Basic Teachings of the Great Philosophers: A Survey of Their Basic Ideas

by S.E. Frost Jr. and Jr. Frost, S.E.

Book Overview

A complete summary of the views of the most important philosophers since the beginning of Western civilization. Each major field of philosophic inquiry is treated in a separate chapter, so that each chapter can be read as a complete unit, without reference to the others. Includes Plato, Descartes, Spinoza, Kant, Hegel, Dewey, Sartre, and many others.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 038503007X
• ISBN13: 9780385030076
• Release Date: September 1962
• Publisher: Anchor Books
• Length: 301 Pages
• Weight: 0.61 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.3" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Great!

Let's face it: For most of us understanding what ancient philosophers had to say has the same curiosity value as what was life was like in ancient Sumeria or just how do they manage to get all that white stuff inside a twinkie. In this regard this book on great philosophers is...well...great! In a short, accessible 274 pages Frost manages to take you all the way from the pre Socratics all the way up to then contemporary thinkers like Martin Buber (remember this book was originally written in the 1940s). Not only does he do this but he also manages to take on the philosophers in an issue by issue treatment for example sequentially treating the philosophers on topics like what they had to say about free will. In reading the book it's easy to see just how philosophy has reacted to and not led the crest of scientific inovation. Sure you can pick up other texts on what these guys had to say but this book will be as good as any other of the introductory texts mentioned for learning their inaccurate and now largely irrelevant reflections. Now you just need to find a good Sumerian life book and one on Introductory Twinkie filling to complete your library.

Views that are now outdated, but still a great introduction

I read this book about four to six years ago, when I was still in grade school, and this book pretty much got me started on the track of the study of philosophy. It provides a pretty good overview about all of the beliefs of each of the big names under each topic (Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Spinoza, Hobbes, Locke, Kant, Hegel, including many others), which are conveniently divided for, what was for me, easy reading.Make a note though: some of the views outlined in this book are now considered outdated views of the philosophers. This book was last revised in 1962, so it should not take one much thinking to realize that. Right now in philosophy, there are new interpretations of philosophers like Immanuel Kant and Hegel being brought forth by today's professors of philosophy. Nonetheless, I think this is a great way to introduce oneself to philosophy; however, be careful not to make the mistake of calling the views within the book the authoritative views.

The best single volume reference on philosophy

I've read this volume cover-to-cover at least three times over the last two decades. In fact, I wonder if I was really all that well educated before I found it. Inspite of the fact that I was a university honors graduate I found that this book covered a whole universe of new ideas for me. Perhaps this is because I majored in one of the physical sciences and almost everything covered was from the narrow viewpoint of materialism and logical positivism. I especially enjoyed the organization of the book. Each chapter covers a major topic: the nature of the universe; man's place in the universe; what is good and evil; the nature of god; fate versus free will; the soul and immortality; man and the state; man and education; mind and matter; ideas and thinking; and recent approaches to philosophy. The individual philosophers, from classical to modern, addressing the issue are listed right under the chapter heading, then each of their arguements is presented in order. You can't help but start to compare them- to start thinking for yourself at a significant level. Since first reading this volume I've gone on to read more detailed works by the philosophers who appealed more to me such as Plato and Schopenhauer. Indeed, this book opened a whole intellectual world to me that my public university education totally ignored. I find myself wondering if a life lived without serious reflection of the topics presented here is really a life worth living....

the BEST philo. overview (nutshell)

i've used this book throughout my philosophy education, and it is the best nutshell you can get on virtually every major western Philosopher. not a replacement for org. writings, but a great "basics" to give understanding to what you are studying.