Jones-Classical

Best history of philosophy? My recommendation

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.

Jones-ClassicalVolume 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.

4 thoughts on “Best history of philosophy? My recommendation”

  1. Dennis Malfatti

    What are your thoughts on Anthony Kenny’s A Brief History of Western Philosophy?

  2. Jack R. Thomas

    I’m wondering what your opinion might be of Richard Tarnas’ “Passions of the Western Mind.”
    Thanks,
    Jack Thomas

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