It’s not the most exciting text ever written but it’s needed to grasp the full scope of what we now consider the field of philosophy. Referenced eternally in debates about consciousness, morality, and knowledge, the Allegory of the Cave explores how humans began to understand their unique condition as sentient creatures. 12 Best Short Stories Everyone Should Read in 2020, 29 Best Vinyl Albums Every Man Should Own, The Best Action Movies on Netflix Right Now, The best Black Friday robot vacuum deals for 2020, The best Black Friday Chromebook deals for 2020, Best Black Friday Deals 2020: Sales to shop today, The 25 Best Christmas Decorations You Can Buy Online, Why Today is The Best Time to Buy a New Mattress, Connery, Sean Connery: A Tribute To the Legendary James Bond Actor, Nectar’s Flash Sale is Well Underway and It’s Raining Cheap Mattresses, How to Cook Steak in the Oven Perfectly Every Time. We don’t boss you around; we’re simply here to bring authenticity and understanding to all that enriches our lives as men on a daily basis. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 26 January 2016. Are there any other books you think should be on this list? In order to navigate out of this carousel please use your heading shortcut key to navigate to the next or previous heading. Copyright ©2020 Designtechnica Corporation. Think: A Compelling Introduction to Philosophy, © 1996-2020, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. It is best read in 2 or 3 hour slots, each one covering a chapter (or two). Please try your request again later. Bertrand Russell was a towering figure in 20th-century thought. Do you ever have an intense emotional experience and think, “Wow, I feel like I’m in a movie?” The bizarre dynamic between media and reality is the key focus of this French postmodernist’s musings. This shopping feature will continue to load items when the Enter key is pressed. You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition. Buy this product and stream 90 days of Amazon Music Unlimited for free. Frantz Fanon is considered a key player in what would eventually become known as postcolonial philosophy, a sub-field that examines how human thought was shaped by the subjugation of racial minorities. Try again. Read our quick, simple guide on how philosophy can expand your mind, clarify your thinking, and improve your life. Foucault’s thinking would form the basis of what is called postmodern philosophy, a sub-field that questions enlightenment conclusions about universal human values. Learn more about us here. Let this book enrich your life - highly recommend, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 December 2007. Even if it’s not “useful” per se, there’s a certain kind of pleasure in expanding your mind by contemplating huge questions. Secondly, it does so through interviews with some of the most important philosophers of the late 20th century, granting insight into their thoughts, ideas, and personalities too. - Isaiah Berlin, 'It is a witty bird's-eye view of the main figures in Western thought enlivened by references to the personalities and quirks of the thinkers themselves.' Wide ranging history of western philosophy, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 March 2012. We might not all have the time or resources to delve into a 9-plus-year Ph.D. program, but you don’t have to go broke to understand the basics of Western thought. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search in. To offset a fraction of what it costs to maintain Philosophy Break and keep it ad-free, we participate in the Amazon Associates Program. Sorry, there was a problem saving your cookie preferences. It is also (I believe) the most read philosophy book in the world, being a standard for many first year university courses. Where better to start on the history of Western philosophy than with the perspective of one of the subject's greats? It is mostly well written, occasionally quite opinionated (although I guess Russell should claim some right to be opinionated!). A little lighter than other entries on this list, Bryan Magee's The Great Philosophers: An Introduction to Western Philosophy, published in 1987, is a must for two reasons. You may have to skip some bits. THE classic read on Western philosophy. Don't let the size of the book intimidate you - it is the most comprehensive account of the history of the western philosophy. Firstly, it offers an exciting account of Western philosophy's greatest thinkers. This is an excellent introduction to philosophy.It is written in a compelling manner which flows well and is not encumbered by verbose or overly technical language.Even though this is a long book with a high minded subject matter it is not an intellectually arduous undertaking and should be within the capabilities of those with a modest educational background. Unable to add item to List. Not so: enter Richard Popkin. Kant can be a real slog, but his attempt at understanding what aspects of human life are universal and how to create a systematic morality by extrapolating certain values endemic to the human experience were necessary for the trajectory of philosophy and ethics. Think: A Compelling Introduction to Philosophy by Simon Blackburn Paperback £7.21. Each chapter is centered around a certain theory or philosophy. In the popular imaginary, Nietzche’s philosophy boils down to an angry rejection of all humanity, but in reality, his thoughts were far more complex. Best Western Philosophy Books. What if the ideas around which Western civilization are constructed are illusory and ephemeral, based upon dogmatic ideas derived from obsolete Christian values? E-mail after purchase. Treat yourself to philosophy breaks direct to your inbox, with weekly emails designed to make you think. The contemporary LGBTQ movement owes a lot to Judith Butler, who asserted back in 1990 that gender is a social construction and has no real relation to biology. Enough said. Elsewhere he refers to "infantile" beliefs and he loses no time in exposing formal errors and logical mistakes. But read this if you are interested in the history of ideas, or to see the linkages between various branches of philosophy - do not imagine that you will be reading a philosophical book in its own right. In The Columbia History of Western Philosophy, published in 2006, Popkin weaves the contributions together with impressive editorial skill, providing a single compelling narrative. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 November 2017. Sade ultimately concludes that we owe no one kindness and that the greatest pleasures are derived from crime and violence. To what extent are our lives defined by competing, punitive, and ideological power relations, and to what extent have we all become prisoners to the hegemonic order? Of course this cannot be the only reason it ended up the best-selling philosophy book of the twentieth century. He succeeds admirably and in doing so, the sum greater than the parts. This helps support Philosophy Break, and is very much appreciated. Therefore, I decided to buy Bertrand Russell's classic work in order to refresh my knowledge. A New History of Western Philosophy, first published in 2007, is epic in scope and lauded as one of the strongest and best-researched introductions to the subject. First published in 1946 it's not surprising that Russell was at pains to avoid dogma and fanatical world views. Thankfully, a number of authors have stepped up to the Herculean task, providing us with a complete overview of how Western philosophy has unfolded over the last two and a half thousand years. To help you with your journey through the history of the mind, we’ve collected the 10 most essential Western philosophy books you absolutely need to know. Something went wrong. Butler re-imagines the basic beliefs of feminist philosophy by questioning the extent to which the category of “woman” is even ideologically coherent. The Manual is simple — we show men how to live a life that is more engaged. Timeless wisdom for time-stretched people, The Columbia History of Western Philosophy, The Great Philosophers: An Introduction to Western Philosophy.