A History of Western Philosophy
Product Description
Since its first publication in 1945? Lord Russell’s A History of Western Philosophy has been universally acclaimed as the outstanding one-volume work on the subject — unparalleled in its comprehensiveness, its clarity, its erudition, its grace and wit. In seventy-six chapters he traces philosophy from the rise of Greek civilization to the emergence of logical analysis in the twentieth century. Among the philosophers considered are: Pythagoras, Heraclitus, Parmenides, Empedocles, Anaxagoras, the Atomists, Protagoras, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, the Cynics, the Sceptics, the Epicureans, the Stoics, Plotinus, Ambrose, Jerome, Augustine, Benedict, Gregory the Great, John the Scot, Aquinas, Duns Scotus, William of Occam, Machiavelli, Erasmus, More, Bacon, Hobbes, Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz, Locke, Berkeley, Hume, Rousseau, Kant, Hegel, Schopenhauer, Nietzsche, the Utilitarians, Marx, Bergson, James, Dewey, and lastly the philosophers with whom Lord Russell himself is most closely associated — Cantor, Frege, and Whitehead, co-author with Russell of the monumental Principia Mathematica.
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This book is perfunctory and extremely shallow. Russell’s reductive reading of the tradition shows little insight. However, it is amusing at times, hence the star.
Rating: 1 / 5
A History of Western Philosophy
This “History” was a true disapointment. I had heard how wonderous this volume was, but upon reading it myself, I found it to be thoughly lacking in history and accuracy in depiction of the philosophers depicted. This has to be as bad as Durent’s work on history of philosophy. I woudl give this book away, but I don’t dislike anyone that much. Russell’s depiction of previous philosphers was selfserving at best. All philosopher were to lead up to his philosophy. This books only should be used as a doorstop or kindling.
Rating: 1 / 5
A History of Western Philosophy
Is the book called “The History of Western Philosophy” or “A History of Western Philosophy”?
Rating: 3 / 5
A History of Western Philosophy
….well-placed within its historical context. Readable and not overly technical. Bear in mind that Lord Russell is as rationalistic and positivistic as Isaac Asimov, whose chronology of history puts down such “mystical” movements as alchemy and gnosticism.
Rating: 4 / 5
A History of Western Philosophy
Russell’s History of Western Philosophy should really be titled “A staunch positivist’s take on the history of philosophy.” Russell’s bias against any form of metaphysics is so great that he essentially dismisses any attempt to establish metaphysical principles as foolishness. This is not a book to read if one wants to get a serious appreciation for the greeks, the medieval philosophers, or the modern European philosophers in the continental tradition. If one wants a demonstration of arrogance, this is the book for you. My recommendation would be Copleston’s 9 volume “History of Philosophy.” It is far more thorough and attempts to treat all philosophers and schools of philosophy seriously. With a greater amount of humility, Copleston honestly admits that he is writing as a Thomist and a Catholic philospher. Nevertheless, he presents the positions of others fairly and comprehensively. Fortunately for us all, few people take Bertrand Russell’s opinions seriously and positivism is dead as a viable school of philosophy.
Rating: 1 / 5
A History of Western Philosophy