A New History of Western Philosophy

The individual volumes of Sir Anthony Kenny's acclaimedHistory of Western Philosophyhave been hailed as "wonderfulauthoritativehugely rewarding" (Times Higher Education Supplement) and "genial and highly accessible" (London Review of Books). Now these four splendid books have been combined into one magnificent paperback volume, providing a continuous sweeping account of the great thought of the Western world. Here readers will find not only an authoritative guide to the history of philosophy, but also a compelling introduction to every major area of philosophical inquiry. Kenny tells the story of philosophy chronologically, his lively narrative bringing the great philosophers to life and filling in the historical and intellectual background to their work. Kenny also looks closely at each of the main areas of philosophical exploration: knowledge and understanding; science; metaphysics; mind and soul; the nature and content of morality; political philosophy; and God.A New History of Western Philosophyis a stimulating chronicle of the intellectual development of Western civilization, allowing readers to trace the birth and growth of philosophy from antiquity to the present day.

Sir Anthony Kenny is one of Britain's most distinguished academic figures. He has been Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford, Master of Balliol College, Chairman of the Board of the British Library, and President of the British Academy. He has published more than forty books on philosophy and history.

Part I: Ancient Philosophy
Chapter 1: Beginnings: From Pythagoras to Plato
Chapter 2: Schools of Thought: From Aristotle to Augustine
Chapter 3: Argument and Reason: Logic
Chapter 4: Knowledge and its Limits
Chapter 5: How Things Happen: Physics
Chapter 6: What There Is: Metaphysics
Chapter 7: Soul and Mind
Chapter 8: How to Live: Ethics
Chapter 9: God

Part II: Medieval Philosophy
Chapter 10: Philosophy and Faith: Augustine to Maimonides
Chapter 11: The Schoolmen: From the Twelfth Century to the Renaissance
Chapter 12: Logic and Language
Chapter 13: Knowledge
Chapter 14: Physics
Chapter 15: Metaphysics
Chapter 16: Mind and Soul
Chapter 17: Ethics
Chapter 18: God

Part III: The Rise of Modern Philosophy
Chapter 19: Sixteenth-Century Philosophy
Chapter 20: Descartes to Berkeley
Chapter 21: Hume to Hegel
Chapter 22: Knowledge
Chapter 23: Physics
Chapter 24: Metaphysics
Chapter 25: Mind and Soul
Chapter 26: Ethics
Chapter 27: Political Philosophy
Chapter 28: God

Part IV: Philosophy in the Modern World
Chapter 29: From Bentham to Nietzsche
Chapter 30: From Peirce to Strawson
Chapter 31: From Freud to Derrida
Chapter 32: Logic
Chapter 33: Language
Chapter 34: Epistemology
Chapter 35: Metaphysics
Chapter 36: Philosophy of Mind
Chapter 37: Ethics
Chapter 38: Aesthetics
Chapter 39: Politics
Chapter 40: God

Chronology
Part I: Ancient Philosophy
1. Beginnings: From Pythagoras to Plato
2. Schools of Thought: From Aristotle to Augustine
3. Argument and Reason: Logic
4. Knowledge and its Limits
5. How Things Happen: Physics
6. What There Is: Metaphysics
7. Soul and Mind
8. How to Live: Ethics
9. God
Part II: Medieval Philosophy
10. Philosophy and Faith: Augustine to Maimonides
11. The Schoolmen: From the Twelfth Century to the Renaissance
12. Logic and Language
13. Knowledge
14. Physics
15. Metaphysics
16. Mind and Soul
17. Ethics
18. God
Part III: The Rise of Modern Philosophy
19. Sixteenth-Century Philosophy
20. Descartes to Berkeley
21. Hume to Hegel
22. Knowledge
23. Physics
24. Metaphysics
25. Mind and Soul
26. Ethics
27. Political Philosophy
28. God
Part IV: Philosophy in the Modern World
29. From Bentham to Nietzsche
30. From Peirce to Strawson
31. From Freud to Derrida
32. Logic
33. Language
34. Epistemology
35. Metaphysics
36. Philosophy of Mind
37. Ethics
38. Aesthetics
39. Politics
40. God
Chronology