Philosophy of the Occident

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Philosophy of the Occident. Its connection with political and social development (original title: A History of Western Philosophy , published in 1945 ) by Bertrand Russell is an introduction to Western philosophy from the pre-Socratics to the early twentieth century. In addition to the ideas of important philosophers against the background of the history of their time, the philosophy of the West also contains Russell's own thoughts and interpretations of these ideas.

background

The book was written during World War II . The origins of this came from a series of lectures on the history of philosophy that Russell gave between 1941 and 1942 at the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia . Much of the historical research was done by Russell's third wife, Patricia. Russell received an advance of $ 3,000 from the editors in 1943 and wrote the book between 1943 and 1944 while living at Bryn Mawr College . It was published in the USA in 1945 and in Great Britain a year later . The German edition, translated by Elisabeth Fischer-Wernecke and Ruth Gillischewski, first appeared in Zurich in 1950.

content

The work is divided into three books, each of which contains two to three sections, which in turn are divided into chapters. These chapters each deal with a single philosopher, a school of philosophy, or a period in history.

The philosophy of antiquity

Catholic philosophy

The philosophy of the modern age

Reactions and consequences

Russell himself described his book as a work of social history and requested that it be treated as such. While the work has often been praised for Russell's humorous and accessible writing style, it has also been criticized for its focus on pre- Cartesian philosophy and its "excessive generalizations" and omissions.

The "Philosophy of the West" was a direct commercial success and has been published again and again since its first edition. When Russell was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1950 , "The Philosophy of the Occident" was cited as one of the works that won him the prize. The success of the book gave Russell the financial security he needed for the last quarter of a century of his life.

Reviews

“Bertrand Russell's“ History of Philosophy ”is delicious read. I don't know whether one should admire more the delicious freshness and originality or the sensitivity of empathy with distant times and strange mentality in this great thinker. I consider it lucky that our dry and at the same time brutal generation has such a wise, honest, brave and at the same time humorous man to show. It is a pedagogical work in the highest sense, which stands above the dispute between parties and opinions. "

- Albert Einstein

“Parts of this famous book are sketchy ... in other respects it is a marvelously readable, magnificently sweeping survey of Western thought, distinctive for placing it informatively into its historical context. Russell enjoyed writing it, and the enjoyment shows; his later remarks about it equally show that he was conscious of its shortcomings. "

“Parts of this famous book are sketchy ... in other ways it is a wonderfully readable, great overview of the Western world of thought, which is distinguished by the fact that it places the thoughts in their historical context in an illuminating way. Russell took pleasure in writing it, and you can see that pleasure in him; at the same time, his later remarks about the book show that he was aware of his shortcomings. "

- AC Grayling

"Embodies what seems to me the worst features of Lord Russell's previous more journalistic works, but it is of a poorer quality than any of these."

"Embodies what for me are the worst qualities of Lord Russell's earlier, more journalistic work, but is of poorer quality than any of them."

- Yorick Smythies, a supporter of Russell's former student Ludwig Wittgenstein

“Bertrand Russell's History of Western Philosophy is amusing, but suffers from defects ... First, it deals largely with ancient philosophy, and is curt and selective in its treatment of the post-Cartesian tradition. Secondly, it is dismissive towards all those philosophers with whom Russell felt no personal affinity. Thirdly, it shows no understanding of Kant and post-Kantian idealism. It is, for all that, a classic of wit, elegance and resolute idiosyncrasy. "

“Bertrand Russell's“ Philosophy of the West ”is entertaining, but has shortcomings ... First, it deals extensively with ancient philosophy and is succinct and selective in its treatment of the post-Cartesian tradition. Second, it is condescending to any philosopher with whom Russell had no personal affinity. Third, it shows no understanding of Kant and post-Kantian idealism. In spite of everything, it is a classic full of spirit, elegance and decided preferences. "

- Roger Scruton

“Mr. Russell's qualities as a writer and thinker ... are of a high order: deftness of wit, vigor of mind and suppleness of style. Yet their presence ... do not save the book ... from being perhaps the worst that Mr. Russell has written .... As one would expect, the author is at his best when dealing with present day ideas, if for no other reason than his large share in their inception .... By contrast, his treatment of ancient and medieval doctrines is nearly worthless. "

"Mr. Russell's qualities as a writer and thinker ... are of high rank: witty dexterity, powerful mind and sleek style. Still, their presence ... doesn't save the book ... from possibly being the worst Mr. Russell has ever written .... As expected, the author is best when it comes to contemporary ideas, if only because he played such a large part in their development ... In contrast, his treatment of ancient and medieval teachings is almost worthless. "

- Leo Roberts

A History of Western Philosophy errs consistently in this respect. Its author never seems to be able to make up his mind whether he is writing history or polemic .... [Its method] confers on philosophers who are dead and gone a kind of false contemporaneity which may make them seem important to the uninitiate. But nevertheless it is a misreading of history.

“The philosophy of the West consistently misses its goal in this respect. Its author never seems to be able to decide whether to write history or to polemicize ... [His method] gives philosophers who are long dead and gone a false contemporaneity that makes them appear important to the uninitiated. Nevertheless, this is a misinterpretation of the story. "

- George Boas

History of Western Philosophy , a vulgar, but representative book.

"" Philosophy of the Occident ", an absurd but representative book."

- George Steiner

Stanisław Lem when asked which book he would take with him on a desert island:

"One? Only one? It would probably be a very long, vast history of philosophy. When I say the history of philosophy, I don't have the best one in mind, but a concrete one: the "History of Western Philosophy" by Bertrand Russell. (...) Firstly, this is an excellent work, and secondly, its author is a man who does not hide his sympathy and antipathy, who expresses them openly, even goes so far as to argue with Plato ... this intense engagement in ontic , epistemological and moral problems really touches me. "

- Stanislaw Lem

Russell himself said of his work:

“I saw the first part of my“ Philosophy of the West ”as cultural history, but in the later parts, when science gains importance, it is more difficult to fit into the framework. I did my best, but I'm by no means sure I succeeded. I have sometimes been accused by critics of not having written an actual story, but rather a tendentious account of events that I would have chosen at random. But in my opinion a person without tendency cannot write an interesting story - if there really is such a person. "

- Bertrand Russell

swell

  1. ^ Bertrand Russell: "Philosophy of the Occident", page 10, limited special edition by Europa Verlag AG Zurich for Parkland Verlag Cologne, 1st edition 2007
  2. ↑ Russell, B: "The Autobiography of Bertrand Russell," Routledge, 2000.
  3. ↑ a b c Scruton, R: "Short History of Modern Philosophy", Routledge, 2001.
  4. ^ Bertrand Russell: Autobiography. Volume III. Suhrkamp, ​​Frankfurt 1972-1974, p. 80.
  5. ^ AC Grayling: Russell: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press, 2002.
  6. ^ R. Monk: Bertrand Russell: 1921-1970, The Ghost of Madness. Free Press, 2001.
  7. ↑ Leo Roberts: Review of "History of Western Philosophy". In: Isis. 38, 1948, pp. 268-270.
  8. ↑ George Boas: Review of "History of Western Philosophy". In: Journal of the History of Ideas. 8, 1947, pp. 117-123.
  9. ↑ George Steiner: Martin Heidegger. University Of Chicago Press, 1991.
  10. ^ Stanisław Lem & Stanisław Bereś: Lem on Lem. Conversation. Insel, Frankfurt 1986, ISBN 3-458-14511-7 , p. 151.
  11. ^ Bertrand Russell: Autobiography. Volume II. Suhrkamp, ​​Frankfurt 1972-1974, p. 345.

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