Book Description
Firmly established as the standard text for undergraduate courses in ethics, this concise, lively book combines clear explanations of the main theories of ethics with discussions of interesting examples.Topics covered include famine relief, euthanasia, homosexuality, and the treatment of animals.The text's versatility allows it to be widely used not only in ethical theory courses, but also in applied ethics courses of all kinds. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (27)

Asking All The Right Questions
"The Elements of Moral Philosophy" is a fabulous, non-technical introduction to ethics.The writing is clear and historically informed, the main schools of thought are covered, and Rachels doesn't pretend that he's found all the answers to very difficult questions.I can't think of a better book for a college student who is new to philosophical ethics and wants to get a feel for how philosophers approach these issues.

I was struck by the handful of super-negative Amazon reviews.I suspect they were written by students who were forced to read the book for a class and either expected something else or were put off by Rachels' respectful but negative treatment of religious-based ethics.Ignore them.

Rachels is Disappointing
It was a very disappointing experience having to read this book for my MBA program.Since I did not read the original edition of James Rachels it is unclear whether his son Stuart committed this atrocity on his own or not.If you are a teacher, do not choose this book for your class as it is a complete waste of time and contains no concrete thoughts or any type of useful philosophy principles for discussion, much less use in our lives.If you are looking for a philosophical read on your own, keep looking.This book mostly ridicules instead of examines and is very difficult to understand Rachels real perspective, if there is one.

Rachels on Moral Relativism
Just one gripe with an otherwise sound introduction;
I think that the section on moral relativism is especially weak. Rachels offers two arguments against the Cultural Differences Argument:

p1 Different cultures have different moral codes
p2 This would only happen were there a single, universal morality
conclusion: no such universal morality exists


Rachels first argues that the argument is invalid, using the analogy of 'theories of the shape of the earth.' Just as different cultural beliefs about the shape of the earth do not show that the Earth has no definite shape, Rachels argues, different moral beliefs across cultures and times do not show that there is no universal morality. I suspect that this is question- begging. Rachels presupposes that truths about the shape of the Earth are relevantly similar to 'truths' about moral universals, but this requires that there are such moral universals. (Different cultures have different theories about tastiness, or feminine beauty; it seems to me straightforwardly true that this shows that such beliefs or theories are really culturally bound).
Rachels then goes on to argue that premise one is not true, or is exagerrated. His view that no culture could survive without a ban on homicide, infanticide or theft is simply naive, (consider in- group vs. out- group relations, or the history of slavery, for obvious examples) as is his view that all apparent differences in morality are due to economic, environmental or worldview-based factors. A competent stage I student would be able to take him apart.
Actually I prefer this chapter as it is: it gives the instructor a good opportunity to set students loose on an argument for criticism, and to unlearn automatic respect for textual authority.

G. Roche Lakeland College Wisconsin

Nauseating
I was required to read this for my high school senior Philosophy class, and it is nauseating. Rachels hides behind the ostensibly noble endeavor of writing a book about moral philosophy, and uses it to defend homosexuality, abortion, and disregard for The Bible. He might as well title the book "My Arguments Against Christianity," for that is really what it is. His skepticism when it comes to Christian faith and The Bible are only proofs that he is one of today's "enlightened" philosophers who is too "intelligent" to fall for the ridiculously simplistic beliefs of Christianity.
This book is a terrible anti-Christian screed, a total waste of time, and a sorry attempt at philosophy.

Mediocre introduction with a lot of mistakes in arguments...
If you have a choice between this and Pojman, get Pojman. I don't particularly like either of them, but Pojmans "Ethics" is definately the better one.

BAD: The chapter on subjectivism is completely confused - this book has no proper introduction to meta-ethics nor is its place in general ethics explained. The chapter on relativism is ok, but I would say that there are serious mistakes there too. The chapters about utilitarianism are just too simplistic and exclusive.

GOOD: The chapterson the social contract and the chapter on Kant are both good, as is the chapter on feminist ethics. It is good to see that stuff usually left out (social contract, feminist ethics) is included here.

Overall you should get something else for a good introduction to the subject and if you already have some knowledge of the field, this book will be of no interest whatsoever. ... Read more

Amazon.com
"It is common," Alain de Botton writes in The Consolations of Philosophy, "to assume that we are dealing with a highly intelligent book when we cease to understand it. Profound ideas cannot, after all, be explained in the language of children." While his easygoing exploration of philosophers from Socrates to Nietzsche isn't exactly written for the Blue's Clues set, few readers will cease to understand it. Furthermore, it's a joy to read. De Botton's 1997 How Proust Can Change Your Life forged a new kind of lit crit: an exploration of Remembrance of Things Past, delivered in the sweet-gummed envelope of an advice book. He returns to the self-help format here, this time plundering the great thinkers to puzzle out the way we ought to live.

What was stunning about the Proust book was de Botton's brazen annexing of a hallowed novelist to address lite emotional problems. That format is less arresting when applied to the philosophers, since which earnest philosophy major has not, from time to time, tried to apply the alpine heights of thought to his own humble worries? Usually, sophomoric attempts to turn to, say, Kant for advice on love tend to be unmitigated disasters. In de Botton's case, however, he is able to find consolation for a broken heart in Schopenhauer, consolation for inadequacy in Montaigne. Epicurus, usually associated with a love of luxury, is a solace for those of us without much money--and de Botton learns from him that "objects mimic in a material dimension what we require in a psychological one. We need to rearrange our minds but are lured towards new shelves. We buy a cashmere cardigan as a substitute for the counsel of friends."

Lest the reader become burdened by all this philosophizing, the book is peppered with illustrations--the section on Nietzsche of course includes a DC Comics drawing of Superman. And it's further leavened by the author's personal anecdotes and winning confessional tone. Early on, for instance, he admits his own gnawing need for popularity: "A desire to please led me to laugh at modest jokes like a parent on the opening night of a school play." Before he became a medicine man for the soul, de Botton was a first-rate novelist, and it shows in his writing. --Claire DedererBook Description
From the internationally heralded author of How Proust Can Change Your Life comes this remarkable new book that presents the wisdom of some of the greatest thinkers of the ages as advice for our day to day struggles.

Solace for the broken heart can be found in the words of Schopenhauer. The ancient Greek Epicurus has the wisest, and most affordable, solution to cash flow problems. A remedy for impotence lies in Montaigne. Seneca offers advice upon losing a job. And Nietzsche has shrewd counsel for everything from loneliness to illness. The Consolations of Philosophy is a book as accessibly erudite as it is useful and entertaining.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (91)

Good Content, Weak Style (for a popular book)
Despite title's reservations, I enjoyed Chapter 4 which is essentially what Montaigne advised on how to understand and use knowledge.Scabs and Arses, Scabs and Arses!=-)

How philosophy helps us in our life
The author shows how philosophy supplied Socrates with convictions in which he was able to have rational confidence when faced with adversity. In Socrates' time, the opinion of the majority was equated with truth. He thus suffered the sad fate to be good and yet judged evil. We should therefore strive to listen to the dictates of the reason and not the dictates of public opinion.
The philosophy of Epicures places an emphasis on the importance of sexual pleasure and he promises that philosophy will guide us to superior cures and true happiness. Friendship and freedom are the two most important items on the Epicurean acquisition list.
Seneca conceived of philosophy as a discipline to assist human beings in overcoming conflicts between their wishes and reality. He saw that we must reconcile ourselves to the necessary imperfectability of existence. We will cease to be angry once we cease to be too hopeful.
Cicero claims that scholarship furnishes us with true means of living well and happily, to spend our lives without discontent and without vexation.
Montaigne saw that we have to accept our body with all its flaws: it smells, aches, ages, throbs and pulses.
Booksellers are the most valuable destination for the lonely, given the number of books that were written because authors couldn't find anyone to talk to. Actually every difficult work presents us with the choice whether to judge the author inept for not being clear, or ourselves stupid for not understanding the ideas.
For Schopenhauer, a man of genius can hardly be sociable, for what dialogues could indeed be so intelligent and entertaining as his own monologues? For him, art and philosophy help us to turn pain into knowledge. "The prudent man strives for freedom from pain, not pleasure."

thumbs down
The author seems to have a good grasp on the subject matter.I did not care for the writing style.Many people love this book, probably because it takes a higher level view of philosophy.

For those discovering philosophy
This book provides a good overview of soem of the better known philosophers of western thought.Its a great book for my students, but also for people who struggle with the thick language often associated with philosophical texts.

Philosophical summaries
This is a lightweight interpretation of the great philosophers, but still fun to read.Exposes you to some ideas you may not otherwise see.I don't know that I got a lot of consolation from it, per the title, but still enjoyed it. ... Read more

Download Description

With The Sunday Philosophy Club, Alexander McCall Smith, the author of the best-selling and beloved No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency novels, begins a wonderful new series starring the irrepressibly curious Isabel Dalhousie.

Isabel is fond of problems, and sometimes she becomes interested in problems that are, quite frankly, none of her business. This may be the case when Isabel sees a young man plunge to his death from the upper circle of a concert hall in Edinburgh. Despite the advice of her housekeeper, Grace, who has been raised in the values of traditional Edinburgh, and her niece, Cat, who, if you ask Isabel, is dating the wrong man, Isabel is determined to find the truth-if indeed there is one-behind the man's death. The resulting moral labyrinth might have stymied even Kant. And then there is the unsatisfactory turn of events in Cat's love life that must be attended to.

Filled with thorny characters and a Scottish atmosphere as thick as a highland mist, The Sunday Philosophy Club is irresistible, and Isabel Dalhousie is the most delightful literary sleuth since Precious Ramotswe.

Customer Reviews (133)

A Little Different
Definitely doesn't have the charm of the #1 Ladies Detective Agency books--and I've read them all and the 44 Scotland Street books.But how can you not giggle at the idea of The Sunday Philosophy Club that never meets or the Really Terrible Orchestra concerts?Isabel Dalhousie is a bit of a bore whose mind often wanders to philosphical and (some silly) ethical questions raised in the papers she reads for the journal she edits.She witnesses the death of a young man who fell from the the highest balconies after a concert and can't get murder out of her mind.She bumps and bumbles through an unofficial investigation.In the meantime she looks for a way to detach her beloved neice from her current boyfriend.

This is not a "sit on the edge of your seat" type of mystery.If that's what you like, don't read it.If you've read any other Alexander McCall Smith books you know that that's not the kind of book he writes.If you like subtle but interesting intellectual arguments, silliness, and usually interesting characters--you should like his books.This is not his best one, but judging from the reviews of the later books in the series, they get better.

Somehow, I think that Isabel Dalhousie is the type of person that Mr. Smith encounters often in his everyday life.

Read for the characters, not the mystery
This is the first book in the Isabel Dalhousie series, and while fans of the Ladies' No. 1 Detective Agency series will recognize the folksy and cozy narrative style, Isabel Dalhousie is a different kind of protagonist than Mma Ramotswe.

Like the Ladies No. 1 Detective Agency books, this story is not plot driven, but character driven.Like the Homer Kelly mysteries of Jane Langton, McCall Smith's mysteries tend to be on the lighter side (relatively gore-free), but filled with historical and cultural references. Isabel is a philosopher, and as the editor of the Journal of Applied Ethics, manages to view her interaction with the world as one large moral quandary.While she may consider Kant in her musings on every day situations, she is a very human character, subject to the same temptations and foibles as her non-philosopher friends.

A basic understanding of general philosophical trends is helpful, but by no means necessary, to enjoy this book. The philosophical references are not overbearing and do not have the same relevancy that they have in the work of Umberto Eco, for example. The characters are vivid and are solid stock for a series.The actual mystery is not central to the story, which is more focused on Isabel's relationship to the world around her. A very good read for a rainy day.

The mystery that got lost along the way
Unlike many of the other posters, I have never read one of Smith's "Ladies Detective" stories, so I won't be using those works as a point of comparison.I got to know his writing through the very funny "Portuguese Irregular Verb" series, and the first two volumes of his serial fiction "44 Scotland Street."Smith creates likeable characters who live mostly ordinary lives in a mostly moral universe, but he uses them to satirize Edinburgh society and make the reader think about morality and life in general.

This first installment in the Dalhousie series was a disappointment.It wasn't the characters who were the problem, or the Edinburgh ambience.It was the lack of focus on the central plot, and the very weak conclusion that let me down.Smith can't seem to decide if he's writing a whodunit, or a love story about the main character, her niece, and the men in their lives.Long stretches of the book leave the mystery behind, and when the truth behind the murder is finally revealed, there's not much for the reader to do but shrug.

The murdered man was pushed, we believe, from the balcony of a concert hall.Are we to believe that that man and his killer were the only people left in the balcony?And don't you think that the police's main line of inquiry would be to determine who held the tickets near the murdered man?Smith seems to ignore this obvious fact.

Smith is, for me, an enjoyable writer who can entertain in a "PG-rated" style.His little digs at culture (Stockhausen, for instance), his knoweldge of painting, love of Scotland, and inclusion of bits of his own life (he's a member of the Really Terrible Orchestra, which features in the plot), give his books a certain charm.But I hope the rest of the books in this series do a better job of sticking to a true mystery plot and providing a satisfactory conclusion.

Slow pacing, but it grew on me...
As part of my vacation reading, I decided to take the recommendation of a friend and pick up the Isabel Dalhousie series by Alexander McCall Smith.I had the advantage of starting with the first of the three books, The Sunday Philosophy Club.Since I'm writing this after having read all three, I'm probably inclined to give it a bit higher rating than I might have if I were to have written the review immediately afterwards.The pacing is slow and not focused directly on the main plot line, but the characters grew on me.By the third installment, I was hooked...

Isabel Dalhousie is a single woman in her early 40s, and she lives in Edinburgh, Scotland.She witnesses someone falling to their death from the upper balcony of a theater, someone who she doesn't know and has never met.But she has a problem leaving things like that alone, and she starts to dig a bit to find out if the death was accidental, a suicide, or perhaps even a murder.Her position as editor of the Review of Applied Ethics journal is indicative of her nature, one that has her debating the merits and moral concerns of everything she says and does.As she gets deeper into the mystery, some unsettling events have her wondering if she might be a target for someone who could also be responsible for the mysterious death she witnessed.

The other core plotline here, and actually the one that seems to dominate the story, is the relationship between her, her niece Cat, Cat's boyfriend (who Isabel does NOT like), and Jamie (Cat's ex-boyfriend who can't forget her and who Cat wants nothing to do with).Isabel sees Jamie as perfect for Cat, and also has a great friendship/confidant relationship with him.But Cat seems to be more drawn to the "bad boy" types, and Isabel wants to break her of that habit...

I suppose being that this is the first book of a series, more time than normal would be spent on character development.That indeed is the case, but almost to the exclusion of the mystery plot.From a pure mystery novel view, it's rather slow.But I did find the characters interesting, enough that I was OK with reading the next two in the series.Of course, I had also hauled all three in my luggage, so I wasn't going to waste the space.:)

I can't compare this to Smith's other works prior to the Dalhousie series, as this is my first exposure to his writing.If I hadn't had the others lined up right after this one, I don't know that I would have continued.And with the perspective of the whole series, I'm happy with the overall effect.But if you're looking at this as a one-time read without plans to continue with the rest of the series, you might not be as happy.

Not bad, just not great
THE SUNDAY PHILOSOPHY CLUB is pleasant but middling company that has three problems.For the debut in a mystery series, it does not provide much establishment detail.More than once I checked to see if this was indeed the first volume, not several books down the line when a character's circumstances are taken by granted by a writer and not developed for a reader.Not the least of the details that has gone missing is the organization of the title, to which our heroine, an editor of a scholarly philosophy journal, belongs.She works through the mystery--did a young man fall or was he pushed from the nosebleed section of a symphony hall--largely on her own.

The second problem is that for those who like their puzzles with lots of switchbacks, deceptive red herrings and the like, the plot is pretty wispy.The third problem is, we have come to expect much from the author of the First Ladies Detective Agency series and this does not measure up to that achievement.That series creates an airtight and thoroughly realized world in modern Botswana, whereas The Sunday Philosophy Club moves around the contemporary, professional class of Edinburgh, Scotland without digging into history or culture to any degree.The Botswana stories have Mma Ramotswe, not perfect but thoroughly lovable.Isabel Dalhousie is not as funny and can be a tad judgmental, especially about her niece's love life.Isabel's housekeeper, Grace, steals all the scenes she's in.

The book does have its good moments.Philosophy is laid out rather accessibly and conversationally and the author pokes fun at scholarship that takes itself too seriously.I suspect the BBC could flesh this out into a nice television series.
... Read more

Book Description
Introducing Philosophy: A Text with Integrated Readings, Ninth Edition, is an engaging introduction to the basic philosophical problems and the ways they are and have been answered. With Robert C. Solomon's discussion as the framework, the text features substantial excerpts from thinkers spanning the last twenty-five hundred years. Its chapters are organized topically - current alternative perspectives are juxtaposed with historical views from central philosophers. The philosophers included range from Plato, Confucius, Rene Descartes, and Immanuel Kant, to Emma Goldman, Sigmund Freud, Albert Einstein, and Malcolm X, on topics such as the nature of reality, the existence and nature of God, the possibility of human knowledge, the mystery of the self, the nature of truth, and the essence of freedom. Professor Solomon presents the varied ideas of these thinkers and encourages students to evaluate the theories themselves. As aids, he includes chapter summaries, key terms, suggestions for further readings, and review questions at the end of each section, chapter, and selection. The book also includes brief biographies of the philosophers and a glossary. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Comprehensive; tells how to think about Philosophy without telling what to think
Back when I took Intro. to Phil. (when dinosaurs still walked the Earth), the text used was Joel Feinberg's"Reason and Responsibility".Professor Feinberg's book (current and past editions are available from Amazon) takes a thematic approach with discrete readings and relatively little commentary from the editor.By contrast, the readings in Professor Soloman's book are short fragments woven throughout his text.To me, this gives the book a somewhat choppy feel; but for a someone encountering the subject for the first time or engaged in self-study, this connective tissue will probably be helpful in explaining passages that may not be entirely clear and placing them in their proper context.

One of the great virtues of this book is its sheer breadth.Readings are included from African, Indian, and East Asian cultures.There are some well-chosen excerpts presenting feminist perspctives that many students will probably not be familiar with (except perhaps as conservative caricatures).

My own favorite part of the book was the section dealing with philosophy of mind.Despite the immense advances in cognitive psychology and neurophysiology over the past thirty years, the precise nature of human consciousness still remains elusive (see philosopher Colin McGinn's "The Mysterious Flame" for good reasons why this is likely to remain the case).Questions of personal identity and free will are inextricably mixed with this, and Professor Soloman does a good job of disentangling these controversies and giving them a through airing.

To conclude, it is sad to report that Profesor Soloman died suddenly in Zurich airport while awaiting a flight in January of this year with his wife by his side.It later emerged that he had a congenital (and inoperable) heart defect which he was aware of and knew could potentialy prove fatal.Professor Soloman was, by all accounts, a gifted teacher who decried what he called "thinking thin" and believed that Philosophy was not merely a parlor game of puzzle-solving, but had a powerful contribution to make to 'real life'.My sincere condolences to his wife, family, and students, past and present.

"If death was truly an evil, than Socrates would have told us as much."--Epictetus, "Enchiridon"

A text book for the beginner and student.
Integrated is a good term because, similar to most teaching texts, the author attempts to relate the knowledge across all disciplines within the subject. Written as an "Introduction" to Western philosophy, this book is by no means a focused study on the western tradition, but covers a wider area, touching on other traditions as well.

However, Solomon manages to creatively distill the western tradition of philosophy into a highly readable form.

Where do you begin as a teacher when given the task to teach a group of beginners about the western tradition? Solomon begins at the beginning with Plato and the words of Socrates.

"The Apology", and "The Crito" are certainly good places to start, and Solomon certainly "explains" the essence of these works in a readable form.

After the Introductory chapter, Solomon inserts his interpretations and "connections" to present day philosophy, and manages to build a construct of "modern thought" throughout the ages.

Extremely well done.

Excellent work and informative to the extent that a first year student can actualy understand where and what these ancient "thinkers" thought and most importantly how these thoughts relate to our everyday lives.

This text is a important beginner's text, but more essential, is that it can be used as a reference when writing on matters not so familiar, such as:

Ethics

Epistimology

Skepticism

Self identity, Mind and Body.

The Problem of Consciouness.

Although over 700 hundred pages, do not be taken aback by its size or weight because the text holds applicable, interesting and worthwhile summaries of the subject of philosophy overall.

For the young student or writer, a necessary reference.

Superb Introduction to Philosophy
Robert C. Solomon's "Introducing Philosophy" is a superb introduction to philosophy.I have the 6th edition published in 1997 but this (the 5th edition) is the only one I could find on Amazon.This book is so good because it takes a Topical approach but integrates excerpts from the great philosophers.Historical introductions don't give you the intelletual excitement of great thinkers across time addressing the great problems which is why I like a topical approach (another good topical approach is Tom Morris's "Philosophy for Dummies").But the great thing about this book is that it integrates selections from philosophers throughout history, in manageable chunks, so that one gets to read some Plato, Aristotle, St. Augustine, Descartes, Locke, Hume, Kant, Stuart Mill, Bertrand Russell and more.

The chapters are also very well organized and build on each other.The introduction introduces us to Socrates and the philosophic tradition and some logic.Then we deal with Reality, Knowledge, Truth, Necessary Truth (mathematics, logic), Religion, Personal Identity, Mind and Body, Freedom, Ethics, Political Philosophy and Aesthetics.So everything is covered and there are excerpts from all the relevant thinkers on these topics.This book is a fantastic way to get a really good feel for the issues of philosophy and some of the great writings in philosophy.Highly recommended.
Greg Feirman (...) ... Read more

Book Description
Oxford University Press presents a major new edition of the definitive philosophical reference work for readers at all levels. For ten years the original volume has served as a stimulating introduction for general readers and as an indispensable guide for students; its breadth and depth of coverage have ensured that it is also read with pleasure and interest by those working at a higher level in philosophy and related disciplines. A distinguished international assembly of 249 philosophers contributed almost 2,000 entries, and many of these have now been considerably revised and updated; to these are added over 300 brand-new pieces on a fascinating range of current topics. This new edition offers enlightening and enjoyable discussions of all aspects of philosophy, and of the lives and work of the great philosophers from antiquity to the present day. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (23)

Comprehensive, but...
My first observation is that the binding (hardcover) is poor quality. It seems that a lot of my recent Oxford Press purchases have been lower quality than one would expect. But hey, the price is what it is.

The second problem I have with the Oxford Companion is that of editorializing. Of course some editorial bias is to be expected, but in certain entries it seems to step over the line.

Now with those two gripes out of the way, I can say that the comprehensiveness is impressive. I wouldn't have expected this much coverage of the various lesser known thinkers in a single volume. Commendable.

The font is easy to read, not too small.

The language and explanations of different concepts are very readable, easily understood. Very close to 5 stars.

A superb reference with some surprising omissions.....
I honestly believe this is one of Oxford's best Companions, covering the field of philosophy from the beginning of time to the present, from entries on philosophers, to ideas, theories and definitions, and everything in between.This is a surprisingly accessible reference book and yet could also easily serve the needs of those in academia.

It was surprising however, to see that one of the most prominent 20th Century philosophers is listed, yet his mentor, who heavily influenced him and his entire life, is not listed at all.A mentor who put out much in the way of philosophical writings in the second half of his life. When Mohandas Gandhi began a philosophical life of absolute non-violence as a way to the truth, few realize that most of the ideas which steered him in this direction came from Leo Tolstoy's religious and spiritual writings.While oversights can be forgiven, they can also bring into question the integrity of a work such as this.In Gandhi's entry in the Companion, Tolstoy is not even listed (nor does Tolstoy have his own entry), and this is the person who started him on the path of absolutist non-violence.And the author of Tractacus Logico, Ludwig Wittgenstein, carried Tolstoy's works around with him while he was a soldier in World War I, yet nary a mention of that in Wittgenstein's entry.I do not believe Tolstoy's influence can be overstated as his works touched and influenced many people, and yet he does not even garner a short entry.

An excellent reference notwithstanding.

**** ½ stars.

Great Reference Book
Philosophy professors generally tend to stay away from teaching, and act more like guides.While this is ideal since I do not want to be influenced by anyone else's bias, it makes navigating Philosophy a little difficult.You will find that studying Philosophy is not like any other conventional learning.This is a great go-to book for definitions of philosophical terms and ideas.Many different viewpoints are almost always included.I recommend this to any student of Philosophy

Great Companion
I love this book. It's basically an abriged encyclopedia of philosophy, full of concise explanations about philosophers and philosophical themes. It's not perfect. Each entry is written by a different author, all of them university professors, many of them noted philosophers such as Searle, Singer, or MacIntyre. This necessarily means some entries are better written than others, and from time to time authorial bias seeps through and slants the way a theme or philosopher is presented. Nonetheless, almost every entry I've read has been at least interesting, and many have provided crisp, keen insights in a microscopic amount of space. It has enormous bookshelf value, and I keep it right next to my desk. Kudos to the publishers.

Cambridge Whips Oxford in this Field.
This work is comparable in many ways to the Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy: both are modeled on the dictionary format, both are multi-authored, both are very popular, both are in second edition. I have spent many happy hours with both. Each has its excellent and useful entries and each has its mediocre or useless entries. For many purposes they are interchangeable. However, Cambridge charges a little over half of what Oxford wants but the latter is definitely no better. In fact,the logic entries in the Cambridge are uniformly better. The Cambridge entry "Church's thesis" is written by Wilfried Sieg, an accomplished and respected expert in the field. The Oxford entry is by Stewart Shapiro an equally qualified expert. Both imply correctly that Church's thesis is not a proposition admitting of mathematical proof or disproof in the usual sense: it is a proposal to "identify" the pre-theoretic intuitive concept of "effectively caculable function" with the mathematically precise number-theoretic property "recursiveness". But, the Cambridge entry is several times as long the Oxford and it is much more informative concerning the historical and philosophical importance of Church's thesis. A somewhat different comparision applies to the entries titled "Church Alonzo". Again the Cambridge entry a much longer and much more informative than the Oxford. The Cambridge entry is by John Corcoran, one of the editors of the journal HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY OF LOGIC, whereas the Oxford entry is by Gregory Mellema, who does not have much of a track record in the field. Both entries are flawed. Toward the end of Corcoran's otherwise accurate piece there is a confusing typographical error: 'Church's thesis' is printed where 'Church's theorem' is clearly meant. Mellema's murky and overly elliptical piece does not make it clear that Church's thesis has not been and cannot be be proved in the usual sense; it even suggests the opposite by referring to it as a "result"--a word widely used as a synonym for 'theorem'. The Cambridge victory is far from being a shutout. Oxford deserves some points for its two appendixes: one presents a set of "Maps of Philosophy", which are well worth looking at even if you ultimately think you could have done better yourself, and a useful if somewhat subjective "Chronological Table of Philosophy". I recommend buying the Cambridge but looking at the Oxford in your library's Reference Room. ... Read more

Book Description
Distilled from Donald Palmer's more than 30 years of teaching experiences, this approachable text exemplifies Dr. Palmer's very successful light-hearted approach to teaching introduction to philosophy.Through the use of humor, drawings, charts, and diagrams, serious philosophical topics come alive for the readers--without compromising the seriousness of the subject matter. The text can be used as a core text or as a supplement to any reader. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

not bad!
I'm not a very avid reader, but this one is pretty fun to read, and it's pretty basic(definitely not difficult reading!).

I would recommend it! It's pretty nice to get a foundation on some fairly important history.It's relative to other important facts in history or in life.

Philosophy Overview
'Looking At Philosophy: The Unbearable Heaviness of Philosophy Made Lighter' by Donald Palmer lives up to the promise in its title; It is a very brief overview on the history of philosophy, covering most major philosophers through history, starting with the Greek philosophers, and ending with the modern philosophies.

It is an extremely light read. I found myself reading far ahead of the assigned chapters, simply because I was enjoying myself. The illustrations are humorous, though sometimes silly, especially for a text book.

The light reading can also be problematic. I found myself referring to other resources for a full understanding, because the author did not cover (I felt) enough ground on most subjects, leaving me without only a surface understanding of the concepts.

This book would be better suited to a high school class, rather than a serious, college course.

Overall, the text was refreshingly enjoyable, though oftentimes fell short.

Philosophy made easy...
I bought this book for my Philosophy 101 class. I tried to sell it back but the bookstore wouldn't let me. Although I hated the idea that I wouldn't be getting my 30 bucks back, little did I know that this book would serve as an important tool for my Literary/Criticism class (which I am currently taking). It definitely clarifies complicated theories with a touch of humor added to the descriptions. There are also sketches in the book that are also humorous, yet provide the reader with a mental image on the topic at hand.

Great for the beginner
I have the 1988 edition so I can't vouch for this edition.
But I have to say if it is anything like this one then by all means grab it. A very readable style with plenty of humours illustrations that make this an unputdownable book. Don't let the cartoons fool you though, you will learn alot.

Great book that gets you thinking and keeps you laughing
This book got me to look at philosophy more...It's a great book if you just need a reference, without a lot of analysis by critics, or the actual philosophers themselves, which can get mind-numbing at times.It's great to get, if just for the cartoons (you end up having to read the text to make sense out of most of the cartoons).But no, I don't know if I can explain the naked-male-prostitute-riding-on-a-bicyle cartoon, which is actually in here (and not a figment of my imagination).But don't let that keep you from buying... ... Read more

Book Description
Philosophy at its best is an activity more than a body of knowledge. In an ancient sense, done right, it is a healing art. It’s intellectual self-defense. It’s a form of therapy. But it’s also much more. Philosophy is map-making for the soul, cartography for the human journey. It’s an important navigational tool for life that too many modern people try to do without.

Philosophy For Dummies is for anyone who has ever entertained a question about life and this world. In a conversational tone, the book's author – a modern-day scholar and lecturer – brings the greatest wisdom of the past into the challenges that we face now. This refreshingly different guide explains philosophical fundamentals and explores some of the strangest and deepest questions ever posed to human beings, such as

• How do we know anything?
• What does the word good mean?
• Are we ever really free?
• Do human beings have souls?
• Is there life after death?
• Is there a God?
• Is happiness really possible in our world?

The ancient philosopher Socrates (fifth century, B.C.) thought that, when it comes to the Ultimate Questions, we all start off as dummies. But if we are humbly aware of how little we actually know, then we can really begin to learn. Philosophy For Dummies will put you on the path to wising up as you steer through the experience called life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (90)

No longer a dummie...
This is a very well written book. Philosophy is a subject that I am intensely skiddish about. This book has a break down process that was easily understandable. I was able to understand all of the arguements and theories. It is an easy read and can be understood by someone just wanting to explore the options. Also, there is a wide index, which is a plus. I would definately read another book by this author, especially if it is a textbook.

Overall Helpful for Classroom Use
I found 'Philosophy for Dummies' by Tom Morris to be overall quite interesting.True it is written by an author with blatant views on Christianity, however, considering I attend a Christian University I found it to be quite helpful in my Intro. to Philosophy class. I would not recommend it to anyone looking for more in depth reading on non-christian philosophers but I still found it useful.Plus Morris is quite the comedian, I loved how he scattered personal little tid-bits throughout the book.I feel like he is passionate about his subject and that shows through in his writing.Philosophy can get a tad bit boring from time to time, but Morris' book helped to keep even the dullest topics exciting.This book shouldn't be the only one you ever pick up about Philosophy but it's definately not one to skip over either.

Author is Biased
I agree with several other reviewers that this book greatly reflects the author bias.I don't think this is appropriate for an Introduction to Philosophy book.I guess I was able to pick up on the author's bias because I have done other reading on the subject, this may not happen with someone who is truly looking for an introduction."The Complete Idiot's Guide to Philosophy" is much better (and more scholarly while remaining readable) than this book.

"Philosophy and My Religion" would be a more accurate title for this book
This book is not an objective introduction to the subject of philosophy, as the title implies.I was dissappointed to find alot of the authors personal beliefs in the pages, with little or no opposing viewpoints presented.

One chapter, titled "Is There a God?", contains only arguments for the existence of god, with no counter arguments presented.Nearly all the arguments that the author presents have good counter arguments that could be readily found in other books, but the author somehow "forgot" to include these.If you do read this book, I recommend reading "The God Delusion" by Richard Dawkins to get the counter arguments.Dawkins' book provide good counter arguments to each argument that this author presents.

The book is also laden with the author's judgements about the various ideas presented. There are even little markers on the pages say "great idea", or "warning", and at many points the author refers to differrent ideas as good or bad.

I usually like IDG "for dummies" books, but this one may really be "for dummies".If you want to find a good book about philosophy, look elsewhere.

A Great Book!
Tom Morris's Book, "Philosophy For Dummies" was suggested reading material for my Introduction to Philosophy class my sophomore year of college. Philosophy is required for all majors at my University. I was a bit skeptical to buy this book, not knowing what direction Morris may take his topics.I found Morris's approaches to the topics he tackles very fair.
As I get older, I realize that I have many questions about life that I want answered. This book was written in an intentionally accessible style and it made it easier for me to understand life's most difficult questions. Morris ventures to explain many of the difficult questions of life that even science cannot explain. The questions Morris covers like: "Does God exist?" "Does life have meaning?" "Can we really know anything?" "Is there life after death?" These are all questions that every person ponders. His explanations of these questions are very humorous and concise so even beginners can grasp philosophical ideas more easily. Morris also helps to illustrate these topics to the reader by using experiences from his own life.
The book is not a normal, dry, long and deep discussion like most philosophy books are. As the reader, I was actually kept interested from cover to cover. What I liked most about the book was that it presents a challenge to the reader, which also kept me interested. It is definitely not an easy task seeking the answers to all of these questions such as, "Is there a God?" and "What is the meaning of life?" However, Morris presents both sides of all the issues he covers which allow the reader to decide for themselves which stance to take.
Morris breaks down the topics. He starts off the book by explaining what philosophy is. Then goes into issues like, what we know? what we believe?, and is it all true?. My favorite part of the book would be the 6th part, "What's the deal with death?" I think this may be the most commonly pondered topic. Also, finishing off the book with an overview of the 10 greatest philosophers and the 10 biggest questions was a perfect ending to a wonderful book.
All in all I would strongly recommend this book. Philosophy for Dummies is a very helpful starting point to Philosophy. This is one of those books that you will want to keep! ... Read more

Book Description
Here’s a lively, hilarious, not-so-reverent crash course through the great philosophical traditions, schools, concepts, and thinkers. It’s Philosophy 101 for everyone who knows not to take all this heavy stuff too seriously. Some of the Big Ideas are Existentialism (what do Hegel and Bette Midler have in common?), Philosophy of Language (how to express what it’s like being stranded on a desert island with Halle Berry), Feminist Philosophy (why, in the end, a man is always a man), and much more. Finally—it all makes sense!

“I laughed, I learned, I loved it!”Roy Blount Jr. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (100)

The Best philosophy book ever
What a relief to read a Philosophy book that one can actually understand.Giving the basic concepts thru the telling of jokes is brilliant, especially for the English reader. They carry meaning like parables. I appreciated their neutrality about the different schools of thought, even philosophy of religion.This book will be a great aid to students slogging through Philosophy 101, better than Coles notes.

I laughed out loud, and stopped to think
Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar: Understanding Philosophy Through Jokes The jokes in here are timeless -- I've heard versions of some of them before, and learned some new ones.At times, I was laughing out loud, or reading the jokes to friends.

But there's more here, too.I've studied philosophy before, though I am not a master of the subject.This little book made me think about various schools of thought, and even clarified some points.A good read for anyone who's curious about philosophical thought, or who has a smattering, as I do, and would like an entertaining way to clarify the differences.Very amusing.

humour helps - and this is the funniest book!
I have taken to reading philosophy quite recently, although related subjects like mathematics and linguistics (even perception and the brain) have interested me over a long period. I enjoyed this book immensely for its wonderful stories, and the fact that I already had some idea of philosophical concepts may have helped me see the connections. I'm not quite sure whether you could actually learn philosophy from the stories though!

other recommendations:

any of the books by John Allen Paulos who did similar things for mathematics - not so much by jokes, but by immensely amusing stories that illustrate mathematical principles (Yes, I do know how to forecast the outcome of a sequence of events to another person in a way that makes them think I have a real insight into the future - you too can find out how in 'Innumeracy')

Wow! Funny and educational
Where were these guys in college? Probably in some obscure corner of the campus cracking each other up. What a great book that simultaneously reminds you of some classic jokes (or introduces new ones), while also zeroing in on the key philosophical ideas of human thought. A great book that merits more than one reading. And you get jokes besides!!

An Amusing Place to Start
If you're looking for a basic understanding of philosophical frameworks, this book is a good place to start.It is quite funny in some places and mildly amusing in others.It won't, however, give you a functional understanding and best serves as a jumping off point.The range of information presented is a mile wide, but only a couple of inches deep.That being said, I think this book is well-written, entertaining and a worthwhile way to pass the time. ... Read more

Book Description
In keeping with those virtues which have made it the leading collection of its kind, the fifth edition of Classics of Western Philosophy features unabridged works (or substantive selections) in preeminent and thoughtfully annotated translations and editions.As before, Introductions by a team of distinguished scholars including William Mann, Steven Cahn, Patricia W. Kitcher, George Sher, Derk Pereboom, Philip W. Kitcher, Charles Guignon, Israel Scheffler, and Jonathan Vogel offer authoritative guidance to the philosophers and their work.And now coverage extends into the twentieth century, culminating in a judicious-and nontechnical-selection of philosophical writings that are both classic in their own right and representative of main currents of recent philosophical thought. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

simply the best
This anthology is by far the best anthology of its kind. If you love ancient and medieval philosophy the way I do, it is possible to teach an entire semester "intro. tophil." course out of Plato, Aristotle, Sextus, Augustine, Anselm, Aquinas, Maimon, Ockham, Gerson, and the Stoa.
This book could also support a whole early moderns course, as it features full texts of MEDITATIONS ON FIRST PHILOSOPHY, ETHICS, MONADOLOGY, AN ENQUIRY CONCERNING HUMAN UNDERSTANDING, and DIALOGUES CONCERNING NATURAL RELIGION. This great text also contains a well-selected excerpt from Kant's KrV.
If you are a philosophy instructor who loves great texts, and if you teach an historical approach to intro., this text is your choice. This servicable anthology is priced reasonably enough that it can also serve as a primary-source reference for thematic courses. Thanks to Hackett for this gem. This text is also ideal as the core text for a one-trimester course. I have even used this book once for a one-semester ethics course!

One of the best historical anthologies...
Cahn's text was a requirement for a historical-introduction to philosophy class that I had. Cahn has included much relevant material from key philosophers from Plato and on. I highly recommened this book over Pojman.

College Books
This book is an excellent source for the wroks of philosophers beginning with Plato and going on to all the other greats of Western Philosophy.Although I am only on the writings of Aristotle, I am enjoying the book and find that the footnotes provide some much-needed explanantions in parts.Further, the price I got this book for was much lower than what my college bookstore was asking for.

Purchase
I was very pleased with the service and quality of my purchase. He was professional and efficient.

Necessary for any philosophy student
I must confess my review is about the third edition, but it got me through understanding many a dry philosophical lecture. The book encompasses many of the great philosophical minds of in western history - the usual Greek medley plus other greats such as Locke, Descartes, Spinoza.
Each set of highlighted works is prefaced by a small biography.
If current western philosophical college curricula is anything to go by this book brings the relevant philosophers together in one place and thus forms a vital part of any student's bookshelf. ... Read more

Book Description

The Perennial Philosophy is defined by its author as "The metaphysic that recognizes a divine Reality substantial to the world of things and lives and minds." With great wit and stunning intellect, Aldous Huxley examines the spiritual beliefs of various religious traditions and explains them in terms that are personally meaningful.

Customer Reviews (34)

An Excellent Summary - and Challenge
This book, published first in 1945, is an amazing compilation of writings from eastern and western mystics and religious practitioners.Mr. Huxley does an excellent job of organizing the quotations and providing commentary.The selections he chose both 1) provide clues to breakthroughs in understanding and in compassion and: 2) challenge each of us to think, live and speak with humility, even if that periodically upsets our present and constraining understandings of life, each other and ourselves.

This book was chosen by our regular weekly church seekers' group, and it has taken us by surprise with its insights and challenges.

Huxley is not for the meek, but this one is pretty easy to get into.
I first got this book some 20-odd years ago on a recommendation, and read some of the essays.A few of them were far too "thick" for me to follow, it's the kind of reading you keep a dictionary next to you.Eventually managed to get through most of it (still a couple I have not read).It's a must-have for the Huxley fan (at least for fans of his non-fiction), and on it's own is a great work.

Why Does the Concept of a "Perennial Philosophy" Matter?
We live in the age of information, but information without purpose to us individually, while perhaps interesting, is also useless. Information takes on real value only when it answers a question or solves a problem. Uncertainty about our place in the universe clearly qualifies as a problem, arguably mankind's most significant and persistent problem. Solving it provides us with both a foundation and a purpose. "The Perennial Philosophy" answers the extremely pertinent questions, "Can man know God, and if so, how?"Not only does Huxley's classic work answer these questions, it does so from the perspective of experiential "knowing" that cuts across all imagined boundaries of time and space. Since humans have historically agreed on so very little, it is of no minor importance that the same basic ideas can be found in spiritual thought gathered from all cultures and times. While we believe that each of us must follow our own path, all serious seekers can benefit from the collected wisdom contained it this volume.

Huxley's purposeful quotations make it clear that intellectual gymnastics, rituals, systems, good works, or even faith cannot replace experiential knowing. Throughout the book, he emphasizes that those who have found God have done so "one on one." They have approached God with a "pure heart" and a "poor spirit."These terms are often misunderstood and have led many seekers to become distracted by the means and miss the goal of Oneness. A pure heart does not petition, it seeks God for no other reason than the pure joy of knowing God. It knows that in seeking God it will find the Self. Huxley points out that the poor in spirit are not those who deprive themselves of material possessions and pleasures, but their "poverty" is that of non-attachment and selflessness. The seeker first releases all preconceived notions and personal perceptions and then allows God to tell them who God is. Such surrender terrifies the ego/self and will be resisted until we understand that our will and God's will are one. In this knowledge lies the end of all suffering.

The path outlined in "The Perennial Philosophy" is not popular, but as Huxley states, "All are called, but in any given generation few are chosen, because few choose themselves." Never the less, as Huxley emphasizes, God wants to be found. The only thing necessary to our success is our willingness. Huxley's masterwork can certainly help us to make that choice and avoid many of the pitfalls the ego finds so attractive.Lee & Steven Hager are the authors of Quantum Prodigal Son: Revisiting Jesus' Parable of the Prodigal Son from the Perspective of Quantum Mechanics

Universality of the mystical experience
Culled from Christian, Islamic, Hindu, Buddhist, and Taoist sources, Huxley makes the case for the universality of certain religious doctrines grounded in a common mystical experience.This work by Huxley established him as one of the greatest lay theologians.It is a work of syncretism of the highest order.Huxley was raised as a Christian, yet was a mystical seeker across religious traditions.His quest included experiments with psychedelics, studying vedanta and other religious traditions.

This book is a must read for the mystical seeker, who wants confirmation that the mystical experience is real.This text was also highly influential within the academic study of religion.Huston Smith, who has written the most widely used textbook on the world's religions, has cited it numerous times in his writings as shaping his own views on the commonality of all religious traditions.

Beauty Stands And Waits
About twenty or so years ago, I had an awakening of sorts. Strange how life can be. One minute you're slicing a banana atop your corn flakes, and the next minute you're looking straight into the Light that all things are created in and out of. And after I had that experience of "knowing" that life was something more than this external form, I went on a rather mad search to see if I could find anything that would back up my experience and one of the first books I bumped into was the Perennial Philosophy by Aldous Huxley.

After reading this book, I was angry. Not at dear Mr. Huxley who beautifully pointed out why all religions and traditions have strands of the same Truth and Wisdom flowing through them, but I was angry that I belonged to a species that was so obviously stupid.

I frequently sat outside at the local coffee shop in my black beret, my black sunglasses, and black overcoat on chilly 90 degree days looking at the people walking to and fro with complete disdain. I often grumnbled, "Don't these people realize how beautiful and wondrous life truly is? The poor slobs."

And what I was doing was in complete opposition to the Perennial Philosophy. I was no better than the overexcited religionist who wants to "prove" that his religion is better than yours/that her God is the "True God" and I one day I took my blinders off and looked in the mirror. I looked in the mirror until the form before me dissolved and the Light that I was created in and out of came forth.

And I found myself rejoicing at the happy fact that all of us live in such a state of amazing grace. That this is the beauty of life; that it waits and it waits and it waits for us to notice it and when we turn to it, it races with joy and with love and with beauty to give us everything that it has and the Truth is, it NEVER withheld anything from us in the first place.

Does that kind of sound like the parable of the Prodigal Son? Well it should. Jesus knew that God was not withholding; that God is Love and is Love all the time.

Religions stress sin, evil, repentance, and separation but the revealer behind the religion knows in a beautifully innocent way that the One Life of God...of Spirit...of whatever you want to call it, is in and through everything seen as well as all that is unseen and this is the common thread that runs through every mystical experience and every individual who was daring enough to have one. It is the knowledge that is within you right now and is waiting for you to simply "wake up". You are the prophet you've been wating for. You're already "saved" why are you resisting the procedure? The Kingdom of God is now at hand within you and around you now.

My cynicism has softened over the years and even though there are times where I can easily (too easily) see things as black or white, I know that there is a stretch of gray that is as big as eternity itself, where beauty and grace reside waiting for me to rememember over and over and over again, that all there really is, is Life Itself and Life needs no one to defend it or protect it or be saved for it. It stands on Its own Formless, Real, and Perfect moving into and through all, as all.

Buy this book. Buy a cup of coffee. Have an experience. Read, assimilate, drink, enjoy. Here's hoping your intellectual experiences transcend themselves into something much, much more.

Peace & Blessings ... Read more

Amazon.com
Easily the most engaging writer of Western intellectual history in the English language, Will Durant breathes life into philosophers and their ideas. He is colorful, witty, and above all, informative. Beginning with Socrates and ending with American philosopher John Dewey, Durant summarizes the lives and influence of philosophy's greatest thinkers, painting them with humanity and adding a few of his own wise platitudes. Seventy-some years after its first printing, The Story of Philosophy still stands as one of the best of its kind.Book Description
A brilliant and concise account of the lives and ideas of the great philosophers -- Plato, Aristotle, Bacon, Spinoza, Voltaire, Kant, Schopenhauer, Spencer, Nietzsche, Bergson, Croce, Russell, Santayana, James and Dewey -- The Story of Philosophy is one of the great books of our time. Few write for the nonspecialist as well as Will Durant, and this book is a splendid example of his eminently readable scholarship. Durant's insight and wit never cease to dazzle; The Story of Philosophy is a key book for any reader who wishes to survey the history and development of philosophical ideas in the Western world.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (77)

Adore this, but wish for the hardcover rare edition
This is the most sensitive look at philosophy I've ever read. Will Durant is brilliant-- and who wasn't touched by his heartfelt dedication to his wife at the beginning? I think what really set this book apart is Durant's inclusion of just enough biographical information of the philosophers to remind you that they were just people like you and me who happened to think deep, amazing things about life and were deeply affected by their own childhoods and personal lives, i.e. Nietzsche and his less than sparkling love-life! This is the book that made me fall in love with philosophy. I consider this to be in my top 5 favorite books of all time. One problem, however... slight as it may be... When I first read this book, i had borrowed it from my library and I remember that it was such a beautiful hard-cover edition with an elegant binding that made the pages uneven but gorgeous. Even the pages themselves had a lovely, aged feel to them due to their thickness. Looking back, I realize that instead of checking it out 11 times that year, I should have just stolen it (yes! i admit it!) because now all I own is a simple paperback copy that pales in resemblance. The story inside dazzles your mind, but how i miss the edition that felt so good to hold.

This book is a gem
I took philosophy at USC in the 1950's and didn't understand any of it, not the text book or the professor. After finishing the course I read Story of Philosophy by Durant and all became clear. This should have been the text book, but I guess certain authors make their money through professors making their class buy unintelligible books.

Very Interesting Read
This is a great read for anyone wanting to discover more about the growth and development of philosophy.Its very well written and keeps you engaged.

A fantastic read.

You've gotta be kidding!
This book is a joke, right?70-odd customers give it 4 ½ stars - another joke, right?Durant specializes in ridiculously broad generalizations, pompous nonsense, getting facts wrong, skipping over critically important philosophers and material, and suggesting that minor figures are much more important than they are.

Allowing that it's difficult to separate Socrates from Plato, providing Durant with an excuse for not attempting any serious treatment of Socrates, his silly, gushing and gossipy few pages about Socrates make no real attempt to explain Socrates as a philosopher.And it's very difficult to shed much light on Socrates, Plato and Aristotle without providing background in the Pre-Socratics.Apparently Plato popped out of the head of Zeus, or at least of Socrates - no doubt an easier approach than actually explaining the thought of the Milesians, Pythagoras, Heraclitus, Parmenides, Empedocles, Anaxagoras and Protagoras, not to mention the Sophists, but also inexcusable.Socrates and Plato reacted strongly against Parmenides on one hand and the Sophists on the other, and they lived at a time when the focus had shifted from speculation about the physical world to man, and then metaphysics.

This is highly significant, and there were reasons for it, but you wouldn't know it from reading Durant.Plato was influenced by Parmenides and Pythagoras; one would expect historical context about one of the greatest philosophers in a history of philosophy, but it's not here.There's more context missing - intellectual and religious background, the shocking novelty of sustained, abstract thinking, great intellectual advances remaining mixed with superstition, concepts we take for granted not yet existing, the great differences between English words used to translate Greek terms and the actual Greek concepts - but there's little attempt to explain any of this.

Oh well, perhaps the decision to skip over the Pre-Socratics and omit context was made to provide more space for the Hellenistic philosophers - Stoics, Epicureans, Pyrrho and the Sceptics - but they're not here!Wait, Zeno is mentioned in passing, but Durant says he's a Phonecian! - bringing Oriental gloom into the Greek mind.Zeno was a Greek from Cyprus, and he'd studied under Crates of Thebes.Don't even bother looking for Plotinus or any other Roman-era philosophers, except in a tangent in the chapter on Francis Bacon.

Speaking of Bacon, we skip directly from Aristotle to him - we don't even meet Augustine or Aquinas in this book!How anyone could pretend to sketch a history of Western philosophy without them is a mystery.Durant gives Aquinas a passing, dismissive, sentence, as he assists in the abuse of Aristotle while Europe waits for the darkness to pass.From Aristotle we skip completely over Augustine, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance and the Reformation.

Okay, this time the omissions must be to make room for something really important.After Bacon and Spinoza we meet - Voltaire!A philosophe, not a philosopher.But we get to see brief cameos by Descartes, often called the father of modern philosphy, in the full chapter on Voltaire.Something's really wrong with this picture.No Hobbes, no Leibnitz, no Locke, Berkeley or Hume - at least nothing of substance.But we do get a bit of substance on Rousseau, another philosophe.Durant finally introduces us to Kant, an actual philosopher, then provides us with a mere note on Hegel, another philosopher, before treating us to an entire chapter on Schopenhauer, about whom Bertrand Russell tells us his philosophy is inconsistent, has a certain shallowness, and always had more appeal to artists than philosophers, but nonetheless has historical significance.

Then there's a full chapter on Herbert Spencer?Why?Because there's none on Descartes or Locke?Or because the note on Hegel provided space that needed to be used up?This is getting weirder and weirder.Finally we get to Nietzsche and some characters we'd expect to see.There are some late 19th and early 20th century philosophers who should be here, but Durant can be excused for not being able to detect important things unfolding before him.He can't be excused for the many other gross failures of this book.It's incredibly imbalanced in selection of its subjects and attention given relative to importance, and it's full of bombast and overreaching literary aspirations while utterly lacking in insight and the depth of understanding required of the subject.

The Story of Philosophy
This is a compact little book with a comprehensive look at philosophy.I like the author's writing style. Thus far the book has been easy reading. ... Read more

Book Description
Introduction to Philosophy, Fourth Edition, is the most comprehensive topically organized collection of classical and contemporary philosophy available. Building on the exceptionally successful tradition of previous editions, this edition for the first time incorporates the insights of a new coeditor, John Martin Fischer, and has been updated and revised to make it more accessible. Ideal for introductory philosophy courses, the text includes sections on the meaning of life, God and evil, knowledge and reality, the philosophy of science, the mind/body problem, freedom of will, consciousness, ethics, and philosophical puzzles and paradoxes. It presents seventy substantial--and in some cases complete--selections from the best and most influential works in philosophy, offering a unique balance between classical and contemporary material. An extensive glossary of philosophical terms is also included. The fourth edition features fifteen new readings, including work by Albert Camus, Roderick M. Chisholm, Daniel Dennett, Harry G. Frankfurt, William Paley, Derek Parfit, John Perry, Richard Taylor, Peter Van Inwagen, Bernard Williams, and Susan Wolf. Part III, Knowledge and Reality, has been restructured and now includes Plato's Thaetetus, selections by Edmund L. Gettier and Robert Nozick, and an essay by Christopher Grau that explores the philosophical concepts presented in the popular film The Matrix. Two new ethics puzzles--"The Trolley Problem" and "Ducking Harm and Sacrificing Others"--are also included. This edition incorporates Study Questions after each reading and is accompanied by an Instructor's CD and a Student Companion Website, both containing helpful resources. ... Read more

Book Description
This comprehensive introductory text with readings offers a historical overview of all major subdivisions of Western Philosophy perspectives. Written in an engaging and captivating style, it makes philosophy accessible without oversimplifying the material, and shows that philosophy's powerful ideas affect the lives of real people. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

A Comprehensive Review
I used an earlier edition of this textbook to study for my comprehensive final exams for the completion of my M.A. in Philosophy.Everything I needed to know was in this textbook.This is an excellent comprehensive textbook, covering all of the major areas of philosophy.

this is it
This book is the Cadillac of introductory textbooks, the finest text of its kind. The depth and breadth of the authors' approach is unparalled.
No better textbook for "intro. to phil." courses can be found in the English language. I can't wait until the next ed. comes out. Even if I did not use this book, I would read it myself, for fun.
Superb.

Very Readable
I'm a trained scientist who has dabbled in philosophical readings all my life.I picked this book up some years ago to aid me in my own philosophical study.FROM A STUDENT'S PERSPECTIVE, it is the best general introduction to philosophy I've ever come across (and I've looked at dozens).It is well organized, which is always desired by the introductory student, and is very readable, which is desired by anyone.The writing also has a touch of irony and wit, which I enjoy greatly.I must say that the several chapters on Metaphysics certainly demystified that topic for me.(Though I HEAVILY 'felt' much favored toward the Russell Analytical camp from the "get-go".Continental philosophy seems just akin to refuse.)

I strongly recommend this book.

Philosophy: The Power of Ideas
I enjoyed the context of the book and found it to be very informational.I would have liked to have found a summery at the end of each chapter.I would also have preferred that the key words were defined at the end of each chapter.The philosphers described in each chapter had their ideas clearly defined at the end of each chapter which I found to be very helpful.Overall good philosophical information and history, just a little more summary and definition would have been helpful to a new philosophical student such as myself.

Completely Incomprehensible
I am a bright student and have a GPA of 3.86. This book is completely useless for class. I reread the chapters and it simply does not make sense.I found the internet to contain more useful information.This book should not be used in any Introduction to Philosophy classes. It is much too complex. If you are attending classes at WIU, I would skip the purchase of this book and rely on the internet for your assignments. ... Read more

B