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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
A critical history of Western philosophy, it covers a massive amount of territory. Despite holding a lot of views contrary to Russell (ex: he seems to almost intentionally misunderstand William James and John Dewey), but I appreciate his wit and am in awe of his breadth of knowledge.
One can read this book all the way through but I think a reader is best served using it as a companion. Russell offers an analytic phil perspective on an extensive host of philosophers and schools, which can provide a useful dovetail to many other books and articles on the matter.
One can read this book all the way through but I think a reader is best served using it as a companion. Russell offers an analytic phil perspective on an extensive host of philosophers and schools, which can provide a useful dovetail to many other books and articles on the matter.
Despite Russell being way too opinionated (he seems to despise Nietzsche openly) it was pretty fun read though I also wouldn't say I disliked his commentary either
It is incredibly easy to read and I also liked bits of historical contexts provided as I had no sense of chronology of European History before
Hume Kant Hegel and Bergson interested me the most tho Hegel might be a bit cuckoo
Would like to read from Kant more
It is incredibly easy to read and I also liked bits of historical contexts provided as I had no sense of chronology of European History before
Hume Kant Hegel and Bergson interested me the most tho Hegel might be a bit cuckoo
Would like to read from Kant more
“To understand an age or a nation, we must understand its philosophy, and to understand its philosophy we must ourselves be in some degree philosophers. There is here a reciprocal causation: the circumstances of men’s lives do much to determine their philosophy, but, conversely, their philosophy does much to determine their circumstances.”
The History of Western Philosophy provided the clear, accessible, general but comprehensive and substantial outline of the development of philosophy that I looked for. Bertrand Russell did have his own unconscious biases and subjectivity, but he acknowledged the fact of social effects and always stated clearly whenever the passage was his own view and not the philosophers'. Perhaps I am partial toward him, as I happen to like him and his humorous wit a lot; and find him an extremely intelligent, broad-minded person, and excellent writer, from whom I learned not only varying schools of philosophy, but also to dig deep into different perspectives but ready to empathize, to be critical but humble and not condemning, to always be curious and question everything but never grow apathetic, never lose hope in ourselves and humanity.
“To teach how to live without certainty, and yet without being paralyzed by hesitation, is perhaps the chief thing that philosophy, in our age, can still do for those who study it.”
The History of Western Philosophy provided the clear, accessible, general but comprehensive and substantial outline of the development of philosophy that I looked for. Bertrand Russell did have his own unconscious biases and subjectivity, but he acknowledged the fact of social effects and always stated clearly whenever the passage was his own view and not the philosophers'. Perhaps I am partial toward him, as I happen to like him and his humorous wit a lot; and find him an extremely intelligent, broad-minded person, and excellent writer, from whom I learned not only varying schools of philosophy, but also to dig deep into different perspectives but ready to empathize, to be critical but humble and not condemning, to always be curious and question everything but never grow apathetic, never lose hope in ourselves and humanity.
“To teach how to live without certainty, and yet without being paralyzed by hesitation, is perhaps the chief thing that philosophy, in our age, can still do for those who study it.”
challenging
informative
medium-paced
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
informative
reflective
slow-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
I love Russel and his insightful presentation of the last few thousand years of philosophy is well structured even if overly historicised
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The problem is this book was from lectures written to the late 40’s and it leaves a gap that is just too wide for it to feel current. It is interesting in what main issues sre identified that are relevant today, but it also misses many others, the world philosophical issues have gone far beyond what is described and there remains a vast gap.
I wouod read a different history of philosophy despite my admiration for the author and his work.
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The problem is this book was from lectures written to the late 40’s and it leaves a gap that is just too wide for it to feel current. It is interesting in what main issues sre identified that are relevant today, but it also misses many others, the world philosophical issues have gone far beyond what is described and there remains a vast gap.
I wouod read a different history of philosophy despite my admiration for the author and his work.
An incredible overview of the history of Western philosophy. While far from perfect, Russel successfully tackles the central hypotheses and criticisms of the West's major philosophical ideas from the ancients up until the Second World War. My edition is a bit short of 900 pages and I feel like I haven't even begun to delve into anything - a testament to the scoping nature of this work. I strongly recommend this for anyone interested in learning about the Western cannon or philosophy in general, as it not only teaches the basics, but ties them together in a linear and lucid narrative.