The Great Philosophers From Socrates to Turing by Ray Monk
Product Description
The twelve essays in this volume are not only introductions to some of the most influential thinkers in human history but are also invitations for the reader to participate in a living debate. "What is justice?" "What is truth?" These questions, first posed by Socrates two and a half millennia ago, have lost none of their power to baffle. And while many philosophers have claimed to answer them, ultimately the questions return, compelling us once again.
The authors of these essays are distinguished philosophers in their own right. They engage with philosophical ideas rather than merely relaying them. By choosing a specific aspect of their subject's work, they liberate the great philosophers from textbook clichés--revealing them in all their freshness and originality.
Product Details
Amazon Sales Rank: #900472 in Books
Published on: 2000-07
Number of items: 1
Binding: Hardcover
416 pages
Editorial Reviews
Financial Times
"Rarley have intellectual sophistication and complexity come so cheap."
Times Higher Educational Supplement
"If you want to acquire some first-hand experience of philosophy and democracy, [you] would do well to read this welcome series."
About the Author
Ray Monk is a lecturer in Philosophy at Southampton University and the acclaimed biographer of Russell and Wittgenstein. Frederic Raphael has a Philosophy degree from Cambridge University, and is the author of numerous novels, screenplays, and translations. He is a specialist in the philosophy of the ancient world.
Customer Reviews
the best kind of introductory philosophy
i love ray monk's chapter on russell, showing in crisp, simple prose the increditably complex journey that russell took in moving from his 'class' conception on the foundations of math. to his eventual 'no-class' theory.
up to now, only expert, technical books have dealt with this subject. now an expert philosopher has explained it in a very exciting way to laymen, one of the best & exciting intro. essay to philosophy of math. and analytic philosophy. Definitely a text to consider for use in undergraduate intro. classes in analytic philosophy.
i like some of the other essays as well, while a few i have yet to read. strange though, that a book on the great philosophers would omit aristotle, kant & frege. but monk said publication deadline was to blame.