About this title: This concise survey, first published in 1967, offers students of philosophy ample introductory material to understand the essence of major thinkers from Aristotle to Dewey.
Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Date Published: 1961
Description: Good. The lives and opinions of the Great Philosophers of the Western World, cover upper corner left has a small tear, scotchtaped. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Washington Square Press
Date Published: 1970
ISBN-13:9780671478308ISBN:0671478303
Description: Acceptable. MAY HAVE COVER WEAR, SPINE CREASES, HIGHLIGHTING, UNDERLINING & PAGES YELLOWED FROM AGE. FASTER SERVICE FROM US! ! ! read more
Binding: Unknown Binding
Publisher: Time
Date Published: 1933
Description: Good. 1938 HARDCOVER. Garden City. Some cover wear. Interior of book clean. No highlighting or markings. No DJ. Previous owner sticker on inside front cover. Slight tanning to pages. read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Date Published: 1927
Description: Good. 85-W Cover of spine split at top. Books rated "Good" may have some notes, underlining, or highlighting. These books also may contain the previous owner's name, stamp, sticker, or gift inscription, or may be library discards. read more
Binding: Unknown Binding
Publisher: Time
Date Published: 1933
Description: Good. Good condition overall. Clean pages. Worn cover. Time Inc, 1962. Paperback w/ hard plastic cover. Front cover chipped at bottom corner. read more
"I think this is a great "starter" book for people interested in Philosophy. It is readable and its explanations clear. Obviously, he is forced by space to skip a lot of important philosophers and subjects. But I don't think it was meant to be comprehensive--rather to try to make philosophy both more interesting and less intimidating to non-philosophers. He has a wonderful sense of humor that peeks out periodically. When I can, I'll type up some quotes. 7/09"
"I won't lie, I got into philosophy because of this book. When I told the head of the philosophy department at King's he kind of nodded and grinned, like it was the philosopher's Holy Bible. And it kind of is. I can't think of a better written, if not better researched, book that tells a very readable story about the history of the pre-Sophists up to the last century. And I'll tell you what, Durant does this thing where he sets everything up as a short story, or a novella with short stories within the novella within the novel as a whole... It's rather very clever. And If you don't believe me, have a look for yourself. I can't say you'll agree spot on with everything in it, but I can guarantee you won't blow the bloke's head off in front of you either."
"In August of 1982 I was invited down to Tampa-St. Pete with my girlfriend to visit her paternal grandmother. We stayed in a trailer court with a pool during a week of hot and muggy weather. With no car, the only activities available to us were walks to the mall or sitting by the pool. For me, this being my first trip to Florida, the high points were the many varieties of reptiles: turtles in the drainage ditch behind the house and magical little lizards darting about everywhere.
School was to start when we returned, so I brought Durant's Story of Philosophy along. After a summer of recreational reading, it was time to get back into gear. Surprisingly, Durant's book turned out to be one of the best read during the whole season. It was clear, coherent, even fun, the author mixing the lives of the philosophers in with their thinking. I particularly enjoyed reading his account of Spinoza, normally a rather obscure figure. I got so excited during part of that section that I had to get up, walk around and think before jumping in and out of the pool to begin anew."
"One of my very favorite books. Will Durant has always been a favorite of mine - his writing can range from witty to poetic, and it inspires interest in parts of history or philosophy that I may not have considered otherwise. When reading his writing, you forget that you're learning so much about these subjects - his tone is close to conversational at times, and never dry. He has often been accused of having a "cut and paste" style of writing, that seems "cheap" or unsophisticated to many. But I think his books are perfectly balanced with helpful narrative and passages of primary sources. The selection of philosophers in this book seemed a little strange to me, but in his introduction he explains that his volume called "Our Oriental Heritage" contains most of the Eastern philosophies, and it would be hard to do them justice in this book. There were some notable Western philosophers that lacked commentary, and it jumps from Aristotle to Francis Bacon (those poor neglected Stoics and Neoplatonics!), but he still covers many leading figures. It's a very good introduction to the subject. However, it best presents a description of the philosopher's life and works rather than the philosophy itself. Sometimes they go together, but another book may be better for understanding the deeper concepts."
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