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The History of Western Philosophy – Jewish Religious Development

Some interesting notes on early Judaism: “The early history of the Israelites cannot be confirmed from any source outside the Old Testament, and it is impossible to know at what point it ceased to be purely legendary. David and Solomon may be accepted as kings who probably had a real existence, but at the earliest…

September 27, 2011BooksBy dawg

The History of Western Philosophy – Socrates

Socrates looms large in Philosophy’s history, but, as Russell notes, “is a very difficult subject for the historian.” Russell outlines some notes that are generally accepted as being true: – “He was undoubtedly an Athenian citizen of moderate means” and well-known.– He educated the young and, unlike the Sophists, did so for free– He was…

January 22, 2011BooksBy dawg

The History of Western Philosophy – Heraclitus, Parmenides, Empedocles

I don’t have a whole lot to relate about the philosophers I’ve been reading about. I’m really making this post just to beat the number of posts I made in the entirety of 2010 (4). This is the FIFTH post I’ve made in 2011. Whew – glad I’m over that hurdle! So, here’s what I’ve…

January 16, 2011BooksBy dawg

The History of Western Philosophy – Pythagoras

(click for bigger picture) Who thought reading a history of Philosophy would be funny? Regarding Pythagoras, credited with first developing deductive reasoning, Russell offers this: Pythagoras is one of the most interesting and puzzling men in history. Not only are the traditions concerning him an almost inextricable mixture of truth and falsehood, but even in…

January 14, 2011BooksBy dawg

The History of Western Philosophy

I started “The History of Western Philosophy” by Bertrand Russell today. He is a skilled, direct writer. I am encouraged by this as a broad and deep topic does not need to be hampered by imprecise and/or pretentious prose. From the “introductory:” Philosophy, as I shall understand the word, is something intermediate between theology and…

January 13, 2011BooksBy dawg

Tag Archives: The History of Western Philosophy

The History of Western Philosophy – Jewish Religious Development

The History of Western Philosophy – Socrates

The History of Western Philosophy – Heraclitus, Parmenides, Empedocles

The History of Western Philosophy – Pythagoras

The History of Western Philosophy