The Story of Philosophy: The Lives and Opinions of the World's Greatest Philosophers Reviews

I believe that the time give to refutation in philosophy is usually time lost. Of the many attacks directed by the many thinkers against each other, what now remains? Nothing, or assuredly very little. That which counts and endures is the modicum of positive truth which each contributes. The true statement is of itself able to displace the erroneous idea, and becomes, without our having taken he trouble of refuting anyone, the best of refutations. - Henri Bergson, The Story of Philosophy

I finally finished this book, which I started out reading in June. Besides the fact that it is a length book, my reading was interrupted by school and the release of Half-Blood Prince. It was, however, well worth the time and effort. The Story of Philosophy is surprisingly well-written and engaging for its subject matter. I expected this book to be somehow dry, perhaps akin to a textbook, but the author Will Durant's prose was a pleasure to read. He has such a way with words that he transforms potentially dry biographies of the philosophers and their theories into lively stories and a clear picture of their ideas. The breadth and depth of the author's knowledge not only of philosophy but also of general history and literature shine through the pages, and although sometimes I had difficulties understanding some of his more obscure references, I do not fault him for writing at a level befitting his brilliance. More than the good writing, the book really does offer a comprehensive look at the major thinkers and thoughts of western philosophy up to early 20th-century. It is informative yet entertaining at the same time as the book reads more like a story than an anthology. Durant's summary of the philosophical theories are very readable even for the layman. He makes the most complicated ideas easy to understand, and most importantly, he connects the dots for the reader and presents a broad picture of how western philosophy has progressed and evolved. The only flaws of the book is that it's a bit outdated (it was written in 1953) and that sometimes it's hard to tell apart the writer's own opinions from the original ideas of the philosophers he was writing about. However, this is a perfect book for anyone, especially beginners, who is interested in philosophy. It might not be complete since it cannot cover all important philosophers, but the writer does a good job covering all the "canon" philosophers whom every student of philosophy would definitely have to read as they make up the foundation of western thoughts. All in all, a great book, and I only spent like 1 dollar on it (I bought it used at the library book sale). That IS a bargain.