A British popularizer of philosophy, Magee (coauthor, On Blindness,
1995, etc.), writes an overblown account of his lifelong interest
in philosophical ideas. The book's title and subtitle capture its
two interrelated aims: to confess the existential traumas that led
the author to philosophy and to summarize the key ideas of Western
metaphysics and epistemology. Magee, a former academic, wants to
show that philosophy comes in answer to acutely felt problems about
the nature of reality and human knowing. Magee's own angst over
death, meaninglessness, and the limits of human knowledge would be
more convincing if he showed less satisfaction in his previously
published writings and more restraint in condemning strictly
academic (especially British analytic) philosophy. The confessions
include tantalizing hints of "exhilarating love affairs"; but,
despite his insistence on the philosophic importance of sex, Magee
provides no details about his affectional life. Was philosophy
irrelevant to this side of his life, or does he forget that, for
the ancient Greek philosopher Empedocles, love was itself a
metaphysical principle? But Empedocles apparently doesn't belong to
the mere "half a dozen" philosophers in each century "whose work is
of widespread and lasting interest." To this elite group, Kant,
Schopenhauer, Bertrand Russell, and Karl Popper do clearly belong,
in the author's judgment: Kant, for articulating so persuasively
how much conceptions influence perceptions; Schopenhauer for his
philosophy of art; Russell for his logic; Popper for his science.
Magee is best at presenting the ideas of these, his favorites, but
he could have done so in a much shorter book and without the
melodramatic portrayals of his own intellectual suffering. (Kirkus
Reviews)
In this inspirational book Bryan Magee tells the story of his
discovery of philosophy, and in doing so introduces the subject to
his reader. Experiences of everyday life provide discussion of
philosophers and explain why certain philosophical questions
persistently exercise our minds. With great fluency Magee untangles
philosophy, making it seem part of everyone's life. Intensely
personal and brimming with infectious enthusiasm, this is a
wonderful introduction to philosophy by one of the most elegant and
accessible writers on the subject.
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!
Welcome to Loot.co.za!
Sign in / Register |Wishlists & Gift Vouchers |Help | Advanced search
