Story of Philosophy

This brilliant and concise account of the lives and ideas of the world's great philosophers—Plato, Aristotle, Bacon, Spinoza, Voltaire, Kant, Schopenhauer, Spencer, Nietzsche, Bergson, Croce, Russell, Santayana, James, and Dewey—is "a delight" (The New York Times) and remains one of the most important books of our time. Will Durant chronicles the ideas of the great thinkers, the economic and intellectual environments which influenced them, and the personal traits and adventures out of which each philosophy grew. Durant's insight and wit never cease to dazzle; The Story of Philosophy is an essential book for anyone who wishes to understand the history and development of philosophical ideas in the Western world.

Will Durant (1885-1981) was awarded the Pulitzer Prize (1968) and the Presidential Medal of Freedom (1977). He spent more than fifty years writing his critically acclaimed eleven-volume series, The Story of Civilization (the later volumes written in conjunction with his wife, Ariel). A champion of human rights issues, such as the brotherhood of man and social reform, long before such issues were popular, Durant's writing still educates and entertains readers around the world.

Contents PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION INTRODUCTION: ON THE USES OF PHILOSOPHY CHAPTER I PLATO I. The Context of Plato II. Socrates III. The Preparation of Plato IV. The Ethical Problem V. The Political Problem VI. The Psychological Problem VII. The Psychological Solution VIII. The Political Solution IX. The Ethical Solution X. Criticism CHAPTER II ARISTOTLE AND GREEK SCIENCE I. The Historical Background II. The Work of Aristotle III. The Foundation of Logic IV. The Organization of Science 1. Greek Science before Aristotle 2. Aristotle as a Naturalist 3. The Foundation of Biology V. Metaphysics and the Nature of God VI. Psychology and the Nature of Art VII. Ethics and the Nature of Happiness VIII. Politics 1. Communism and Conservatism 2. Marriage and Education 3. Democracy and Aristocracy IX. Criticism X. Later Life and Death CHAPTER III FRANCIS BACON I. From Aristotle to the Renaissance II. The Political Career of Francis Bacon III. The Essays IV. The Great Reconstruction 1. The Advancement of Learning 2. The New Organon 3. The Utopia of Science V. Criticism VI. Epilogue CHAPTER IV SPINOZA Historical and Biographical 1. The Odyssey of the Jews 2. The Education of Spinoza 3. Excommunication 4. Retirement and Death II. The Treatise on Religion and the State III. The Improvement of the Intellect IV. The Ethics 1. Nature and God 2. Matter and Mind 3. Intelligence and Morals 4. Religion and Immortality V. The Political Treatise VI. The Influence of Spinoza CHAPTER V VOLTAIRE AND THE FRENCH ENLIGHTENMENT I. Paris: OEdipe II. London: Letters on the English III. Cirey: The Romances IV. Potsdam and Frederick V. Les Délices: The Essay on Morals VI. Ferney: Candide VII. The Encyclopedia and the Philosophic Dictionary VIII. Ecrasez l'Infame IX. Voltaire and Rousseau X. Dénouement CHAPTER VI IMMANUEL KANT AND GERMAN IDEALISM Roads to Kant 1. From Voltaire to Kant 2. From Locke to Kant 3. From Rousseau to Kant II. Kant Himself III. The Critique of Pure Reason 1. Transcendental Esthetic 2. Transcendental Analytic 3. Transcendental Dialectic IV. The Critique of Practical Reason V. On Religion and Reason VI. On Politics and Eternal Peace VII. Criticism and Estimate VIII. A Note on Hegel CHAPTER VII SCHOPENHAUER I. The Age II. The Man III. The World as Idea IV. The World as Will 1. The Will to Live 2. The Will to Reproduce V. The World as Evil VI. The Wisdom of Life 1. Philosophy 2. Genius 3. Art 4. Religion VII. The Wisdom of Death VIII. Criticism CHAPTER VIII HERBERT SPENCER I. Comte and Darwin II. The Development of Spencer III. First Principles 1. The Unknowable 2. Evolution IV. Biology: The Evolution of Life V. Psychology: The Evolution of Mind VI. Sociology: The Evolution of Society VII. Ethics: The Evolution of Morals VIII. Criticism 1. First Principles 2. Biology and Psychology 3. Sociology and Ethics IX. Conclusion CHAPTER IX FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE I. The Lineage of Nietzsche II. Youth III. Nietzsche and Wagner IV. The Song of Zarathustra V. Hero-morality VI. The Superman VII. Decadence VIII. Aristocracy IX. Criticism X. Finale CHAPTER X CONTEMPORARY EUROPEAN PHILOSOPHERS Henri Bergson 1. The Revolt Against Materialism 2. Mind and Brain 3. Creative Evolution 4. Criticism II. Benedetto Croce 1. The Man 2. The Philosophy of the Spirit 3. What Is Beauty? 4. Criticism III. Bertrand Russell 1. The Logician 2. The Reformer 3. Epilogue CHAPTER XI CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN PHILOSOPHERS Introduction I. George Santayana 1. Biographical 2. Scepticism and Animal Faith 3. Reason in Science 4. Reason in Religion 5. Reason in Society 6. Comment II. William James 1. Personal 2. Pragmatism 3. Pluralism 4. Comment III. John Dewey 1. Education 2. Instrumentalism 3. Science and Politics Conclusion Glossary Bibliography Index