first edition hardback. Good condition with a bright, clean interior and firm binding. Dust jacket shows several small chips and edge wear, with light rubbing consistent with age.