Philosophy begins with questions about the nature of reality and how we should live. These were the concerns of Socrates, who spent his days in the ancient Athenian marketplace asking awkward questions, disconcerting the people he met by showing them how little they genuinely understood. This engaging book introduces the great thinkers in Western philosophy and explores their most compelling ideas about the world and how best to live in it. In forty brief chapters, Nigel Warburton guides us on a chronological tour of the major ideas in the history of philosophy. He provides interesting and often quirky stories of the lives and deaths of thought-provoking philosophers from Socrates, who chose to die by hemlock poisoning rather than live on without the freedom to think for himself, to Peter Singer, who asks the disquieting philosophical and ethical questions that haunt our own times. Warburton not only makes philosophy accessible, he offers inspiration to think, argue, reason and ask in the tradition of Socrates. 'A Little History of Philosophy' presents the grand sweep of humanity's search for philosophical understanding and invites all to join in the discussion.
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"This book is a little classic."--Merryn Williams, "Oxford Times"--Merryn Williams "Oxford Times "
About the Author
Nigel Warburton is senior lecturer in philosophy, The Open University. He is the author of several popular introductions to philosophy and is the interviewer on the Philosophy Bites podcast. He lives in Oxford.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
27 of 27 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I bought this book on the recommendation of The Philosophy Shop for my son who has just started to study philosophy at AS/A level. I read it over a weekend and was transfixed by the skill Nigel Warburton has used to make a complex subject so comprehensible and entertaining. There is simple language and easily understandable examples, which all contribute to a greater understanding of the many ideas that shape our world. Mr Warburton does not shirk from explaining that some ideas are 'mad, bad and dangerous to know' but encourages the importance of constant questioning of who we are and why. I could not recommend this book highly enough as a valuable introduction to philosophy for interested people of all ages.
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I was amazed how quickly I read this book, which is 248 pages long. Warburton writes in plain English, which explains why the book is such an easy read. He provides a quick overview of the seminal work of 40 prominent philosophers, ranging from the Classical Socrates to the modern Australian, Peter Singer. The book allows about six pages for each philosopher, and it gives a clear description of the main work that has made each of these philosophers famous.
An excellent book for the general reader, like myself, who would simply like to learn a bit more about philosophy. I suspect that it might be too lightweight for an undergraduate seriously studying Philosophy at university.
Highly recommended for the general reader.
An excellent book for the general reader, like myself, who would simply like to learn a bit more about philosophy. I suspect that it might be too lightweight for an undergraduate seriously studying Philosophy at university.
Highly recommended for the general reader.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By Didier
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Hardcover
I have to confess that until very recently I would have been hard pressed to come up with a sensible answer if asked 'what's the use of philosophy?'. But then I read Ben Dupré's 50 Philosophy Ideas (You Really Need to Know), followed by Plato and A Platypus Walk into A Bar: Understanding Philosophy Through Jokes (hilarious!) and in the wake of those read Nigel Warburton's book. 'A little history of Philsophy' is probably modelled on Ernst Gombrich's A Little History of the World, and in fact it succeeds admirably in doing for philosophy what Gombrich did for history. In barely 245 pages subdivided into 40 short chapters Warburton chronicles the history of philosophy, from Socrates and Plato to Peter Singer.
Did he omit certain philosophers? I'm sure he did, but then again: this is explicitly a short history of philosophy, and judging it by that standard I cannot find fault with it. Of course, one could argue that as a novice I am hardly in a position to judge, but one thing I can say with absolute certainty: Warburton's book has given me an appetite for more, so Bertrand Russel's History of Western Philosophy (Routledge Classics) is next on my reading list, and surely that is a good thing?
Did he omit certain philosophers? I'm sure he did, but then again: this is explicitly a short history of philosophy, and judging it by that standard I cannot find fault with it. Of course, one could argue that as a novice I am hardly in a position to judge, but one thing I can say with absolute certainty: Warburton's book has given me an appetite for more, so Bertrand Russel's History of Western Philosophy (Routledge Classics) is next on my reading list, and surely that is a good thing?
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant
I was gifted this book by my grandmother as I had just started my A Level Philosophy, and I must say that the simplicity that Warbuton writes with is simply phenomenal in getting... Read more
Published 9 days ago by Vincent P
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good Framework
For someone who wants to put philosophy into a time line and grasp an overview of all the important issues and statements thsi piece of work is essential reading
Published 28 days ago by Marjorie Brown
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fascinating and easy to comprehend introduction to the history of...
A wonderfully written introduction to some of the main theories put forward by noted philosophers. Starting from Socrates and ending with Peter Singer, each brief chapter (in a... Read more
Published 2 months ago by joeselliott
5.0 out of 5 stars
A remarkably lucid guide to philosophical ideas.
This is an inspiring, intellectually stimulating and accessible introduction to the major ideas in the history of philosophy. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Jazzrook
4.0 out of 5 stars
An historical overview of philosophy
I purchased this book as a present for a friend who had just acquired a degree in philosophy because it gives a very good overview of philosophy throughout its history. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Bill Wickham
5.0 out of 5 stars
informative and readable
this is an excellent book as an introduction to the world of philosophy for little people. I have bought four copies as birthday presents to date and everyone raves about it. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Assal
4.0 out of 5 stars
Being Philosophical About Life
Nigel Warburton has written an interesting "Little History of Philosophy" stretching from Socrates, "The Man Who Asked Questions" to Peter Singer, "A Modern Gadfly" with... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Neutral
5.0 out of 5 stars
Philosophy in a nutshell
I loved this book. Forty short chapters on philosophers from Socrates to the present day, summing up the work of each one in a way that was completely comprehensible to someone who... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Brixtonian
5.0 out of 5 stars
Careful makes Philosophy addictive
As always Nigel Warburton is able to convey ideas easily and with good humour, all I have read of his has been excellent and thought provoking. Read more
Published 11 months ago by M. Cannon
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good read
This is not a book for serious students of philosophy. However it is an easy read and hits the button if you want to understand how philosophy has developed from the Greeks to... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Ron
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