The Story of Philosophy - Softcover

Magee, Bryan

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0751333328 ISBN 13: 9780751333329

Publisher: Dorling Kindersley, 2001

Synopsis

Philosophy is a subject that influences many aspects of our lives and our understanding of our experiences yet it can seem dauntingly inaccessible. Unrivalled in its clarity and insight The Story of Philosophy guides us expertly through the history of ideas and thinking. History of Western philosophyProfessor Bryan Magee traces over 2 500 years of Western philosophy from the Ancient Greeks to modern thinkers. His deep appreciation of the subject and grasp of its complexities have enabled him to produce a book accessible to the general reader yet substantial enough for the more experienced student. What is philosophy? Philosophers have questioned the fundamental principles underlying all knowledge and existence. Among the important philosophical issues that The Story of Philosophy addresses are questions such as "What is being?" and "Can the existence of God be proved?" Covering every major philosopher from Plato to Popper via Saint Augustine Locke and Nietzsche Bryan Magee opens up the world of ideas in a way that is easily understood by everyone. Additional background information puts the philosophers in historical context with the influences that shaped their lives and work.Comprehensive highly visual and filled with penetrating observations The Story of Philosophy is the essential guide to this fascinating subject.

About this title

Review:

As a populariser of philosophy, Bryan Macgee is arguably the best in the business; his latest offering The Story of Philosophy is further testament to that. Macgee has been a Member of Parliament, a music and theatre critic, broadcaster and university lecturer as well as being the author of many books including Modern British Philosophy, The Philosophy of Schopenhauer, Popper, Confessions of a Philosopher and more recently the excellent Wagner and Philosophy. He has presented two popular BBC television series, Men of Ideas, and The Great Philosophers, which in turn became successful books. The difference between The Story of Philosophy and The Great Philosophers is that the latter involved Macgee asking questions and leading an in-depth authoritative discussion with other professional philosophers about particular philosophical greats. The former is a much more basic introduction to, and history of, philosophy, which very briefly summarises the key points in the thought of the great philosophers. It is broken up into nine general sections--"The Greeks and Their World", "Christianity and Philosophy", "The Beginnings of Modern Science", "The Great Rationalists", "The Great Empiricists", "Revolutionary French Thinkers", "A Golden Century of German Philosophy", "Democracy and Philosophy" and "20th-Century Philosophy"--but manages to range more widely.

What makes this book noteworthy is the fact that Macgee's expertise and characteristically lucid prose is enormously enhanced by the layout of the book itself. The main figures and the leading ideas are illustrated with drawings, photographs, paintings and sculpture along with judiciously placed enlarged quotations, useful historical information set off from the main text and a handy glossary of philosophical terms at the end. This is a fine reference book and if a basic introduction to the history of philosophy is what you're looking for, you won't find better.--Larry Brown

Review:

"This gloriously illustrated and accessible book enables readers to embark on an adventure in philosophy.Young adults will find that the often closed doors of philosophy are now open and inviting." School Library Journal

"Lavishly illustrated." Library Journal"

"This gloriously illustrated and accessible book enables readers to embark on an adventure in philosophy.Young adults will find that the often closed doors of philosophy are now open and inviting." -- School Library Journal

"Lavishly illustrated." -- Library Journal

About this edition

• Publisher: Dorling Kindersley
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 0751333328
• ISBN 13: 9780751333329
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 240