The Illusion of Technique [Paperback]

William Barrett (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Anchor (September 5, 1979)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385112025
• ISBN-13: 978-0385112024
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,002,018 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Philosophy in the late XX century, May 23, 2000

By 

George V. Woodrow III "geo3rge" (River Vale, New Jersey) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Illusion of Technique (Paperback)

This is a wonderful introduction to many of the central philosophical questions of the twentieth century. The author focuses on Wittgenstein, Heidegger, and William James as a means to highlight the problems of elevating technique over substance. The book does not assume any familiarity with any of these philosophers, and so provides an entry into their thought. By focusing on Wittgenstein instead of the later logical positivists and Heidegger rather than Sartre or another existentialist, the author can bring out the true greatness of Wittgenstein and Heidegger compared to later philosophers. I recommende this book to anyone interested in critical thinking.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sharply observed, excellently written, May 5, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Illusion of Technique (Paperback)

Here is a sample of Barrett's prose.

"One of the disservices of positivism (for which the early Wittgenstein bears some responsibility) was to erect into dogma the slogan 'Mathematics tells us nothing about the real world.' The dogma should have been suspect from the start. It is entirely unlikely that we should have been able to build airplanes or launch rockets without the aid of mathematics."

Here we see Barrett moving bravely through some areas of modern philosophy that are usually clogged with jargon and overly technical treatment, we see him dispensing with crutches, using plain language -- and he takes us with him.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly Recommended/Excellent Writing, March 29, 2011

By 

Ewerb - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Illusion of Technique (Paperback)

I find William Barrett's books on modern philosophy accessible for all readers. I have read all his books, some of them several times, and each time find new insights into the persistent philophical questions of our modern age.

What I particularly like about this book is that he gets somewhat autobiographcial at the end, demonstrating his philophical belief in God.

The Illusion of Technique is at the same level of excellance as Irrational Man,his most famous book, which is quite an achievement.