Philosophy, so far as it's known in the western world, pursues wisdom through abstract principles. Compiled through the centuries by numerous learned individuals, the annals of philosophy (in all contexts) are far-reaching and deeply entrenched. So it's no shock that many fail to grasp its focal point, if merely due to the frustration involved in nailing down the pertinent facts. Will Durant was a man who held this issue on his conscience as he strove throughout his life to make fundamental philosophy (and other liberal arts) accessible to the common man. In his dual-volume epic The Story of Philosophy, he lays down the origins, heritage, and natural evolution of Western thought.
This book essentially details the who, what, and where of Western Philosophy up until the mid-20th century; detailing the main tenants of each concept while illuminating the major players involved. Plato, Augustine, Descartes ... all the way up to John Dewey--one of Durant's own contemporaries--are shown as men contributing to the greater realm of ideas. Unlike 'great men of...' things like chemistry, literature, mathematics, or innovation, the great thinkers show that philosophy at its core undertakes the essence of being--not 'doing' or 'creating'. It's not that grounded concepts aren't employed in the arrangement of said 'ideas'; indeed, it's only too necessary. Ideologically speaking, philosophers deal in the 'theoretical'; appraising and analyzing non-empirical entities (ideas) that man engages through conscious experience. Reading Durant may require some effort, but his ability to make the connection between 'man' and 'principle' on such a wide scale is truly unique.
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