Review: A history of western philosophy

This will be a two volume compendium of keen and chatty essays on all of the generally accepted great philosophers of the western world. Book I includes ""Ancient Philosophy""; Book II --""Catholic Philosophy""; Book III -- ""Modern Philosophy"", from the Renaissance to the present. At the beginning of each sertain??, Russell makes brilliant and characteristic summation of the main contributions of the period. The style is flowing; the approach is popular and not technical; Russell makes no pretense of being unbiased -- he states his preferences and predilections, as a modern philosophical liberal. He brings out the human aspects of the philosophers, extracts the meat of each philosopher's thought, and omits the dry-as-dust hair splitting. A good flight-view of the intellectual history of the western world by a trained scholar and philosopher. General readers will be entertained; academicians?? will cavil.

Logician, mathematician, athiest, and either the poorest or most biased reader in the history of philosophy. I received this book just as I entered graduate school. As I would be reading many of those represented in the book throughout the semester, I thought that I would read the famed Russell along with them. It did not take me long to begin to question whether the publisher had mislabeled the chapters. Admittedly, everyone has their idiosyncratic readings. It is not unreasonable, however, for a scholar to keep his biases to him or herself when putatively introducing philosophers, often to new comers or relative new comers. Russell is not the only such writer to allow his own views to bleed into such works; after all, there is no doubt that F. Coppleston has his Catholic bias. Yet, to say that Russell's views bled into the text is something of an understatement. He must have had some serious wounds, perhaps having been attacked by his rabid dogmatism. This is not a book for those who want to learn the views of philosophers. If you want to know what Russell thought of the history of Western philosophy, more power to you. But you will be misled, if you rely upon his interpretations, not to mention his failure to interpret. I am speaking in particular of his failure to even mention Nietzsche, in 895 pages on the topic of philosophers. Be kind to Mother Earth, save a bunch of trees by ignoring this work into the dustbins of philosophical tripe.  

Review: A History of Western Philosophy

I suspect I came to this book precisely when I needed to in my philosophical education. At the time I had read some Plato, some Aristotle, a not insignificant amount of Machiavelli, and a good deal of ...

Review: A History of Western Philosophy

Overview Bertrand Russell's History consists of 76 Chapters, almost all under 20 pages. Each Chapter contains a summary of each philosopher's key arguments interlaced with criticism that reflects ... Read full review

Review: A History of Western Philosophy

There are many ways to read this book, in its way, one of the key works of twentieth century philosophy. It can be used as an encyclopaedia of philosophy, ordered not alphabetically, but ... Read full review

Review: A History of Western Philosophy

Despite its title, Bertrand Russell's A History of Western Philosophy is not really a history of philosophy at all. Russell, though he claims otherwise, probably knew as much. He comments in the ... Read full review

Review: A History of Western Philosophy

This is mostly an enjoyable, somewhat rambling, journey through the history of western philosophy. It is mostly well written, occasionally quite opinionated (although a philosopher of the genius and ... Read full review

Review: A History of Western Philosophy

First systematic attempt to compile,intreprete the various schools of philosophical thought,This is indeed a must read for anyone interested in the studx of philosophy.It is very logical,insightfull ...

Review: A History of Western Philosophy

If your background in Western Philosophy is spotty, and if you want an experienced person to walk you through the subject and give a synopsis on the most influencial works, then this book will get the ... Read full review

Review: A History of Western Philosophy

The first initiative that drives me to read this book was to replenish my shocking lack of knowledge in general philosophical theories. Nevertheless, it turns out that this book is not the best in ... Read full review