History of Western Philosophy - Bertrand Russell

Advantages: An excellent overview, great for general reference.
Disadvantages: Can be somewhat lacking in detail and a little opinionated.

...a comprehensive overview of the history of ideas, from the Pre-Socratics to the beginning of the twentieth century, but to examine the connections between the ideas of the philosophers and the society and culture in which they were writing. The resulting tome is fascinating, and reasonably readable for a work on philosophy, but suffers, as Russell admits, from a certain lack of detail, inevitable when a single author takes such a wide subject matter. ...
...makes a brief diversion into history here, but it is helpful in putting the scholastic philosophy into context, and short enough to avoid disrupting the flow of the book), and modern philosophy from Descartes onwards. Within these divisions, it is generally a case of one chapter per author, although there are exceptions - Aristotle, for example, has four. The main flaw of the book is that every chapter seems a little abrupt - we are given a brief ... Read review

Advantages: A great resource
Disadvantages: Not strong on Modern Philosophy

Bertrand Russell’s ‘The History of Western Philosophy’ is an admirably clear and accessible introduction to the subject. It is a hefty 842 pages long. It was first published in 1946 and remains a vital resource for those embarking on a study of philosophy. My well-thumbed copy has served me well for four years now and has become almost a friend to me, albeit a friend whose faults are there for all to see. Russell belonged to the ...
...writes about. In conclusion, I would recommend this book to anybody studying philosophy or interested in the history of the development of ideas up to the twentieth century. Despite its faults it remains a fantastic resource, and an invaluable source of quotations and ideas. PP842 ISBN 0415-22854-9 ... Read review

Advantages: A classic that deserves to be read, though perhaps not to be a classic.
Disadvantages: Seems hurriedly and sometimes carelessly written.

...the introduction that if the history of ideas has any unity, this can only be set forth in a book if "early and later periods" are "synthesized in a single mind". Highly useful as an introduction to and an overview of figures from 3,000 years of Western philosophy – particularly ones who might otherwise only remain more or less famous names: Anaxagoras; Epicurus; Francis Bacon – but Russell's judgments cannot be regarded as definitive ... Read review

Advantages: Concise.
Disadvantages: Is it dated.

...BERTRAND RUSSELL - History of Western Philosophy and its connection with Political and Social Circumstances from Earliest Times to the Present Day. *** INTRODUCTION *** Russell first published this non - specialist text in 1946. It was based on work designed and partly delivered as lectures at the Barnes Foundation in Pennsylvania. My text (1995) including the index is 842 pages long and divided into 3 books. *** INTELLECTUAL CONTENT *** The ...
...." For Russell the history of philosophy starts with the ancient Greeks from about the 6th century BC. The subject became submerged by theology as Christianity rose and Rome fell. Modern Philosophy begins with Descartes whose fundamental certainty is the existence of himself and his thought from which the eternal world is to be inferred. The development of liberalism and the relationship between the state and the individual covered by Locke, Hobbes, ... Read review

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Disadvantages: tyery

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Advantages: Very valuabe book
Disadvantages: None

...Author: Bertrand Russell Genre: Philosophy/History Title: A History of Western Philosophy (And Its Connection with Political and Social Circumstances from the Earliest Times to the Present Day) Pages: xxiii + 895 Original release year: 1946, by Simon & Schuster Copyright 1945 by Bertrand Russell My edition: © 1995 by Book of the Month Club, Inc. This edition was especially created in 1995 for Book-of-the-Month Club by arrangement with Simon & Schuster, Inc. Printed in the United States of America. ISBN: No information available ******************************** Bertrand Russell at Glance ******************************** Bertrand Russell (1872-1970) was one of the most eminent philosophers, mathematicians, and social reformers of his time. While a fellow and lecturer at Trinity College, Cambridge, he published his most... Read review

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