Great Thinkers of the Western World: The Major Ideas and Classic Works of More Than 100 Outstanding Western Philosophers, Physical and Social Scientists, Psychologists, Religious Writers and Theologians

Articles on 116 thinkers are arranged chronologically, making it essay for readers to follow and appreciate the development of ideas from the early Greeks through the first half of the twentieth century. Each article provides basic biographical information, a list of the thinker's major works, a summary of his or her principal ideas, an essay explaining the thinker's most significant theories and indicating his or her place in the history of thought and a brief bibliography of further readings.

An absorbing, accessible and highly informative introduction to the greatest minds of Western civilization, Great Thinkers of the Western World improves our understanding of Western thought and how it evolved.

The lives, motivations, major works and ideas of Plato, Martin Luther, Voltaire, Adam Smith, Thomas Paine, Charles Darwin, and over one-hundred more big-brained sorts are covered by 35 equally brainy scholars, in short chapters, averaging about 5 pages apiece; most of the writing here is quite readable, but some were, at least for me, like wading through sludge.

Suggested reading is provided for those who wish to furter their studies of the intellectually-abundant.


awesome!   March 9, 2000
3 out of 5 found this review helpful

I took a class based on this book and it was the most influencial class I ever took. This book gives a short overview of 116 philosophers, scientists, and authors works, views and accomplishments. I truely believe the world would be a better place if everyone read this book.


For the coffee table only   October 3, 2000
This book was fair but not the type of book you can't put down. The problem is that too many individuals are covered and in too little detail. It reads like a dictionary.


great thinkers but the book seems to have a religious agenda   April 4, 2005
Stephen Jay (Denver CO)
8 out of 11 found this review helpful

This book might be worth $21, (used price), as the thinker's ideas presented in one place are surely great reference material.
Other book reviews here discuss the content and layout so I will only add a comment about the religious bias it seems to have because one wouldn't expect it since it is neither suggested by the title or mentioned anywhere. I feel like it has a hidden, dishonest agenda of making it look as though the great thinkers thought more highly of religion than they really did.

For example in discussing David Hume, it reads "the charge that he was an atheist seems a gross oversimplification of the quite complex and sophisticated views he held" Well I'm no expert on Hume but he was the ultimate skeptic who neither believed in miracles or God. So while the book admits that his comtemporaries call him an atheist-- but discounts that he was, which I guess also implies that other scholars are simpletons.
It concludes by saying, "one might say that Hume could well have been speaking for himself when at the end of the Dialogues he puts the following words in Philo's mouth:'...The cause or causes of order in the universe probably bear some remote analogy to human intelligence....". But if you look up that quote, they left off the front of it which clearly indicates that Philo doesn't agree with that statement. The sentence starts "If the whole of natural theology, as some people seem to maintain, resolves itself into one simple, though somewhat ambiguous, at least undefined proposition, that the cause... "So he's not saying what the anthology says he is. You can read the Dialogues at http://www.philosophyofreligion.info/dcnr12.html, and decide for yourself how you think Hume felt about religion, but this quote seems telling when philo says "It is certain, from experience, that the smallest grain of natural honesty and benevolence has more effect on men's conduct, than the most pompous views suggested by theological theories and systems." Or this direct Hume quote, "The christian religion not only was at first attended with miracles, but even at this day cannot be believed by any reasonable person without one"(ie. a miracle)" Neither of these quotes make it in the book.

There are many other examples, but I have limited space here. The review of Nietzsche, famous for saying God is dead,seems to put forth a much lower opinion of him than others I have read. So i.e., if they can't discount your atheism--they can always discount your greatness instead? When reading about several thinkers I felt it was unappropriate that they got into a lengthy discussion about their religious views, and each time I also felt a "spin". If a book isn't honest, what is it really worth?