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The Story of Philosophy: The Lives and Opinions of the World's Greatest Philosophers

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I did a search for ''The Story of Philosophy'' and only the Mass Market version of this book came up (ISBN 0-671-73916-6) which I ordered. The print was so unreadable due, at least to my copy, of a very heavy, black, flared type-setting. There was no chance of reading the book with any enjoyment....lo and behold I find a second book (ISBN 0-671-69500-2) which is excellently type-set, and very readable. Even though this second book format is twice the price of the cheaply done Mass Market format, it is eminently worth it. I make these comments, in order to save some poor soul from the hassle I went through to get a readable copy of this most excellent book.

There is no pre-requisite to the enjoyment of philosophy, and there is no pre-requisite to the Story of Philosophy. Simply bring a mind that is famished for an injection of joy.

"That is very good; but there is an infinitely worthier subject for philosophers than all these trees and stones, and even all those stars; there is the mind of man. What is man, and what can he become?" (Durant summarizing Socrates)

Philosophy is the night that you looked up at those 100 billion stars and 100 billion galaxies and realized that you were beginning to ask the right questions. "To know what to ask is already to know half." (Durant summarizing Aristotle) Philosophy is the one great conversation in your past that echoes in every conversation since. When will that time come again? "All excellent things are as difficult as they are rare." (Durant summarizing Spinoza)

That phenomenon of wonder will return when you open the "Story of Philosophy". A further taste of Durant's warming liquor:

"Every science begins as philosophy and ends as art; it arises in hypothesis and flows into achievement."
"How many a debate would have been deflated into a paragraph if the disputants had dared to define their terms."
"Political science does not make men, but must take them as they come from nature."
"The chief condition of happiness, barring certain physical prerequisites, is the life of reason--the specific glory and power of man."

Durant's approach is linear in time, but immense in breadth. Beginning with Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, we are not only granted access to their treasure chests of wisdom, we are also given insights into the men. Durant introduces the era before he introduces the philosopher, for humanity inspires humanity, and these giants have benefactors of their own. Durant considers history as important an aspect of philosophy as metaphysics, and here he shines with a polished historian's touch (see Will Durant - "Story of Civilization").

"Athens became a busy mart and port, the meeting place of many races of men and of diverse cults and customs, whose contact and rivalry begot comparison, analysis, and thought."
"Traditions and dogmas rub one another down to a minimum in such centers of varied intercourse; where there are a thousand faiths we are apt to become skeptical of them all."

Durant runs the gauntlet of great thinkers (Plato, Aristotle, Bacon, Spinoza, Voltaire, Kant, Nietzsche), and introduces you to some odd-looking but strong-eyed and delightful strangers (Schopenhauer, Spencer, Bergson, Croce, Russell, Santayana, James, Dewey).

"How can we explain mind as matter, when we know matter only through mind?" (summarizing Schopenhauer)
"We often forget that not only is there a soul of goodness in things evil, but generally also a soul of truth in things erroneous." (summarizing Spencer)
"In ourselves, memory is the vehicle of duration, the handmaiden of time; and through it so much of our past is actively retained that rich alternatives present themselves for every situation. As life grows richer in its scope, its heritage and its memories, the field of choice widens, and at last the variety of possible responses generates consciousness, which is the rehearsal of response... Free will is a corollary of consciousness; to say that we are free is merely to mean that we know what we are doing." (summarizing Bergson)

How many of these men have you missed in the crowd of history? And how many days will pass before you make their acquaintance? What will your future be like once you hold their wisdom in your hands? Durant believes it will be a far richer one.

The Story of Philosophy actually contains more summary than quote, and we would normally cringe at such an announcement. Only the bravest of souls would wade into the brine of further philosophical precis. But Durant is the encapsulation of the finest teachers you have met in this lifetime, and his abridgements multiply the reader's comprehension while encouraging cross-referencing with the originals, making the entire experience savory and thoroughly digestible. Durant is the rare case of a man who can interpret wisdom and also construct it anew. The result is maybe the highest ratio of wisdom-to-words of any book in the Library of Humanity.

Compare his extractions of Kant with an original text of the babbling scholar:

"Sensation is unorganized stimulus, perception is organized sensation, conception is organized perception, science is organized knowledge, wisdom is organized life: each is a greater degree of order, and sequence, and unity." (summarizing Kant)
"The real church is a community of people, however scattered and divided, who are united by devotion to the common moral law." (summarizing Kant)
"Kant was too anxious to prove the subjectivity of space, as a refuge from materialism; he feared the argument that if space is objective and universal, God must exist in space, and be therefore spatial and material."

After 50 pages of Durant on Kant, you will be praying for the entire translation. But Durant moved on to other fine thinkers, and, after 500+ pages of wisdom, you will rejoice that the balance of his substantial catalog is over 10,000 pages (Lessons of History, Story of Civilization - 11 vols.).

Within one year of the original printing (1926), the work found its way onto the nightstands of the scholarly and the coffee tables of the middle-class. It inspired a flood of "Story of ..." books whose words are now lost to the past. It was, and still is, the primary text for many university philosophy curricula. For those who have read it, Story of Philosophy is probably their "trapped on a desert island with one book" selection. That the work remains in print and in demand three generations later is a testament to the author and to the subject... both mighty fine creations.

I usually look down on philosophical "collections" because they tend to give an inadequate picture of any single philosopher and they also tend to lack cohesion. But this book is not just a collection - it is more like a narrative. The name "The STORY of Philosophy" indicates the focus, which is not just to present the work of various philosophers but to weave them together. Durant's choice of philosophers may seem to be unreasonable, but it serves his purpose. He presents a wide range of thought, from ancient Greek to modern. His analysis is always deep - his insights are fascinating. His understanding of the nuances of these thinkers is not in question. Each section presents Durant's analysis alongside material quoted directly from the philosopher being discussed. In this way both the original material and thoughtful analysis are given. In broader terms, Durant brings all this diverse thought together. He describes the progression of thought through careful comparison and contrast and gives each of these philosophers a position in reference to one another and to a unified picture. Each of these thinkers is put into a broader context than simply their own writings; parallels between these philosophers emerge alongside a portryal of their historical significance. All in all a real achievement and a worthwhile read for almost anyone (as an introduction to philosophy or as a valuable new perspective on material you're already familiar with). Recommended...

+++++

The author, U.S. historian and Pulitzer Prize winner Will Durant (1885-1981) has written an exceptional book for any reader who wants to survey the history and development of philosophical ideas of the Western world. However, this book is just not your typical survey! It is also a stimulating introduction and enthusiastic invitation to philosophy of the Western world.

This book concerns itself with fifteen influential Western world philosophers. Each of them has their own chapter title. These thinkers are as follows:

(i) Spinoza, Schopenhauer, Nietzsche, Bergson*(ii) Croce* (iii) Plato, Aristotle, Kant, James^(iv) Spencer, Dewey^, Russell* and (v) Bacon, Voltaire, Satayana^. (The three *asterisked* names are under the chapter title "Contemporary European Philosophers" and the three ^arrowed^ names are under the chapter title "Contemporary American Philosopers.")

Other Western philosophers that are not as thoroughly discussed have their own sections (or sections in collaboration with others) within these chapters. These include Socrates, Locke, Rousseau, Hegel, and Comte. As well, yet other Western philosopers are briefly mentioned in the main body of the book.

Why do I call this book a Magnum Opus (that is, a Masterpiece)? There are several reasons for this:

(1) The INTRODUCTION. Even though it is brief, it is written brilliantly and is a treat to read. The reader, especially the first-time reader of Durant's works (such as myself) gets an idea at how skillful Durant is with words. I even recognized some disguised Shakespeare!

(2) The BOOK'S CONTENT. This book is not just about philosophies but also about philosophers and the time in which they lived.

The author combines his witty and dazzling narrative with excerpts from each philosopher's works so as to weave an interesting story.

The author not only quotes the philosophers throughout but he directs the reader to the actual texts from which the quotations came. As a result, when I finished reading the book, I had a desire to read more.

(3) A USEFUL CHART (or Table). It is entitled "Table of Philosophic Affiliations" and is located near the beginning of the third chapter. It indicates the main lines of philosophical development in Europe and America by including the names and lifespans of almost fifty philosophers (including the ones detailed in the book) of the Western world.

This chart divides the fifty philosophers into five groups where each member of the group practices a similar philosophy. The reader can also tell at a glance the name of the previous philosopher or philosophers that influenced a future philosopher (and vice versa). It also shows how a philosopher in one group can be influenced by a philosopher in another group.

As an example, the groupings of the fifteen philosophers in paragraph three (above) of this review are based on this chart.

(4) A HELPUL GLOSSARY. Philosophy can introduce many new, unfamiliar words. To aid in deciphering these words, there is a small glossary found at the back of the book.

There are two irritations I have with my paperback edition. It should be emphasized that these are NOT the author's fault and they do NOT interfere with the story flow of the book.

First, on the front cover of the book there is an omission. It is that the word "Western" should appear in the book's subtitle. It should thus read "The Lives and Opinions of the WESTERN World's Greatest Philosophers."

Second, the important chart of (3) above is very easy to miss. It should be indicated in the Table of Contents that it even exists. As well, it would be easier to refer too if it was placed at the back of the book with the glossary.

In conclusion, if you want a brilliant and concise account of the lives and ideas of the greatest philosophers of the Western world that's written with wit for the nonspecialist, then get this profound book!!

+++++

Most people are satisfied with answers provided by religion and blindly believe in them. However, if you really want to get some straight answers and you think you can handle the truth, read this book. You will be enlightened. I was surprised how explicitly the truth is spelled out in words in this book. I wonder why almost all of mankind lives in ignorance when the knowledge has been acquired by the great thinkers and is accessible to everybody.

I have no background in liberal arts. I am an engineering graduate but this book was at a level that I could understand. I also looked at some other introductory books in philosophy. The concepts in the other books were over simplified to the extent that the essence was lost. Will Durant is a great writer who is effective in communicating deep philosophic concepts to common people without distortion and prejudice.

I highly recommend this book as a first book to read for anybody who is interested in philosophy.

Will Durant is the most interesting and reader-friendly writer of history in the 20th Century. In this book, he turns his talents to an explanation of major developments in philosophy, and succeeds remarkably. Anyone who has ever attempted to read Aristotle, and found him dry and meandering, will find new insights and respect for his thought thanks to Durant's affectionate analysis. Even those who do not fancy themselves philosophers will find new ability to access the basic principles of philosophy in Durant's clear and precise explanations. I especially gained new respect and admiration for Baruch Spinoza because of Durant, but every philosopher in this book takes on new life when the author uses his pleasant story-telling style to give these historical figures complete dimension for the new student. Durant's book will encourage every reader to delve deeper into the world of philosophical thought, and, in the end, make the world a more philosophical place to live (I'd say a good thing).

Will Durant's, Story of Philosophy needs no strong recommendation or defense. It stands on its own merits as one of the most influential and successful books of the 20th century.

It intends to bring philosophy out of the ivory towers and to put it in the hands of the average person. It does so in a manner that is unparalleled by any other work.

It is not exhaustive. It is a primer that deals primarily with the Greek philosophical foundations of western thought and then expands forward to touch upon some of the more important philosophers of recent times. As such, it provides a framework from which the reader can expand into other works.

The writing style is conversational, succinct and very clear, even after the many years following its original release.

This book was such a commercial success that it freed Will Durant for much of his life to continue his passion for philosophy, history and culture and formed the foundation for his life work, the 11 volume set - The Story of Civilization.

For any who complain that Durant is too brief or skips over too much in this work, just let them spend some time in that classic series and then check back with us later!

It is true that one cannot interpret and present philosophy without themselves having their own bias and presuppositions present. That is as true for Durant as it is for any author in the realm of philosphy or religion. Durant, however does a reasonably good job of being transparent and consistent with his presentation and it is not hard for any reader to navigate this book and come to a good understanding of the basics of Western Philosophy even if they reject some of Durant's necessary interpretation.

I first read this book at the age of 13 and was able to navigate, understand and enjoy it then. I have since revisited it to reread several times and have never failed to profit from the return visit.

An enduring, timeless classic that I can recommend heartily to the student or the casual reader who wants to expand their understanding and horizons.

Will Durant was an extraordinary man. He earned the PhD degree in Philosophy from Columbia University. Still young, he mastered several important languages. Until "Story of Philosophy" brought him fame and fortune, he was a high school teacher and an activist at one of the Modern School Movement schools, established and operated by Syndicalists. Several of these unique schools were founded & operated. Recently, a full history was published about the Modern School Movement. Durant was a major figure at his East Coast school. He taught several languages including Latin and Greek. He married one of his students and named her "Auriel." She was a bright student who mastered several languages herself. Later she collaborated on Durants career project, the ten volume, "Story of Civilization".

"Story of Philosophy" was an instant hit in 1925 and it has never been out of print. It is an American classic. There is nothing like it. It is short, accurate, well written and witty. No one was more surprised than Durant, when his book was am instant best seller, and it moved on to be a hit around the world. An important American thinker, Mortimer J. Adler, sharply criticized the book. It certainly is open to criticism--Durant cogently citicised it himself--but Adler went too far. I suspect Adler intensely disliked the man, who was something of a hedonist and an agnostic who later published a self-indulgent autobiography. Adler , one of the finest minds of the 20th century, must have intensely disliked Joseph Campbell as well. (He went much to far criticising Campbell, although the part about how the graduate student Campbell told Adler and others that philosophy was over his head is something starry-eyed Campbell followers should anchor their feet to)

Durant was one of the leading prose stylists of his day. Reading anything Durant wrote is enjoyable, if only for the prose, wit, and wisdom. "Story of Philosophy" presents an author witty and wise beyond his years. Durant was precocious.

Readers who like "Story...", treasure Durant
s ten volume "Story of Civilization". The income "Story of Philosophy" brought Durant left him independently wealthy, not rich but freed from working the rest of his life. He resigned from teaching and began full-time research for "Story of Civilization"

I highly recommend "Story of Philosophy." Shortly after its publication, it caused a sharp increase in students wanting to study philosophy, something Will Durant was justifiably proud of for the rest of his life.

If you believe that philosophy is about complex theorizing, and not your cup of tea - think again, in fact dont think - just read Will Durants book. The title says it all so wonderfully elegantly, that it makes one feel almost emotional about the book after it is over - this book is a story. It is a story of a science, of a subject, and the people who made it. It is a tale that will move you with the love Plato shows for Socrates, that will bring you to tears as you read the Excommunication Curse pronounced on the young Spinoza, and will make you shake your head with its force of ideas as it explains Descartes and Kant.

Once you are through with this book, and you lift your head again from its pages, the world will not seem the same. Few books can have so profound an effect on its reader - and this book does that. To the keen and curious, Durant lays bare about 2000 years of human thought, and puts in simple terms, some of the most baffling and complex of ideologies - and in doing so, the reader is left with a path to follow. The path of genius, the path of wisdom, and the path of enlightenment by reading the various books and philosophies of those mentioned here.

Read this book, own it, treasure it, and pass it on to your children, this is heritage... this is a work of art.

Durant, in this masterpiece, explains the history of Philosophy from before Socrates all the way to Santayana, James and Dewey. His combination of wit, insights into life and encyclopedic knowledge of the subject makes this book a page turner.

He may have popularized philosophy but he hasn't lost the essence as some other authors have done by watering down the messages. It's still there in its original form but he doesn't use pretentious prose to appear learned. You know he knows what he is talking about without him having to resort to the `specialized' language that other authors speaking about philosophy turn to.

This is one great expositor, and he will get you interested in the subject if you were only lukewarm about it before. He explains how a Philosopher develops; he describes the personal influences as well as the societal. You understand by reading him that philosophies do not appear in a vacuum, they are an answer to previous questions and philosophies and the problems most pressing at that time. So you have Durant explaining Schopenhauer's lack of affinity with women and those around him and his almost schizophrenic fear having an effect on his philosophical views. You also understand why Kant wrote the Critique of pure reason and who it was in response to. I found it hard to understand Kant before, but Durant has made his main ideas so lucid that I will now attempt to read _The critique of pure reason._

You also get to know the philosophers in a personal way; you feel with Plato the sorrow of losing a master, who goes stoically to his death because he believes in his philosophy. Only a great author can make you feel for someone who lived thousands of years ago.

I must make a note to the Christian reader. Many of the philosophers discussed by Durant were Atheists and many of their philosophies were a reaction to the dominant Christian theology at the time. I found though that some of these philosophers were not attacking Christianity per se, but the organized religion that had called itself by that name. I read this book keeping in mind that these philosophies, although very illuminating, are man made and fallible. I think if you are strong in your faith, you can read this book and take some of their bitter attacks against Christianity as their personal views about the subject, without worrying yourself too much. The greatest thing this book did is introduce Philosophy to me in a straightforward way. I would highly recommend this book to anyone with even a fleeting interest in Philosophy. The writing is so plain and clear that the only things that may be difficult to understand are the philosophies themselves rather than the prose. Good luck to you.