A Short History of Modern Philosophy: From Descartes to Wittgenstein (Routledge Classics) [Paperback]

Roger Scruton (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0415267633 | ISBN-13: 978-0415267632 | Publication Date: November 11, 2001 | Edition: 2

Discover for yourself the pleasures of philosophy! Written both for the seasoned student of philosophy as well as the general reader, the renowned writer Roger Scruton provides a survey of modern philosophy. Always engaging, Scruton takes us on a fascinating tour of the subject, from founding father Descartes to the most important and famous philosopher of the twentieth century, Ludwig Wittgenstein. He identifies all the principal figures as well as outlines of the main intellectual preoccupations that have informed western philosophy. Painting a portrait of modern philosophy that is vivid and animated, Scruton introduces us to some of the greatest philosophical problems invented in this period and pursued ever since. Including material on recent debates, A Short History of Modern Philosophy is already established as the classic introduction. Read it and find out why.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Dr Scruton writes with an unusual clarity and fluency, and is always a pleasure to read . . . this is certainly a book which you could give to anyone who was curious about philosophy and expect them to learn a lot from it.' - Alan Ryan, author of Bertrand Russell: A Political Life

'Anyone seeking a short and intelligible introduction to the ideas and intentions of Spinoza, Hume, Kant, Hegel and Marx, among others, need look no further.' - Good Book Guide

About the Author

Roger Scruton (1944 - ). Philosopher, author, journalist, composer and editor of the Salisbury Review, considered to be one of the world's leading conservative philosophers.

Product Details

• Paperback: 328 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; 2 edition (November 11, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415267633
• ISBN-13: 978-0415267632
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #279,045 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent introduction to modern philosophy, April 6, 2000

By 

Richard L. King - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Short History of Modern Philosophy: From Descartes to Wittgenstein (Paperback)

If you want to discover the pleasures of philosophy, then read Roger Scruton's books. In addition to this title, I recommend "The Intelligent Person's Guide to Philosophy" and "Modern Philosophy." Scruton has an uncanny ability to convey even the most difficult concepts with clarity and grace. His "Short History of Modern Philosophy" is worth reading for two reasons: 1) it is a model of fine expository writing; and 2) it is an accessible overview of modern philosophy that will provide a foundation for further study of the central philosophers. I wish Scruton's books had been available when I was reading philosophy as an undergraduate.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rigorous and exciting, March 6, 2008

By 

Jyotirmoy Bhattacharya (India) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Short History of Modern Philosophy: From Descartes to Wittgenstein (Routledge Classics) (Paperback)

I was convinced to buy this book by browsing through its chapter on Marx. Scruton's own political views lie on the Right, but his treatment of Marx's philosophy is among the best of this length that I have read anywhere. And that goes for other philosophers from Descartes to Wittgenstein who are discussed in this book. Scruton does not expect his readers to have any prior knowledge of philosophy, but neither does he patronise them. He expects them to think hard, and discusses the difficult points with great clarity rather than glossing them over.

However, as the first chapter makes clear, this book is best seen as a historical introduction to philosophy rather than a 'history of ideas'. Those who wish to understand the evolution of philosophy in its social and historical context will have to supplement this book with other sources.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Perfect Introduction To Philosophy, June 21, 2009

By 

John Roberson (Austin, TX) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Short History of Modern Philosophy: From Descartes to Wittgenstein (Routledge Classics) (Paperback)

Philosophy surveys tend either to ignore important nuances and therefore become just plain wrong, or pay attention to those details and therefore become impossible to read. This book, however, manages to provide a robust introduction to each major philosopher of the modern period, along with some pieces of what came before it, in a very short, readable way.

Scruton walks you through each philosopher's most important arguments, how those arguments come together into conclusive philosophies, and where those philosophies fit into the broader scheme of the whole history of philosophy. His clarity and brevity make this book accessible to any interested beginner, and his attention to important details in the flow of philosophy gives this book an audience within the ranks of the previously initiated. To put it succinctly: He both rigorously understands his subject and communicates very smoothly, which makes this book the absolutely perfect introduction.

I recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn a whole lot about philosophy, and to any undergraduate who wants to ace his philosophy classes.