Looking at Philosophy: The Unbearable Heaviness of Philosophy Made Lighter (Paperback)

by Donald Palmer (Author)
Key Phrases: protocol sentences, natural standpoint, synthetic propositions, New York, Thomas Aquinas, Simile of the Line (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
An entertaining odyssey through the history of Western philosophy explores the contributions of Socrates, Aristotle, Descartes, Mill, Dewey, Heidegger, and others; examines the role of women philosophers; and provides an extensive bibliography. Original.

About the Author
Born in San Jose, California, Donald Palmer spent most of his life in California, except for several years studying, traveling, and eventually, living abroad. Donald Palmer holds both B.A and M.A. in Philosophy from University of California, Berkeley and a Ph.D. in Philosophy from Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain. He has published numerous articles and textbooks including: Why It's Hard to Be Good: Introduction to Ethical Theory; Does the Center Hold? An Introduction to Western Philosophy and Looking at Philosophy: The Unbearable Heaviness of Philosophy Made Lighter. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 442 pages
• Publisher: Mayfield Pub Co; 2nd edition (March 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1559342307
• ISBN-13: 978-1559342308
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #324,654 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars History of philosophy for nonmajors, October 31, 2001

By	Pumpkin King - See all my reviews

This review is from: Looking At Philosophy: The Unbearable Heaviness of Philosophy Made Lighter (Paperback)

The history of philosophy is fascinating for the ideas alone, but it is also a continuing debate among various thinkers in many different fields of study (physics, psychology, economics, anthropology...). Donald Palmer tells the story of some major thinkers of the West in simple language and illustrations, and yet manages to avoid treating the reader as a child (though a child could read this book and learn much). He provides a quick overview of Western thought from the early Greeks to twentieth century Poststructuralists for readers who are interested in philosophy but have never encountered it. This is a better introduction than Palmer's "Does the Center Hold?" which is organized by topics of philosophy rather than chronologically. However, if you are seriously interested in philosophy, you will want to read more, and he provides a good bibliography with suggestions for primary and secondary sources at the end.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good primer, September 8, 2002

By	Bob Swain "Seattle" (Seattle) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Looking At Philosophy: The Unbearable Heaviness of Philosophy Made Lighter (Paperback)

I use this textbook as an introductory guide to Philosophy at a small state college. The students like it, and can actually get through it, and yet it is smart, and doesn't dumb down big ideas.

This book is just wonderful, and the author even has a sense of humor. From this, we go on to Seinfeld and Philosophy, and finally Cohen's book A Philosophical Approach to Jokes, if that's the right name. Of these, Palmer's book is far and away the most helpful.

I wish there was just a little bit more about the importance of these ideas as they are reflected in the polis. For instance, he goes through the ideas of Hobbes but doesn't talk about where they lead, or the social implications of his ideas.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Philosophy made easy..., March 1, 2005

By	V (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Looking At Philosophy: The Unbearable Heaviness of Philosophy Made Lighter (Paperback)

I bought this book for my Philosophy 101 class. I tried to sell it back but the bookstore wouldn't let me. Although I hated the idea that I wouldn't be getting my 30 bucks back, little did I know that this book would serve as an important tool for my Literary/Criticism class (which I am currently taking). It definitely clarifies complicated theories with a touch of humor added to the descriptions. There are also sketches in the book that are also humorous, yet provide the reader with a mental image on the topic at hand.