A History of Western Philosophy

About “A History of Western Philosophy”

History of Western Philosophy is a 1945 book by Bertrand Russell, a British philosopher who lived from 1872 to 1970. The book offers a survey of Western philosophy from the pre-Socratic thinkers to the early 20th century. Each major section begins with an explanation of the historical context needed to understand the philosophical ideas presented. In 1950, Russell received the Nobel Prize in Literature, and A History of Western Philosophy was mentioned as one of the works that contributed to his award. The book brought him financial stability in his later years. Despite criticism for overgeneralizations and omissions, especially regarding the post-Cartesian period, it was widely popular and remained in print since its first publication. (Summary adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.)