Western Philosophy: A 15-Lecture Course ()

Author: Zhang Zhiwei
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-09-03
Features: The "General Knowledge Lectures by Renowned Scholars" series is a major academic popularization project initiated by Peking University and co-authored by more than ten key universities across the country and several research institutions. The series plans to publish 100 titles, covering major disciplines such as literature, history, philosophy, art, social sciences, and natural sciences. To date, it is one of the most comprehensive, largest-scale, and most authoritative series of popularization books and teaching materials in its field. The series is positioned as "general knowledge," offering high-quality academic popularization that meets the needs of readers from all walks of life for acquiring knowledge and improving their literacy. It is also designed to support universities in advancing quality education, serving as teaching materials and supplementary reading for undergraduate general knowledge courses.
There are two things that have conquered the history of the human spirit. The more we contemplate them, the more we are unable to suppress our awe and reverence—the starry sky above us and the laws of the human heart. From early times to the distant future, this love will firmly dominate a kind of wisdom—philosophy.
The content design of this series fully considers the reading preferences of general young readers, making it suitable for self-study, while also meeting the needs of general knowledge courses in universities. Each book has a certain systematic knowledge, a relatively independent disciplinary scope and professionalism, but it is different from professional textbooks—it is not a compressed or simplified version of specialized courses. The key is to suit the needs of students and readers outside their major, conveying the knowledge of related disciplines in an accessible way, broadening their academic horizons, and thereby enhancing their personal literacy.
Each topic in the series strives to delve deep while remaining accessible, bringing academic vitality to life and making it widely understandable. Therefore, the requirements for the authors of this series are very high. The series pays attention to the relative stability of knowledge, emphasizes key points, and ensures clarity, while also appropriately touching on the forefront of disciplines to inspire interdisciplinary thinking and learning interests.
Most of the books in the series adopt the style of academic lectures, intentionally retaining the tone and vivid writing of a classroom setting, creating a sense of immediacy and a more approachable and engaging experience. The intended readers of the series are primarily young people, making it suitable as a popularization book for improving cultural literacy. If used as teaching materials for university general knowledge courses, instructors can refer to its framework and basic content, supplemented with additional material and elaboration. Alternatively, students can be assigned specific chapters for discussion in class. The series can also serve as reference materials.