Customer Reviews

Classics of Western Philosophy

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4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
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I have been teaching philosophy in college for six years and have yet to find an anthology more broad, pliable, or reasonably priced than Cahn's "Classics." The selections are generally entire works, not short snippets; when the entire work is not included, the selection is ample, judicious, and representative.

Of course, most anthologists feel it necessary to include short biographical sketches of the contributors and a short synopsis of the works included; generally, they cannot refrain from interpreting the works for you. Cahn refrains, and also keeps his comments mercifully brief and readable.

Inclusive of minorities and women it is not. One might even wish for something more current than "Twilight of the Idols"--or indeed for "Twilight" not to be among the abridged works. Still, adding anything else to this work, especially something under copyright, would make it even longer than its current 1,270 pages and threaten its very reasonable price.

"Classics" is itself becoming a classic. Now in its fourth edition, it seems to defy anyone to match its range, breadth, and price.

This anthology is by far the best anthology of its kind. If you love ancient and medieval philosophy the way I do, it is possible to teach an entire semester "intro. to phil." course out of Plato, Aristotle, Sextus, Augustine, Anselm, Aquinas, Maimon, Ockham, Gerson, and the Stoa.

This book could also support a whole early moderns course, as it features full texts of MEDITATIONS ON FIRST PHILOSOPHY, ETHICS, MONADOLOGY, AN ENQUIRY CONCERNING HUMAN UNDERSTANDING, and DIALOGUES CONCERNING NATURAL RELIGION. This great text also contains a well-selected excerpt from Kant's KrV.

If you are a philosophy instructor who loves great texts, and if you teach an historical approach to intro., this text is your choice. This servicable anthology is priced reasonably enough that it can also serve as a primary-source reference for thematic courses. Thanks to Hackett for this gem. This text is also ideal as the core text for a one-trimester course. I have even used this book once for a one-semester ethics course!

Cahn's text was a requirement for a historical-introduction to philosophy class that I had. Cahn has included much relevant material from key philosophers from Plato and on. I highly recommened this book over Pojman.

I'm a college student and was required to buy this book (among several) for my Intro to Philosophy class. As soon as the semester was over I did what I always do: sell the text books back to the campus book store. As I went on to other classes I began to regret selling back this book. I'm a few weeks into "Humanities in Western Tradition I, and I'm currently reading just fragments of what can be found in this book. After I get done with an assignment, I want to read further and if I had kept this book I could do that. So I'm buying it again...for the last time.

I must confess my review is about the third edition, but it got me through understanding many a dry philosophical lecture. The book encompasses many of the great philosophical minds of in western history - the usual Greek medley plus other greats such as Locke, Descartes, Spinoza.
Each set of highlighted works is prefaced by a small biography.
If current western philosophical college curricula is anything to go by this book brings the relevant philosophers together in one place and thus forms a vital part of any student's bookshelf.

An omnibus of great philosophical writings of the Western world, Cahn's "Classics" is required reading for the one who wants to discover the representative ideas of Plato, Aristotle, Aquinas, Descartes, Kant, Nietszche, and others. The writings have been chosen for their ability to present the essence of each great philosopher's thought. For the reader who wishes to bypass the interpreters and read the philosophers themselves, this volume is a must. With this collection, why should a philosophy student bother with another?

Is life fair? Possibly.
Is this all one elaborate dream? There is a pretty
good chance it is.
Is there a god? Maybe; Maybe not.
This book covers these as well as many other subjects for an interesting view of the world from Plato to Nietzsche.

An absolutely wonderful collection of works without any waste. I had an older copy that I was over half way through with notes and such. Sadly I lost it. Gladly, however, I get to revisit some great works and begin a few new ones.

This book is definately worth the price and the weight. Cahn selects some of the greatest philosophers of all time! A must for any philosophy student or anyone interested in the subject.

This book is an excellent source for the wroks of philosophers beginning with Plato and going on to all the other greats of Western Philosophy. Although I am only on the writings of Aristotle, I am enjoying the book and find that the footnotes provide some much-needed explanantions in parts. Further, the price I got this book for was much lower than what my college bookstore was asking for.