The Philosophers: Their Lives and the Nature of Their Thought

by Ben-Ami Scharfstein

Book Overview

This highly readable volume offers a broad introduction to modern philosophy and philosophers. Ben-Ami Scharfstein contends that personal experience, especially that of childhood, affects philosophers' sense of reality and hence the content of their philosophies. He bases his argument on biographical studies of twenty great philosophers, beginning with Descartes and ending with Wittgenstein and Sartre. Taken together, these studies provide the beginnings...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0195059271
• ISBN13: 9780195059274
• Release Date: April 1989
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
• Length: 496 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

the Hobo Philosopher

I really enjoyed this book. The apologetic, defensive introduction was a bit long and a bit strained. But the idea that a philosopher's life has a direct relation to his philosophy should be a given. I am surprised that there are not several more works of this type. The author does a great job but even without his psychological analysis the facts exposed about the personal lives is worth the price of the book alone. If you are looking for a new way to peek an old interest in philosophy and the philosophers this is a great one. I don't know how I found this book but I am glad that I did. Books written by Richard Noble: "Hobo-ing America: A Workingman's Tour of the U.S.A.." "A Summer with Charlie" "A Little Something: Poetry and Prose" "Honor Thy Father and Thy Mother" "The Eastpointer" selections from award winning column. "Noble Notes on Famous Folks"

A psychological review of the great philosophers

While psycho-analyses of people is something I generally shy away from, Ben-Ami Sharfstein has completed a fascinating string of case-studies. What makes it interesting is that the "subjects" are the greatest philosophers who have ever lived. Sharfstein begins with some general observations about the psychological welfare of philosophers in general. He then goes on to discuss some patterns that he finds in the different personas. He also discusses the nature of truth and methods of persuasion. This covers the first 123 pages. After this elongated introduction, the author goes into each of the major modern philosophers in-turn, starting with Rene Descartes. Some of his favorites (Kant, Nietzsche) get 20+ pages devoted to them, while most of the personages get around 10 pages on their biography. Nietzsche once said that one can tell a lot about the philosophy by the life of the philosopher. Scharfstein takes this to heart and briefly examines aspects of each individual's philosophy via the lens of their lives. He examines different aspects such as their childhoods (and the relationship they had w/their parents), their relationships with women as well as major life / traumatic events. All factor in to influencing how a philosopher thinks. If you want a good book that deals with the psychological factors of philsophers, this is a great place to start. Sharfstein does not over-play his hand and I found his commentary to be insightful and reasonable. This is a very well thought-out book.

The life helps you understand the work

I read this book in the language it was first published in, Hebrew. I found it remarkable . It showed in a deeper way than any other research I had seen the connection between the lives of the philosophers and their thought. I will give just one telling example. Scharfstein discovered that most of the great philosophers had lost at least one parent at a very early age. The need to think deeply about the world, to understand the meaning of it all, relates certainly to that early and great loss. This work is illuminating throughout and recommended to any real lover of philosophy, of trying to understand the world.