Beautifully illustrated throughout, Kenny's book introduces us to some of the world's most original and influential thinkers. In the Introduction, Kenny recounts his struggles with determining a suitable cut-off point for inclusion in the book: Can the philosopher in question still be living? This illustrated edition of Sir Anthony Kenny’s acclaimed survey of Western philosophy offers the most concise and compelling story of the complete development of philosophy available.

Kenny's fairness extends to the importance of Christianity in the development of western philosophy with sections on Martin Luther and John Calvin. Mиний бодлоор эхнээс дуустал нь уншихаас илүүтэйгээр хажуугаар нь өөр юм хараад, гол эх сурвалжуудаас нь уншаад явах хэрэгтэй байх.This book is no less than a guide to the whole of Western philosophy-the ideas that have undergirded our civilization for two-and-a-half thousand years. More Hamburger icon An icon used to represent a menu that can be toggled by interacting with this icon. Sir Anthony John Patrick Kenny FBA (born 16 March 1931) is a British philosopher whose interests lie in the philosophy of mind, ancient and scholastic philosophy, the philosophy of religion, and the philosophy of Wittgenstein of whose literary estate he is an executor. The contributors are all experts in their fields and each makes a sharply individualistic contribution.

In defense of Kenny on this score, one could note that much of what I'm appealing to here flouts his self-imposed cut off of 1975.The book re-presents The Ontological Argument, once thought concluded, done, and dispensed with, in new light. Its influence was felt well beyond antiquity into the Middle Ages, particularly through the writings of St. I do not wish to deny altogether Kenny's claims concerning the emergence of a gap between different styles or schools of philosophy in the 20 th century. After he has applied for and achieved laicization, married, and taken up a position at Oxford, Kenny—by now an agnostic—continues to attend Catholic Mass.

If Heidegger is indeed an important 20 th century figure, then he should be so for having something important to say about such topics as, say, epistemology, metaphysics, and the philosophy of mind. Sir Anthony Kenny tells the fascinating story of the birth of philosophy and its remarkable flourishing in the ancient Mediterranean world. Nevertheless, I would stress that these are relative minor criticisms in comparison to the task that Kenny has set for himself and has, to certain extent, succeeded.Although it may not have the depth that you want, you can get an idea of the main philosophy and concepts of each era and school of thought. Hasker further notes that Kenny "concludes by suggesting that one who is in doubt about God may rationally pray for enlightenment about his existece and nature:" [10] As Kenny asserts: "It surely is no more unreasonable than the act of a man adrift in the ocean, trapped in a cave, or stranded on a mountainside, who cries for help though he may never be heard or fires a signal which may never be seen. a b "Kenny, Sir Anthony (John Patrick), (born 16 March 1931), Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Oxford University, 1984–2001 (Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Development, 1999–2001); Warden, Rhodes House, 1989–99; Professorial Fellow, St John's College, Oxford, 1989–99, now Emeritus Fellow; Master of Balliol College, Oxford, 1978–89".

Personalities and ideas are brought to life as the book captures the richness and vitality of philosophy across a wide range of cultures and times. You will be gratified at the end of the journey, a lot of things in European culture would make more sense. From Thales in the fifth century BC to Quine in the twentieth century, Kenny introduced us the ideas of all the major philosophers in the Western civilization. It's too dense for me to read in one go, so I thought I will use it as a reference for particular philosophers I am engaging with at the time. The overviews are unsatisfying - staccato jumps from philosopher to philosopher that fail to develop a narrative of the progression of the ideas - and the thematic sections are short and dense, a terrible way to convey some very technical philosophy (Kant’s monumental metaphysical system is given just three pages, or seven if you count the four pages of jargon-heavy exposition that Kenny inexplicably allows into the overview section on Kant).Fortunately, this is not the case: though Kenny is careful to direct the reader to specific discussions in previous volumes, this is done via unobtrusive footnotes that do not interrupt the flow of the narrative, and so the reader may comfortably read just this one volume.