Zeno and the Tortoise: How to Think Like a Philosopher

by Nicholas Fearn

Book Overview

For those who don't know the difference between Lucretius's spear and Hume's fork, Zeno and the Tortoise explains not just who each philosopher was and what he thought, but exactly how he came to think in the way he did. Nicholas Fearn presents philosophy as a collection of tools -- the tricks of a trade that, in the end, might just be all tricks, each to be fruitfully applied to a variety of everyday predicaments. In a witty and engaging style that incorporates everything from Sting to cell phones to Bill Gates, Fearn demystifies the ways of thought that have shaped and inspired humanity -- among many others, the Socratic method, Descartes's use of doubt, Bentham's theory of utilitarianism, Rousseau's social contract, and, of course, the concept of common sense. Along the way, there are fascinating biographical snippets about the philosophers themselves: the story of Thales falling down a well while studying the stars, and of Socrates being told by a face-reader that his was the face of a monster who was capable of any crime. Written in twenty-five short chapters, each readable during the journey to work, Zeno and the Tortoise is the ideal course in intellectual self-defense. Acute, often irreverent, but always authoritative, this is a unique introduction to the ideas that have shaped us all. "Entertaining and witty. A smooth, sweet concoction that should tickle the taste buds of the most philosophobic readers." -- Julian Boggini, The Times Educational Supplement (U.K.) "A concise and entertaining attempt to place the skills of philosophy at our fingertips." -- Olivier Burckhardt, The Independent on Sunday (U.K.)

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0802139175
• ISBN13: 9780802139177
• Release Date: April 2002
• Publisher: Atlantic Monthly Press
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.5" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Beginner's guide to Western philosophy.

"Zeno and the Tortoise" is a lovely, accessible reference to the more interesting milestones of philosophy history since ancient times. It is relatively thin (180 pages), but sharply drawn. Each chapter gives a precise and useful summary of an important philosopher, and their contribution to the art.The book is written in lay terms, and is seldom confusing. The author is not afraid to be subjective at times, and peppers his narrative with an opinion or two, but these never distract from the idea under discussion, and do not detract from the book's quality.Readers with a curious mind may read this book with great joy. Readers seeking philosophical wisdom may find this book a handy introduction to an obscure field. The author has given us the foundational stories of philosophy in clear language, without overintellectualized jargon, but with a sense of joy and wonder over the intellectual insights Western society has achieved over the ages, and the inspired ways in which some of mankind's more perceptive members have expressed them so eloquently.

Excellent introduction to Western Philosophy

I was an academic philosopher until it burned me out. I left philosophy and haven't touched it for a long time. Recently, I picked up this marvelous text. What I like is how each chapter focuses on one philosopher and a particular "tool". For example, Fearns begins at the beginning with Thales and talks about the strengths and weaknesses of reductive explanations (Thales believed that everything was made of water). He proceeds on to Protagoras and relativism and on through Descartes (famous for discovering that he couldn't doubt that he was doubting - i.e., thinking) to Wittgenstein (the best brief introductions I've read to both the "early" and "later" Wittgenstein). Other important philosophers considered are Nietzsche, Kant, Derrida, Ryle, and so on. The aim of the book is to get you to think like a philosopher and not get bogged down in history or arcane debates. It accomplishes this in a splendid fashion and is suitable introduction to philosophy for any thoughtful person.