Customer Reviews

Continental Philosophy in the 20th Century: Routledge History of Philosophy Volume 8

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This book is a good overview of 20th century Continental Philosophy, especially for us westerners who are largely encouraged to neglect this topic in college. It is true, if you are an undergraduate student, and you don't have a 'healthy' dislike for European thought, people tend to look at you somewhat funny. It must be some new government conspiracy. Well, in any event...The book is actually pretty good; however, any potential reader must be warned that this book is not for someone who has absolutely no background in traditional schools of philosophy. Over and above this, a few of the chapters are written by people who feel their own heads a little too much (people who use long strings of big words far more than is necessary). I must say that I understood mostly everything that was being said in these chapters (since I do have an undergraduate degree in it), though it does not mean that everyone will. Be especially wary of chapter 10 (by the pseudo-Hegelian antagonist who critiques everything without course) and chapter 12 (featuring the evil-grouch brigade). Actually, chapter 12 is written pretty well...It is just the subject matter that grates against my nerves (classic feminism). In any event, if you have some background in philosophy, and need a good overview of European thought from 1900-2000...Then this is probably your book.