History of Philosophy, Volume 7 (Modern Philosophy) free download online
Title: History of Philosophy, Volume 7 (Modern Philosophy) Author(s): Frederick Copleston Pages: 512 Publisher: Image Publication date: 1994 Language: English Format: PDF ISBN-10: 0385470444 ISBN-13: Description: History of Philosophy, Volume 7 (Modern Philosophy)
By Frederick Copleston
* Publisher: Image
* Number Of Pages: 512
* Publication Date: 1994-02-01
* ISBN-10 / ASIN: 0385470444
* ISBN-13 / EAN: 9780385470445
* Binding: Paperback
Product Description:
Conceived originally as a serious presentation of the development of philosophy for Catholic seminary students, Frederick Copleston's nine-volume A History Of Philosophy has journeyed far beyond the modest purpose of its author to universal acclaim as the best history of philosophy in English.
Summary: Good overview of mostly terrible philosophers
Rating: 4
After Kant left wreckage of classical philosophy, but leaving fundamental flaws in his own Copernican Revolution, it seems the people after him took to such lengths as to add to his errors, hence the dawning of the idealists.
They were obsessed with the idea of subject and object. The idealists thought that there was an infinite will. They started with Philosophy of the first science, stating fundamental truths. Why are they fundamental truths? Because they said so. Hence was the problem. They threw around infinite will, absolute ego, absolute consciousness, ad nauseum until it made you wonder whether they had any idea what they were talking about.
The main problem is that they essentially thought the individual is the way the absolute ego becomes conscious of himself, so in essence we're all the same unified blob that simply thinks we're completely separate entities. They keep talking about self-realization and other warm fuzzies that just struck this reader as silly sophistry.
In all honesty, Fichte and Schelling had some good things to say, though their underlying mentality was flawed. Hegel was nauseating, and the worst case of mental masturbation this reader has ever encountered. Copleston defended Hegel a few times, essentially saying "It isn't completely empty-headed blather, hear him out a little." No, it really was that dumb.
After their silly ponderings the cynical but down to earth writing of Schopenhauer was welcomed.
It's really a shame such little space was devoted to Kierkegaard, who had more poignant things to say than all the idealists combined. Nietzsche gets more attention, but his musings are less philosophical investigations as vicious ranting.
A shame Copleston chose to focus so much on such lightweights, but this reader might have missed something too.
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Title: History of Philosophy, Volume 7 (Modern Philosophy)