Locke in 90 Minutes (Philsophers in 90 Minutes) (Philosophers in 90 Minutes) - Hardcover

Strathern, Paul

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1566632617 ISBN 13: 9781566632614

Publisher: Ivan R. Dee, 1999

Synopsis

In Locke in 90 Minutes, Paul Strathern offers a concise, expert account of Locke's life and ideas, and explains their influence on man's struggle to understand his existence in the world. The book also includes selections from Locke's writings; a brief list of suggested reading for those who wish to push further; and chronologies that place Locke within his own age and in the broader scheme of philosophy.

About this title

Review:

In the latest addition to his popular series of miniature introductions to the great philosophers, Paul Strathern takes on John Locke, one of the first major empiricists. As always, Strathern does an excellent job of putting the philosopher and his work into historical context: Locke in 90 Minutes is particularly strong on showing how the turbulence of English politics during the mid-1600s set Locke on the road to philosophy and shaped his ideas on democracy. He provides clear summaries that demonstrate how Locke's empiricism was informed by the scientific spirit of the times as well as the more metaphysical ruminations of Descartes (though he would veer very sharply from the conclusions of his French near-contemporary). And there are several examples of Strathern's caustic wit, as in his description of Locke's long epistolary relationships with women as "a sort of Chinese water torture by correspondence". --Christine Buttery

Review:

Well-written, clear and informed, they have a breezy wit about them...I find them hard to stop reading.--Richard Bernstein "The New York Times "

Witty, illuminating, and blessedly concise.--Jim Holt "The Wall Street Journal "

Each of these little books is witty and dramatic and creates a sense of time, place, and character...I cannot think of a better way to introduce oneself and one's friends to Western civilization.--Katherine A. Powers "The Boston Globe "

A godsend in this era of the short attention span.--Daryl Royster Alexander "The New York Times "

About this edition

• Publisher: Ivan R. Dee
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 1566632617
• ISBN 13: 9781566632614
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 108