The Great Philosophers: An Introduction to Western PhilosophyBeginning with the death of Socrates in 399 BC, and following the strand of philosophical inquiry through the centuries to recent figures such as Bertrand Russell and Wittgenstein, Bryan Magee's conversations with fifteen contemporary writers and philosophers provide an accessible and exciting account of Western philosophy and its greatest thinkers. With contributions from A. J. Ayer, Bernard Williams, Martha Nussbaum, Peter Singer, and John Searle, the book is not only an introduction to the philosophers of the past, but gives an invaluable insight into the view and personalities of some of the most influential philosophers of the twentieth century. |
Contents
Dialogue 1 PLATO | 13 |
Dialogue 2 ARISTOTLE | 33 |
Dialogue 3 MEDIEVAL PHILOSOPHY | 57 |
Dialogue 4 DESCARTES | 77 |
Dialogue 5 SPINOZA AND LEIBNIZ | 97 |
Dialogue 6 LOCKE AND BERKELEY | 119 |
Dialogue 7 HUME | 145 |
Dialogue 8 KANT | 169 |
Dialogue 9 HEGEL AND MARX | 189 |
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Common terms and phrases
actually argues argument Aristotle Ayer believe Berkeley Bertrand Russell Bryan Magee Burnyeat called causal century Christian conception concerned consciousness course Dasein Descartes Dewey dialogues discourse discussion Dreyfus everything example existence experience explain fact Frege fundamental Hegel Heidegger human Hume Hume's Husserl idea important influence inquiry intellectual interesting Kant kind knowledge language game Leibniz Locke Locke's logic Magee Marx material mathematical matter meaning medieval medieval philosophy mental metaphysics Middle Ages mind moral nature Nietzsche Nietzsche's notion noumenon Nussbaum objects ontological argument osophy Passmore Peirce perhaps phenomena philosophers philosophy of mind physical Plato possible principle problem question Quinton rational realise reality reason religious Russell sceptical Schopenhauer Schopenhauer's scientific Searle seems sense Socrates sort soul Spinoza talk theory Theory of Forms things thought tradition true truth trying understanding Warnock whole Wittgenstein words