A Hundred Years of Philosophy

by John Arthur Passmore

In this survey, John Passmore concentrates on the British tradition in logic, metaphysics and the theory of knowledge, yet he never neglects parallel developments in Europe and America. He considers the crucial new insights that were generated into probability, propositions and private languages, meaning, minds and bodies and the limits of science. Accounts explore the main schools and individual contributions of philosophers ranging from Ayer to Bradley, from Heidegger to Popper, from Moore to Merleau-Ponty and from Russell to Ryle.

Genres: Philosophy, History, Nonfiction, Reference

640 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1966

Reviews

[Justin Evans]

One of the best histories of philosophy I've read, and I've read far too many of them. Passmore writes beautifully, and clearly, and, for the most part, sympathetically, about an enormous number of people you've never read, or never heard of, or never even really need to have heard of. But he also does a great job on the major figures of this time period (i.e., from Mill to Quine). I was already impressed with his ability to write about Wittgenstein, Collingwood, Austin and Russell as if he was a critical partisan of each. But then he does justice to Jaspers, Heidegger, Sartre and Merleau-Ponty!

I say he's even-handed, and he does justice, but by that I mean he isn't afraid to be critical, particularly where criticism is warranted (i.e., much of Jaspers and much of Sartre). He also has obvious biases. But in general, an amazing history of an occasionally obscure period. Highly recommended.

[John Conway]

Good book but a bit too dense for me. Too many names and definitions.

[Joseph]

A great account of developments in Philosophy from the 1850s-1950s. Provides a good coverage of the English schools of thought particularly, oweing to especially good exposition on the development of Analytical Philosophy. Solid chapter also on the development of the 'new logic', detailing the contributions of Boole, De Morgan, Pierce and Frege.