Confessions of a Philosopher: A Personal Journey Through Western Philosophy from Plato to Popper (Modern Library (Paperback))

In this infectiously exciting book, Bryan Magee tells the story of his own discovery of philosophy and not only makes it come alive but shows its relevance to daily life. Magee is the Carl Sagan of philosophy, the great popularizer of the subject, and author of a major new introductory history, The Story of Philosophy. Confessions follows the course of Magee's life, exploring philosophers and ideas as he himself encountered them, introducing all the great figures and their ideas, from the pre-Socratics to Bertrand Russell and Karl Popper, including Wittgenstein, Kant, Nietzsche, and Schopenhauer, rationalism, utilitarianism, empiricism, and existentialism. In This Book, Magee Tells The Story Of His Own Discovery Of Philosophy And Not Only Makes It Come Alive But Shows Its Relevance To Daily Life. Magee Is The Carl Sagan Of Philosophy, The Great Popularizer Of The Subject, And Author Of A Major New Introductory History, The Story Of Philosophy. This Book Follows The Course Of Magee's Life, Exploring Philosophers And Ideas As He Himself Encountered Them, Introducing All The Great Figures And Their Ideas, From The Pre-socratics To Bertrand Russell And Karl Popper, Including Wittgenstein, Kant, Nietzsche, And Schopenhauer, Rationalism, Utilitarianism, Empiricism, And Existentialism.--from Publisher Description. Scenes From Childhood -- My Introduction To Academic Philosophy -- Logical Positivism And Its Refutation -- Linguistic Analysis -- The Inadequacy Of Linquistic Philosophy -- The Problem Of Perception -- What Can Be Shown But Not Said -- A Yale Education -- The Discovery Of Kant -- Professional Versus Amateur Philosophy -- Getting To Know Popper -- Getting To Know Russell -- First Attempts At A Political Philosophy -- The Search For Meaning -- Mid-life Crisis -- A Philosophical Novel -- Groves Of Academe -- In Praise Of Popularization -- The Limits Of Philosophy -- The Discovery Of Schopenhauer -- The Philosophy Of Schopenhauer -- Philosophy On Television -- The Main Split In Contemporary Philosophy -- Left Wondering. Bryan Magee. This Work Was Originally Published In Great Britain By Weidenfeld & Nicolson ... In 1997--t.p. Verso. Includes Index. Bryan Magee tells the story of his own discovery of philosophy and makes the subject not only come alive but seem intensely relevant. He describes the fundamentals of philosophy as questions about the nature of reality encountered in the course of living, not as problems presented in the writings of the philosophers. Experiences of everyday life provoke discussions about why, through the ages, certain philosophical questions have persistently exercised our minds. Magee's memoir follows the course of his life, so that problems and philosophers are discussed in the order in which he came upon them, rather than in chronological order. By the end of the book, we have been introduced to all the great philosophers, from the pre-Socratics to those of the twentieth century, including two of the most important contemporary philosophers, Bertrand Russell and Karl Popper, both of whom the author knew personally. Logically and with great fluency, Magee clarifies this sometimes obscure subject, revealing its richness to readers who may have considered it inaccessible. In a brilliant but accessible memoir written for a popular audience, a renowned English philosopher and scholar recounts his discovery of philosophy and illuminates its relevance to life, encompassing all of the great philosophers. 25,000 first printing. Until I was five I shared a bed with my sister, three and a half years older than me.