Is History of Western Philosophy a good book?
Originally published in 1945, The History of Western Philosophy is Russell’s brilliant, if slightly biased, look back at all prominent thinkers that came before him. It’s a very accessible and enjoyable read.
Is a history of Western philosophy good for beginners?
It’s a excellent read but definitely not for beginners because someone who hasn’t had prior training or exposure to the material in general is at a great risk of actually mistaking any given instance or anything else for the thing itself , whereas once you gets orne handle on matters of philosophy then Russell is just …
What is the main idea of Western Philosophy?
Some central topics of Western philosophy in its early modern (also classical modern) period include the nature of the mind and its relation to the body, the implications of the new natural sciences for traditional theological topics such as free will and God, and the emergence of a secular basis for moral and …
How many pages is A History of Western Philosophy Bertrand Russell?
900 pages
It took a while before I finally finished “The History of Western Philosophy.” There is a lot of history and Bertrand Russell covers a lot of history very quickly and briefly and still the book is 900 pages thick.
What are the 5 key points for the Western philosophical perspective?
The ensuing article on the history of Western philosophy is divided into five sections—ancient, medieval, Renaissance, modern, and contemporary. A threefold distinction between ancient, medieval, and modern philosophy was prevalent until recent times and is only as old as the end of the 17th century.
What are 2 characteristics of Western philosophy?
The modern western philosophy has not only critical about orthodox religion but also came with ideals of secularism, humanism, scientific temperament, progress and development. Skepticism, rationality, individualism and scientific methods are influenced the human conception in understanding the world.
What does Russell say is the value of philosophy?
The primary value of philosophy according to Russell is that it loosens the grip of uncritically held opinion and opens the mind to a liberating range of new possibilities to explore.
Where did Western philosophy originated?
Western Philosophy began between the 7th and the 6th centuries BC in Ancient Greece. The first philosopher that we know of was Thales of Miletus.
What is the best philosophy book to start with?
The Best Philosophy Books for Beginners
- Plato: Five Dialogues by Plato.
- The Emperor’s New Mind by Roger Penrose.
- Mengzi: With Selections from Traditional Commentaries translated by Bryan W.
- Meno by Plato.
- Republic by Plato.
- Discourse on Method by Rene Descartes.
- Symposium by Plato.
- The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins.
Which philosophy book should I read first?
When people ask where they ought to begin in reading philosophy I always suggest starting with Plato. And given how important his teacher, Socrates, was in Plato’s own philosophical development, why not begin with these dialogues that set out the drama of Socrates’ trial, conviction, imprisonment, and execution?
What is the most significant contribution of Western philosophy?
Socratic Technique Socrates’ most important contribution to Western philosophy was his technique for arguing a point, known as the Socratic technique, which he applied to many things such as truth and justice.
Who is father of Western philosophy?
Socrates of Athens
Definition. Socrates of Athens (l. c. 470/469-399 BCE) is among the most famous figures in world history for his contributions to the development of ancient Greek philosophy which provided the foundation for all of Western Philosophy. He is, in fact, known as the “Father of Western Philosophy” for this reason.
What is the aim of philosophy according to Russel?
How does Russell define philosophy?
Russell’s Definition of Philosophy. — “Philosophy,” Russell declares, “is the science of the possible.”{2} This statement is intended by him to sum up two distinctive characteristics of any philosophical proposition, viz., it must be general, and it must be a priori.
How did Western philosophy start?
All Western philosophers prior to Socrates are known as the “presocratics”. Western philosophy was born during the Archaic age of Greece (ca. 800-500 BC), when Greek thinkers broke with purely mythological explanations of the world by attempting to explain nature logically.
What are the origins of Western philosophy?
– Gottlob Frege and Henry Sidgwick, whose work in logic and ethics, respectively, provided the tools for early analytic philosophy. – Charles Sanders Peirce and William James, who founded pragmatism. – Søren Kierkegaard and Friedrich Nietzsche, who laid the groundwork for existentialism and post-structuralism.
Which works of Western philosophy are ‘Must Reads’?
– Ibn Ṭ ufayl, Ḥayy ibn Yaqẓān, trans. L.E. Goodman. (12th century CE) – Averroes, On the Harmony of Religion and Philosophy, trans. G.F. Hourani. (12 th century CE) – The Philosophical Works of al-Kindī, tra ns. P. Adamson and P.E. Pormann. (9 th century CE)
How did Western philosophy begin?
Western philosophy encompasses the philosophical thought and work of the Western world.Historically, the term refers to the philosophical thinking of Western culture, beginning with the ancient Greek philosophy of the pre-Socratics.The word philosophy itself originated from the Ancient Greek philosophía (φιλοσοφία), literally, “the love of wisdom” (φιλεῖν phileîn, “to love
What is the most widely read work in Western philosophy?
ristotle is widely regarded one of the most brilliant and prolific among the Western philosophers. It’s impossible to say how much he wrote, but the fraction of his work still around today is stunning in scope. Every field, from astronomy and physics to ethics and economics, has been influenced by his thinking.