Philosophy

by Nicholas Murray Butler

Explore the enduring questions that drive human knowledge. This clear, thoughtful guide shows how philosophy grew from myths to a disciplined search for understanding, linking ideas, history, and everyday life.

Philosophy presents a big picture of how thinking developed, from ancient mythologies to the concrete methods of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. It explains how concepts and images differ, how consciousness shapes knowledge, and why will and energy matter to our view of reality. You’ll see why philosophy asks not just what we know, but how we know it, and how this insight shapes science, religion, and culture. The book also connects philosophy to daily judgment and ethics, showing how ideas evolve with experience and evidence.


Trace the progression from myth to rational inquiry and the birth of critical thinking.
Learn the difference between concepts and their images, and why that matters for reasoning.
See how philosophy relates to theology, science, art, and history across ages.
Understand how consciousness, will, and energy influence our view of reality.


Ideal for readers seeking a foundational orientation to philosophy, its history, and its role in shaping how we think about the world.

Kindle Edition

First published February 16, 2010

About the author

Nicholas Murray Butler was an American philosopher, diplomat, and educator. Butler was president of Columbia University, president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. He became so well-known and respected that The New York Times printed his Christmas greeting to the nation every year.