W. T. Jones’s A History of Western Philosophy is excellent on all the major philosophers and integrates them well into historical context. He’s also a clear writer, which can be rare in philosophy. Also, one does not have to read the philosophers in historical order, as the presentations are self-contained and/or context-established along the way. Some editions are expensive, though less-expensive used copies seem plentiful.
Volume I: The Classical Mind.
Volume II: The Medieval Mind.
Volume III: Hobbes to Hume.
Volume IV: Kant and the Nineteenth Century.
Volume V: The Twentieth Century to Wittgenstein and Sartre.
I’ve also read all or most of Copleston’s, Windelband’s, and Russell’s histories of philosophy, and I recommend them in that descending order. In audio form, Peikoff’s history of philosophy is one that I learned much from during my undergraduate days.
What are your thoughts on Anthony Kenny’s A Brief History of Western Philosophy?
I have not read that one.
I’m wondering what your opinion might be of Richard Tarnas’ “Passions of the Western Mind.”
Thanks,
Jack Thomas
I haven’t read it. Will check it out, thanks.