Beginning with the death of Socrates in 399 BC, and following the story through the centuries to recent figures such as Bertrand Russell and Wittgenstein, Bryan Magee's conversations with 15 contemporary writers and philosophers provide an account of Western philosophy and its greatest thinkers. The contributors include A.J. Ayer, Bernard Williams, Martha Nussbaum, Peter S Beginning with the death of Socrates in 399 BC, and following the story through the centuries to recent figures such as Bertrand Russell and Wittgenstein, Bryan Magee's conversations with 15 contemporary writers and philosophers provide an account of Western philosophy and its greatest thinkers. The contributors include A.J.

1. Bryan Magee Philosophy
2. Who Are The Great Philosophers

Ayer, Bernard Williams, Martha Nussbaum, Peter Singer, and John Searle, so that the book is not only an introduction to the philosophers of the past, but gives an insight into the view and personalities of some of the most influential philosophers of the 20th century. A great 'introduction' to Western philosophy, although the essential thousand year leap from Augustine to Descartes was a little discouraging. Much of the information presented in here was a great refresher of what I already knew, or clarified certain aspects of various systems that I didn't quite have a grasp on. What was also encouraging was that most of the philosophers covered in this book I had already read with the notably large exceptions of Heidegger and Wittgenstein.

Transcripts of The Great Philosophers are available in published form in a book of the same name. Letters between Bryan Magee and Martin Milligan.

Bryan Magee Philosophy

I know I need Being A great 'introduction' to Western philosophy, although the essential thousand year leap from Augustine to Descartes was a little discouraging. Much of the information presented in here was a great refresher of what I already knew, or clarified certain aspects of various systems that I didn't quite have a grasp on. What was also encouraging was that most of the philosophers covered in this book I had already read with the notably large exceptions of Heidegger and Wittgenstein.

I know I need Being and Time and W's Tractatus and Investigations forthwith. This book is an intellectual goldmine (based on BBC Television series). A must read for philosophy lovers. It was fascinating to read 15 most profound living philosophers- who reacted against one another- to dissect the influence of the world's greatest philosophers from Socrates to Schopenhauer.

I feel, this book does demand a prerequisite: familiarity with philosophical thoughts (not academical but logical). The content is highly explosive, extremely sensitive and can become very complicated i This book is an intellectual goldmine (based on BBC Television series). A must read for philosophy lovers. It was fascinating to read 15 most profound living philosophers- who reacted against one another- to dissect the influence of the world's greatest philosophers from Socrates to Schopenhauer. I feel, this book does demand a prerequisite: familiarity with philosophical thoughts (not academical but logical). The content is highly explosive, extremely sensitive and can become very complicated if one hasn't previously flirted with their writings. I cannot claim to speak for everyone but I do feel, personally, philosophy is no longer regarded as a part of education even in sophisticated institutions; it results in deficiency in the content of our character.

For instance- there is no fever for liberal art courses, the concept of creative and original thinking has been reduced to an exclusive property of science students. This philosophical bankruptcy is not healthy for any society; we need original and informed thinkers in journalism, politics and social activism- so when a crisis comes- society can place its trust upon them to lead us for a better tomorrow. I think, we need to reconsider Socrates advice more seriously, 'The unexamined life is not worth living.' Well, I have to say that, having amply digested Bryan Magee's The Great Philosophers, it has immediately shot to the apex position amongst those tomes undertaking to etch the general history of Western Philosophy. Its format, wherein each primary thinker (and mirroring, to a considerable degree, the spread of names to be found in Russell's book) is expounded upon via an erudite dialogue between Magee and another renowned figure from academia with particular affinities for the philosophic persona Well, I have to say that, having amply digested Bryan Magee's The Great Philosophers, it has immediately shot to the apex position amongst those tomes undertaking to etch the general history of Western Philosophy. Its format, wherein each primary thinker (and mirroring, to a considerable degree, the spread of names to be found in Russell's book) is expounded upon via an erudite dialogue between Magee and another renowned figure from academia with particular affinities for the philosophic personage under consideration, allows for maximal interpretation and elucidation within a minimal amount of space, thanks chiefly to the artful skill of the authorial director.

I had previously heard that Magee's most laudable trait was his utter lucidity, and it's one that he brings, in full, to this work, such that even the most abstruse of systematizers—Hegel and Heidegger looming quite large here—are rendered comprehensible to a degree out of all proportion with the space devoted to dialoguing upon their potent-but-prickly thought. I really appreciated the conversational nature of the text. Philosophy can get pretty dry, so working through these great thinkers through a series of conversations made it more accessible. MaGee also does an excellent job asking follow-up questions, summarizing difficult ideas, and generally keeping the conversations focused without 'dumbing down' things too much. I'm eager to read more of his introductory works to philosophy.

The only chapter I really didn't understand was the conversation with I really appreciated the conversational nature of the text. Philosophy can get pretty dry, so working through these great thinkers through a series of conversations made it more accessible.

Who Are The Great Philosophers

MaGee also does an excellent job asking follow-up questions, summarizing difficult ideas, and generally keeping the conversations focused without 'dumbing down' things too much. I'm eager to read more of his introductory works to philosophy.

The only chapter I really didn't understand was the conversation with Martha Nussbaum about 'Aristotle.' Other than that (and perhaps some of the 'Wittgenstein' sections), I'd highly recommend it. Bryan Edgar Magee is a noted British broadcasting personality, politician, poet, and author, best known as a popularizer of philosophy. Magee's most important influence on society remains his efforts to make philosophy accessible to the layman.

Transcripts of his television series 'Men of Ideas' are available in published form in the book Talking Philosophy. This book provides a readable and wide-r Bryan Edgar Magee is a noted British broadcasting personality, politician, poet, and author, best known as a popularizer of philosophy. Magee's most important influence on society remains his efforts to make philosophy accessible to the layman. Transcripts of his television series 'Men of Ideas' are available in published form in the book Talking Philosophy. This book provides a readable and wide-ranging introduction to modern Anglo-American philosophy.

Reissue Talking Philosophy Dialogues with Fifteen Leading Philosophers Edited by Bryan Magee. Bryan Magee in conversation with the most important philosophers of the twentieth century. Includes contributions from Isaiah Berlin, Noam Chomsky, W.

Ayer, Iris Murdoch, and Herbert Marcuse. Informal conversational style makes ideas accessible to general reader. Based on successful BBC television series.

Topics discussed include 'What is philosophy?' , Marxism, existentialism, literature, and ethics. Unique record of philosophers explaining their work. This book consists of fifteen dialogues between Bryan Magee and some of the outstanding thinkers of the twentieth century.

It is based on a highly successful BBC television series which had enormous impact. The informality and clarity of the conversational form makes even the most difficult ideas accessible to the general reader. Isaiah Berlin opens by considering the fundamental question 'What is philosophy?' Subsequent conversations examine such widely different schools as Marxism and existentialism. Chomsky, Quine, Marcuse, and others discuss their own work; A. Ayer reviews logical positivism; Iris Murdoch talks about the relation between philosophy and literature.

Moral philosophy, political philosophy, the philosophy of language, and the philosophy of science are all treated in depth by the thinkers whose work has shaped the fields. Preface, Bryan Magee 1: An Introduction to Philosophy, Isaiah Berlin 2: Marxist Philosophy, Charles Taylor 3: Marcuse and the Frankfurt School, Herbert Marcuse 4: Heidegger and Modern Existentialism, William Barrett 5: The Two Philosophies of Wittgenstein, Anthony Quinton 6: Logical Positivism and its Legacy, A. Ayer 7: The Spell of Linguistic Philosophy, Bernard Williams 8: Moral Philosophy, R. Hare 9: The Ideas of Quine, W. Quine 10: The Philosophy of Language, John Searle 11: The Ideas of Chomsky, Noam Chomsky 12: The Philosophy of Science, Hilary Putnam 13: Philosophy and Politics, Ronald Dworkin 14: Philosophy and Literature, Iris Murdoch 15: Philosophy: The Social Context, Ernest Gellner Suggestions for Further Reading.