This is a book that repays the effort of reading it – it is not a short introduction by any means (being over 800 pages), but it is only a difficult read when he discusses philosophers like Hegel and Bergson who are notoriously difficult anyway. Not only is this an excellent primer on all the major Western philosophers and an impressive synthesis of the evolution of philosophic thought over a 2500-year span, it's also one of the wittier books I've ever read.

He credited Russell with drawing attention to the logical side of Leibniz's philosophy, but questioned Russell's view that there is a sharp distinction between Leibniz's "popular philosophy" and his "esoteric doctrine".Except the print is so tiny that I can't be bothered to make the effort to read it most of the time. It is likely one of the most accessible of serious works on philosophy, but given the era that produced it (1940s) and the elevation of its author, it will place demands on the reader.

By using the Web site, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to be bound by the Terms and Conditions.Nietzsche is the best example of Russell's thesis that philosophers put forward philosophies that they cannot themselves live up.

Re-reading it with the perspective of a lifetime's experience of political, ethical and religious developments has proved fascinating. He then follows philosophy as it slithers through the Middle Ages, into the Renaissance and into the Modern Period. mi se da je to bila posledica studiranja filozofije i učenja istorije filozofije 4 godine, odnosno osam semestara, a on se lik našao da sve spakuje u jednu knjigu. As a historian, he is using at least three hats as: mathematician, English citizen and philosopher himself.But where it is useful to have his bias is that you can get a glimpse into the mind of atheistic thinking. Indeed, it’s not only a masterpiece because of the coverage and learning within the pages of the book, but also because of Russell’s wit and writing style.