Description
Book SynopsisThis brilliant and concise account of the lives and ideas of the world''s great philosophers—Plato, Aristotle, Bacon, Spinoza, Voltaire, Kant, Schopenhauer, Spencer, Nietzsche, Bergson, Croce, Russell, Santayana, James, and Dewey—is a delight (The New York Times) and remains one of the most important books of our time.Will Durant chronicles the ideas of the great thinkers, the economic and intellectual environments which influenced them, and the personal traits and adventures out of which each philosophy grew. Durant’s insight and wit never cease to dazzle;
The Story of Philosophy is an essential book for anyone who wishes to understand the history and development of philosophical ideas in the Western world.
Trade ReviewThe New York Times A delight.
Table of ContentsContentsPREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION
INTRODUCTION: ON THE USES OF PHILOSOPHY
CHAPTER I
PLATO
I. The Context of Plato
II. Socrates
III. The Preparation of Plato
IV. The Ethical Problem
V. The Political Problem
VI. The Psychological Problem
VII. The Psychological Solution
VIII. The Political Solution
IX. The Ethical Solution
X. Criticism
CHAPTER II
ARISTOTLE AND GREEK SCIENCE
I. The Historical Background
II. The Work of Aristotle
III. The Foundation of Logic
IV. The Organization of Science
1. Greek Science before Aristotle
2. Aristotle as a Naturalist
3. The Foundation of Biology
V. Metaphysics and the Nature of God
VI. Psychology and the Nature of Art
VII. Ethics and the Nature of Happiness
VIII. Politics
1. Communism and Conservatism
2. Marriage and Education
3. Democracy and Aristocracy
IX. Criticism
X. Later Life and Death
CHAPTER III
FRANCIS BACON
I. From Aristotle to the Renaissance
II. The Political Career of Francis Bacon
III. The Essays
IV. The Great Reconstruction
1. The Advancement of Learning
2. The New Organon
3. The Utopia of Science
V. Criticism
VI. Epilogue
CHAPTER IV
SPINOZA
Historical and Biographical
1. The Odyssey of the Jews
2. The Education of Spinoza
3. Excommunication
4. Retirement and Death
II. The Treatise on Religion and the State
III. The Improvement of the Intellect
IV. The Ethics
1. Nature and God
2. Matter and Mind
3. Intelligence and Morals
4. Religion and Immortality
V. The Political Treatise
VI. The Influence of Spinoza
CHAPTER V
VOLTAIRE AND THE FRENCH ENLIGHTENMENT
I. Paris:
dipeII. London: Letters on the English
III. Cirey: The Romances
IV. Potsdam and Frederick
V. Les Délices: The
Essay on MoralsVI. Ferney:
CandideVII. The Encyclopedia and the Philosophic Dictionary
VIII. Ecrasez l'Infame
IX. Voltaire and Rousseau
X. Dénouement
CHAPTER VI
IMMANUEL KANT AND GERMAN IDEALISM
Roads to Kant
1. From Voltaire to Kant
2. From Locke to Kant
3. From Rousseau to Kant
II. Kant Himself
III. The Critique of Pure Reason
1. Transcendental Esthetic
2. Transcendental Analytic
3. Transcendental Dialectic
IV. The Critique of Practical Reason
V. On Religion and Reason
VI. On Politics and Eternal Peace
VII. Criticism and Estimate
VIII. A Note on Hegel
CHAPTER VII
SCHOPENHAUER
I. The Age
II. The Man
III. The World as Idea
IV. The World as Will
1. The Will to Live
2. The Will to Reproduce
V. The World as Evil
VI. The Wisdom of Life
1. Philosophy
2. Genius
3. Art
4. Religion
VII. The Wisdom of Death
VIII. Criticism
CHAPTER VIII
HERBERT SPENCER
I. Comte and Darwin
II. The Development of Spencer
III. First Principles
1. The Unknowable
2. Evolution
IV. Biology: The Evolution of Life
V. Psychology: The Evolution of Mind
VI. Sociology: The Evolution of Society
VII. Ethics: The Evolution of Morals
VIII. Criticism
1. First Principles
2. Biology and Psychology
3. Sociology and Ethics
IX. Conclusion
CHAPTER IX
FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE
I. The Lineage of Nietzsche
II. Youth
III. Nietzsche and Wagner
IV. The Song of Zarathustra
V. Hero-morality
VI. The Superman
VII. Decadence
VIII. Aristocracy
IX. Criticism
X. Finale
CHAPTER X
CONTEMPORARY EUROPEAN PHILOSOPHERS
Henri Bergson
1. The Revolt Against Materialism
2. Mind and Brain
3. Creative Evolution
4. Criticism
II. Benedetto Croce
1. The Man
2. The Philosophy of the Spirit
3. What Is Beauty?
4. Criticism
III. Bertrand Russell
1. The Logician
2. The Reformer
3. Epilogue
CHAPTER XI
CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN PHILOSOPHERS
Introduction
I. George Santayana
1. Biographical
2. Scepticism and Animal Faith
3. Reason in Science
4. Reason in Religion
5. Reason in Society
6. Comment
II. William James
1. Personal
2. Pragmatism
3. Pluralism
4. Comment
III. John Dewey
1. Education
2. Instrumentalism
3. Science and Politics
Conclusion
Glossary
Bibliography
Index
