Biographical Dictionary of Twentieth Century Philosophers

by Stuart M. Brown Jr., Robert Wilkinson (Editor), Diané Collinson (Editor)

This Biographical Dictionary provides detailed accounts of the lives, works, influence and reception of thinkers from all the major philosophical schools and traditions of the twentieth-century.
This unique volume covers the lives and careers of thinkers from all areas of philosophy - from analytic philosophy to Zen and from formal logic to aesthetics. All the major figures of philosophy, such as Nietzsche, Wittgenstein and Russell are examined and analysed. The scope of the work is not merely restricted to the major figures in western philosophy but also covers in depth a significant number of thinkers from the near and far east and from the non-European Hispanic-language communities.
The Biographical Dictionary also includes a number of general entries dealing with important schools of philosophy, such as the Vienna Circle, or currents of thought, such as vitalism. These allow the reader to set the individual biographies in the context of the philosophical history of the period. With entries written by over 100 leading philosophy scholars, the Biographical Dictionary is the most comprehensive survey of twentieth-century thinkers to date.
Structure
The book is structured alphabetically by philosopher. Each entry is identically structured for ease of access and covers:
* nationality
* dates and places of birth and death
* philosophical style or school
* areas of interest
* higher education
* significant influences
* main appointments
* main publications
* secondary literature
* account of intellectual development and main ideas
* critical reception and impact
At the end of the book a glossary gives accounts of the schools, movements and traditions to which these philosophers belonged, and thorough indexes enable the reader to access the information in several ways:
* by nationality
* by major areas of contribution to philosophy e.g. aesthetics
* by major influences on the thinker concerned e.g. Plato, Kant, Wittgenstein

971 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 14, 2014

About the author

Stuart Brown, M.D. is a medical doctor, psychiatrist, clinical researcher, and the founder of the National Institute for Play. He speaks regularly to Fortune 500 companies and groups across the country on the significance of play in our lives. The producer of a three-part PBS series, The Promise of Play, he has also appeared on NPR and was featured in a front-page story in The New York Times Magazine. He lives in Carmel Valley, California.

Dr. Stuart Brown is a medical professional trained in general and internal medicine, psychiatry, and clinical research. His studies on the importance of play began with research on homicidal young males and felony drunk drivers, where he found a common lack of play during childhood. Throughout his career, he held various positions at prestigious institutions, including Baylor College of Medicine, Harvard's McLean Hospital, Mercy Hospital and Medical Center, and UCSD School of Medicine.

Dr. Brown documented thousands of personal play profiles, demonstrating the negative consequences of a play-deprived life and the presence of ongoing play in successful individuals. In 1989, he left clinical medicine to study animal play, collaborating with the National Geographic Society and Jane Goodall. This research led him to understand the importance of play for human well-being and survival.

Dr. Brown founded the National Institute for Play to promote play's integral role in human development. He has written, lectured, and produced documentaries on the topic, and authored the book Play: How It Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul.