A History of Western Philosophy

By: Bertrand Russell

Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble

Hailed as “lucid and magisterial” by The Observer, this book is universally acclaimed as the outstanding one-volume work on the subject of Western philosophy.

Considered to be one of the most important philosophical works of all time, the History of Western Philosophy is a dazzlingly unique exploration of the ideologies of significant philosophers throughout the ages - from Plato and Aristotle through to Spinoza, Kant and the 20th century. Written by a man who changed the history of philosophy himself, this is an account that has never been rivaled since its first publication over 60 years ago.

Since its first publication in 1945, Lord Russell’s A History of Western Philosophy is still unparalleled in its comprehensiveness, its clarity, its erudition, its grace, and its wit. In seventy-six chapters he traces philosophy from the rise of Greek civilization to the emergence of logical analysis in the 20th century.

Among the philosophers considered are: Pythagoras, Heraclitus, Parmenides, Empedocles, Anaxagoras, the Atomists, Protagoras, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, the Cynics, the Sceptics, the Epicureans, the Stoics, Plotinus, Ambrose, Jerome, Augustine, Benedict, Gregory the Great, John the Scot, Aquinas, Duns Scotus, William of Occam, Machiavelli, Erasmus, More, Bacon, Hobbes, Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz, Locke, Berkeley, Hume, Rousseau, Kant, Hegel, Schopenhauer, Nietzsche, the Utilitarians, Marx, Bergson, James, Dewey, and lastly the philosophers with whom Lord Russell himself is most closely associated - Cantor, Frege, and Whitehead, coauthor with Russell of the monumental Principia Mathematica.

©1945 Bertrand Russell. Copyright renewed ©1972 by Edith Russell. All rights reserved. (P)2013 Naxos AudioBooks. All rights reserved.

Great survey of Western philosophy

Well read including rendering Russel's dry humor. Russel walks through Western thought mostly chronologically by period as header chapter then chapters of thinkers within. Each treated by context, contribution, and some key specifics. it is a delightful read/listen.

Educational

Best introductory education into the development of Western philosophy. Loved this and would play again. Narration is excellent; both well paced and clearly enunciated.

Engaging, Brilliant, and Lucid!

Russell’s mind is brilliant and clear and the narrator is flawless, seemingly Russell himself in an intimate 40 hour conversation with the listener. I wish there was a part 2!!

Best General Work on Philosophy

As good today as the day it was released decades ago. Nothing since comes close

Excellent

I really loved the direction this book takes, from the beginning of ancient cultures into modern cultures, you see the origins and everything in between them and now as far as dogmas, policy, and philosophy. I loved most, the first half of this book. The second half, personally, was much slower and at times above my head. Tells me I have more knowledge to gain in these subjects before coming back to this book.

Two months time worth it.

I am therapist in practice. And knew of Bertrand Russell. I always wanted to read this book. I’m glad I did. I read other books on philosophy but this is more complete. I have lots of notes that I can read if I want to. I am going to read a novel after this heavy book.

Search for truth based off of humility

I most certainly will read this book again. Socrates suggested that the only thing he knows is that he does not know. Sciences is the most useful way to incrementally approach a problem. Nevertheless, our notion of values is not amenable to the techniques of science.

Difficult

Understanding what this genius is attempting to explain for me was like wrestling a bear. And, as one might easily guess, the bear always was triumphant. The very last chapter is a brilliant summary that IS something I can grasp. This man, this GENIUS, has a mathematical mind that FAR exceeds my just above average intellect. The ONLY reason that the book gets 4 stars rather than 5 is much more about my ability to comprehend than his ability to explain.

Incredible summarization of the history of western philosophy

Although quite long, this book never gets dull as it keeps presenting more and more philosophies and the philosophers behind them. I couldn’t imagine how much research Bertrand Russell had to do to write this book, but I’m genuinely grateful that he did.

This is a very insightful look into the development of philosophy

This is a very insightful look into the development of philosophy throughout middle eastern and western societies. It is tedious at points and very long but I enjoyed it. At the same time I read a lot philosophy and history books and so this is right up my alley. Although the author is one of the most famous atheists of the 20th century, he does explore how philosophy has developed in the Christian Church mainly in the 2nd - 9th centuries. He does not spend any specific time or effort on the reformation and that was disappointing. I don’t recommend this book unless you are really interested in understanding philosophy and how it developed.

Sincerely,
Pastor Paul Trimble