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'One of the great books of the century' - Alan Ryan, The Times 'Few philosophers have combined such a vast width of knowledge with the capacity to produce important original ideas as he did.' - Anthony Quinton, The Guardian 'This is a work of great interest and significance, stimulating and suggestive throughout. Dr Popper's virtues are manifold. He has a great fertility of ideas. Almost every sentence gives us something to think about.' - G.C. Field, Philosophy
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Written in political exile during the Second World War and first published in 1945, Karl Popper's The Open Society and Its Enemies is one of the most influential books of the twentieth century. Hailed by Bertrand Russell as a 'vigorous and profound defence of democracy', its now legendary attack on the philosophies of Plato, Hegel and Marx exposed the dangers inherent in centrally planned political systems. Popper's highly accessible style, his erudite and lucid explanations of the thought of great philosophers and the recent resurgence of totalitarian regimes around the world are just three of the reasons for the enduring popularity of The Open Society and Its Enemies, and for why it demands to be read both today and in years to come. This is the second of two volumes of The Open Society and Its Enemies.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book has an impressive reputation for a number of reasons. For some it is a highly political text in being a defence of Democracy. For others it is a scholarly work on three major thinkers. However for some readers (and I would include myself in this category) it is excellent as a work of informed criticism and does not respect iconic writers simply because they have been revered by others. This spirit of independant thinking runs through this work like a fuse. Popper is not ungenerous to either Plato or Marx and fully acknowledges their originality and importance in many aspects. However he rejects closed systems of thought not simply at an intellectual level but with due regard to what can be disastrous consequences in political practice through repression. Sometimes he moves away from a specific thinker to consider other orthodoxies. Take for example in Book Two, the chapter on 'The Autonomy of Sociology'. Here he demolishes 'psychologism' the (still fashionable) belief that social phenomena can all be reduced to a form of psychological determinism. His arguments are simple yet powerful and still have much to teach us.
As with all major works there are criticisms which can be made. While I am not an advocate of Hegels thought and certainly not his writing style, there is a belittling of him by Popper which is not necessary. Schopenhauers polemics while highly quotable as insults should not be utilised in a book which argues and reasons its way through reputations.
The extensive notes in the back of the book are often excellent to read as well, and are further testimony to his scholarship.
Finally, Popper should be praised for his excellent prose. Lucid and engaging, concise and thought provoking and always unpretentious. It is surely important that if you write a book abpout an Open Society you should adopt an open style of writing. It never excludes the reader. It is a commendable book which can be useful even to those that disagree with many of its perspectives.
As with all major works there are criticisms which can be made. While I am not an advocate of Hegels thought and certainly not his writing style, there is a belittling of him by Popper which is not necessary. Schopenhauers polemics while highly quotable as insults should not be utilised in a book which argues and reasons its way through reputations.
The extensive notes in the back of the book are often excellent to read as well, and are further testimony to his scholarship.
Finally, Popper should be praised for his excellent prose. Lucid and engaging, concise and thought provoking and always unpretentious. It is surely important that if you write a book abpout an Open Society you should adopt an open style of writing. It never excludes the reader. It is a commendable book which can be useful even to those that disagree with many of its perspectives.
18 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
In this provocative book Popper, in my opinion one of this century's great philosophers, attacks the idea that history can be undersood by means of abstract laws. This approach to history Popper calls historicist. For example, Marx argued that due to the innate instability of capitalism, the latter would inevitably colapse, giving way to communism - this was supposed as a scientific fact. This type of prophetic argument presupposes that one can first discern the underlying mechanisms of historical change, and then (because knowing how something works is distinct from being able to predict outcomes) predict how history is going to develop. In the book, Popper attacks this type of prophetic argument with a force and effectiveness that blows historicism appart. Popper's chapters clearly show that vast unexplained clefts exists between many of Marx's postulations. Popper also indicates that Marx had no understanding of how science works: science is not about fulfilling predictions and does not preceed on the basis of verification. At the end of the end of the book, Popper widens his scope and identifies, in my opinion correctly, CERTAINTY as the great enemy of the open society. This book is important reading. It tackles some of the most pressing arguments of the 20th century and therefore should be read. One crown is lost because Popper seems to place to much faith in scientific method as a model of how society could be run.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a classic work of political liberalism, and an important critique of the variant of Marxism practised in the Cold War Eastern Bloc. It has a number of worthwhile critiques of the entire "historicist" project of Hegel, which would apply just as well to modern Hegelians such as Fukuyama.
However, like the Bible in medieval states, and the works of Marx in the old USSR, the powers that be cannot allow sacred texts to remain as they were originally penned: as too often they contradict current practice. Popper's robust defence of the welfare state and state intervention in the market economy is sadly excised from most modern editions. At least, unlike the ancient monks and the USSR apparatchiks, the editors have had the decency to put in elipsis (...) where this this has been done.
However, like the Bible in medieval states, and the works of Marx in the old USSR, the powers that be cannot allow sacred texts to remain as they were originally penned: as too often they contradict current practice. Popper's robust defence of the welfare state and state intervention in the market economy is sadly excised from most modern editions. At least, unlike the ancient monks and the USSR apparatchiks, the editors have had the decency to put in elipsis (...) where this this has been done.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Volume 2 - Marx as Oracular Philosopher
the hegel-part of this book can be skipped but the marx-part is the true jewel of this series and i suspect poppers entire reason to write the open society. Read more
Published on 24 Feb 2010 by asp
Karl Popper: The Open Society and its enemies Vol II: Hegel and Marx
I have only read half of this outstanding work to date. Ouch for Hegel! He used (before I started to read this book) to be one of my favourite philosophers. Read more
Published on 5 May 2009 by Mr. M. F. Stallard
brilliant
probably the only full proof antidote to philosophies that lead to totalitarian regimes and to fundamentalism. In addition it is well written and sometimes very funny. Read more
Published on 14 July 2004 by Hugh van der Mandele
A must for modern philosophy lovers
A book that changed my way of viewing life, contemporary history and society in general. A must if you want to base your opinions on this century's tragedies
Published on 6 Nov 1998
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