History of Western Philosophy (Volume 1)

Author: (British) Bertrand Russell
Translator: He Zhaowu, Li Yuese
United Kingdom / UK
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-04-13
Features: The characteristic of Russell's A History of Western Philosophy lies in its presentation of the development of Western philosophy within the interaction and close connection with social life, rather than solely focusing on the development of Western philosophy itself, or the evolution of pure philosophical concepts or philosophical problems. Russell believed that philosophy is a part of social and political life, and the doctrines of philosophers are not the result of isolated individual thinking. Social environments and past philosophical doctrines have a significant impact on the emergence of a philosophical doctrine. On one hand, philosophers are the products of the social and political environments of their time. On the other hand, they are also the causes of later social and political systems. Therefore, in this book, he always attempts to view each philosopher as a product of their era and examine their influence on that era. For example, to help readers better understand the philosophies of Stoicism and Epicureanism, the book provides a detailed introduction to the social and historical context of the Hellenistic period. To facilitate a deeper understanding of the emergence and development of Scholasticism, it introduces the development of Christianity from the 5th to the 15th centuries. The second feature of the book is its distinct approach to selecting the philosophers it discusses, differing from general histories of philosophy. Rather than solely prioritizing the superiority of philosophy itself, it places greater emphasis on the extent to which a philosopher's doctrines influenced the social life of their time. Some politicians and poets, who had a significant impact on the development of philosophy, also occupy a place in this book. The third feature is that Russell, as a renowned philosopher, possesses unique insights into philosophy and social life, as well as a distinctive understanding of the history of philosophical development. Written entirely by him, the book clearly reveals his perspective on the development of Western philosophy and the unity within its historical progression.