The Philosophy Book

April 1, 2011

Gr 9 Up-What is the nature of the world? How should I live? Is language really logical? In this accessible guide to the great thinkers, contributors offer the (thoroughly boiled down) perspectives of 107 philosophers on such questions. An introduction defines the discipline, explains its branches, and argues for its continuing relevance. Half of the book covers pre-Kantian philosophy, including the ideas of Averroes, Confucius, Maimonides, and Rumi (but no Indians after Siddhartha). Ahad Ha'am, Hajime Tanabe, and Tetsuro Watsuji are among the moderns, and of contemporary thinkers, Julia Kristeva, Henry Odera Oruka, Peter Singer and Slavoj Zizek have the last word; a useful directory of minor philosophers follows. Each of six historical periods outlined has a separate introduction and a time line. The sidebars add context and biographical details of the selected philosophers, who earn one to six pages of coverage. Language is generally non-specialized; the neat visual tag accompanying each thinker provides a useful, necessarily simplified, mnemonic. This graphically lively presentation, which also features color reproductions, colorfully framed pull quotes, photos, and a variety of fonts, offers students an overview of the ideas and concepts generated by people who have spent their lives "wondering about the world."-Patricia D. Lothrop, St. George's School, Newport, RI

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