The Examined Life: Readings from Western Philosophers from Plato to Kant

by Stanley Rosen

Book Overview

What did Plato contribute to the philosophy of art? What do Pascal's Pensees really say? Everyone knows the names of these philosophers, but few really understand the ideas at the core of western... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0375405011
• ISBN13: 9780375405013
• Release Date: February 2000
• Publisher: Random House Reference Publishing
• Length: 628 Pages
• Weight: 2.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.6" x 6.5" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

Making life worth living...

The title of this new book on philosophy, T'he Examined Life: Readings from Western Philosophy from Plato to Kant' by Stanley Rosen, calls to mind that basic underpinning and justification for philosophy: the unexamined life is not worth living.This book is divided into six main parts, which reflect the traditional subdivisions of philosophy: social and political philosophy, philosophy of religion, philosophy of art and culture, metaphysics, epistemology, and the philosophy of science. Each section is introduced by a philosopher who has made a study of that particular branch; the source texts reflect a small but typical collection in each field from major philosophers which reflect a cross-section of philosophical development. Rosen states, 'This is not a dictionary or an encyclopedia but an attempt to give a fair portrait of the aforementioned variety in a way that encourages the reader to philosophise, not to look up famous names or definitions of technical terms. Facts about philosophy are worthless, except to the philosopher. And we are all philosophers by nature.'Below is a list of Chapters and the contents of eachPart One: Social and Political PhilosophyIntroduction by Paul RaheSelections fromPlato, SymposiumPlato, GorgiasPlato, RepublicAristotle, PoliticsMachiavelli, The PrinceHobbes, LeviathanRousseau, First and Second DiscoursesPart Two: Philosophy of ReligionIntroduction by William DesmondSelections fromAugustine, ConfessionsMaimonides, Guide for the PerplexedPascal, PenseesHegel, Lectures on the Philosophy of ReligionKierkegaard, Fear and TremblingPart Three: Philosophy of Art and CultureIntroduction by Robert PippinSelections fromPlato, RepublicAristotle, PoeticsSchiller, On the Aesthetic Education of ManNietzsche, The Birth of TragedyDewey, Art as ExperienceAdorno, Aesthetic TheoryPart Four: MetaphysicsIntroduction by Richard VelkleySelections fromAristotle, MetaphysicsDescartes, MeditationsHegel, Lectures on the History of PhilosophyLeibniz, Reflections on the Common Concept of JusticeKant, Prolegomena to Any Future MetaphysicsWittgenstein, The Blue and Brown BooksPart Five: EpistemologyIntroduction by Jaakko HintikkaSelections fromPlato, MenoAristotle, Posterior AnalyticsDescartes, MeditationsHume, Abstract on a Treatise of Human NaturePart Six: Philosophy of ScienceIntroduction by Gian-Carlo Rota & Jeffrey Thomas CrantsSelections fromFeyerabend, Against MethodKuhn, The Structure of Scientific RevolutionsHusserl, The Crisis of European SciencesAyala, 'The Concept of Biological Progress'Poincare, Science and the ScientistPoincare, Science and HypothesisSimpson, Logic and MathematicsYou will notice among the authors ancient masters and modern scholars; Plato and Aristotle figure prominently in most every chapter as a starting point, which reflects their prominence in philosophical discussion throughout history. Going through the list, those who are philosophically trained may quickly notice names missing (we all have our favourite

not just another collection of philosophical texts

This book presents a solid collection of 35 excerpts from important Western philosophers ranging from as early as Plato to as modern as Feyerabend. However, it is not where the value of this book lies. The contribution of the book is that the editor categorized those maginificent works into six disciplines, and arranged an introductory essay in front of each section. All the essays are well-written and provide the reader with an examination of the importance of and the relationship between each work. They are really the compass in the labyrinth of Western philosophy. A small flaw of the book is that the editor failed to add the years of the birth and death of each philosopher. But this is not a very serious problem to a good book.

On Closer Examination

This cogent compendium of well-chosen readings can be read by the novice or the scholar, useful as it is for reflection and cogitation. The readings are handily arranged into six major sections: social and political philosophy, philosophy of religion; philosophy of art and culture; metaphysics; epistemology;and philosophy of science. Each section has a brief introduction; and in a few cases, a summary essay. Excerpts from selected works of various philosophers--classic and otherwise--give a well-rounded fullness to the major topics and concepts being examined. A bibiliography of primary source material and a full index enhance retrievability options. This will surely stimulate even the most inert of minds.

On Closer Examination

This cogent compendium of well-chosen readings can be read by the novice or the scholar, useful as it is for reflection and cogitation. The readings are handily arranged into six major sections: social and political philosophy, philosophy of religion; philosophy of art and culture; metaphysics; epistemology;and philosophy of science. Each section has a brief introduction; and in a few cases, a summary essay. Excerpts from selected works of various philosophers--classic and otherwise--give a well-rounded fullness to the major topics and concepts being examined. A bibiliography of primary source material and a full index enhance retrievability options. This will surely stimulate even the most inert of minds.

The necessity of an examined life

It has been said that the unexamined life is not worth living, with this said it is crucial that as much evidence as possible be gathered to enable a person to possess a more holistic view of life and of values. The book The Examined Life provides a through introduction to many facets of philosophy, both classical and modern, and provides ample information for the individual reader to begin examiming his own life and the state of his soul. From Plato's scathing and revolutionary thoughts on democracy and its pitfalls, to Kant's pursuit of wisdom and reason, this book offers thoughts and ideals still relevant in today's society.