A Short History of Philosophy: From Ancient Greece to the Post-Modernist Era

by Peter Gibson

The world's great philosophers have always wrestled with the crucial questions about human nature and the world we live in: How should we live our lives? What is knowledge? How should society be organized? Over the centuries, philosophers have come up with an array of compelling answers to these questions.

A Short History of Philosophy takes you on an entertaining and informative journey through the landscape of western philosophy from Plato to Jean-Paul Sartre. Whether discussing the origins of metaphysics, the merits of idealism, or the questions raised by existentialism, Peter Gibson brings to life the ideas of these great thinkers and carefully explains their reasoning in straightforward, easy-to-understand language.

This lively, accessible guide provides the perfect starting point for anyone interested in philosophy.

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction, Audiobook

256 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2020

About the author

Peter Gibson first studied English Literature at University but now has three degrees in Philosophy, including a Ph.D from Birkbeck College, University of London. He is the founder of the website philosophyideas.com which catalogues philosophical ideas from across the centuries and he strongly believes that a wider knowledge of philosophy will improve the world.

Reviews

[Mark Porton · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Short History of Philosophy – From Ancient Greece to the Post-Modernist Era by Peter Gibson takes the reader on a voyage covering the great thinkers throughout history from 585 BCE to the modern era. The book covers what seems all of the great European thinkers – well a lot of them anyway.

I arrived at this book with very much a lay person’s knowledge of this wonderful and interesting topic. Previously, my only real exposure and reading has covered two philosophers from antiquity, namely Seneca the Younger and the Emperor Marcus Aurelius. I particularly enjoyed Seneca’s On the Shortness of Life, in fact, I keep a copy of it in my Man Bag. Yes, Man Bag.

This book takes us through countless philosophers through 14 chapters, each covering a specific time period. Therefore, it describes the works of a lot of thinkers. Personally, I found it a tricky read because each Philosopher and their work was flung at me at breakneck speed, I lost track, and sometimes was overwhelmed and confused by the content. Maybe it was just over my head.

I believe this work would be ideal for a new student to philosophical studies, as it certainly would provide the reader with a snapshot of various Philosopher’s works and where they fit in the chronological order of things. A good basic reference.

This book was an interesting read but maybe a bit too much for me.

3 Stars

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for a review.

[Kate O'Shea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well written, concise history of Western philosophy. It does what it says on the tin. I'm afraid what it doesn't account for are people like me who know a tiny bit about philosophy and some philosophers but not enough big words to really understand.

I have to admit I was probably hopelessly lost for around a third of this book. That is not the book's fault, it is mine. What I actually need is an idiot's guide.

What I did understand was very well explained. The basic tenets only are mentioned and the history of the philosopher and how they fit into the progression of certain philosophies.

I listened to the audiobook which had an excellent narration by India Shaw Smith. She enunciated very well and if I'd actually understood the theories I would have been delighted.

I would certainly recommend this book if you are interested in this subject. You do have to have a rudimentary knowledge of philsophy but this puts a bit more meat on the bones. I just needed the bones. My fault not the fault of the book.

[mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Format: audiobook ~ Narrator: India Shaw Smith
Content: 4 stars ~ Narration: 4.5 stars
Complete audiobook review

Influential thinkers shaped Western philosophy, each contributing their unique perspectives and theories. This brief audiobook lays out a timeline with key figures and concepts, and we can clearly see how philosophy developed through time. It is intriguing how philosophy links to other areas, like science, ethics, politics, mathematics, and others.

This book is a well-written and easy-to-understand short history of Western philosophy. I recommend it to all interested who don’t know where to start with philosophy.

The narration by India Shaw Smith is very good, but it could be a bit slower. For me, it was the right speed, but I think some readers would prefer slower reading. A very short accompanying pdf with the key facts and a timeline would be welcome. It would be easier to follow the audiobook.

Thanks to Arcturus Digital Audio for the advanced copy and this opportunity! This is a voluntary review and all opinions are my own.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

thanks to netgalley and the publishers for a free copy in return for an open and honest review

this book was done in such a way which made it easy to follow the progress of man's philosophy from the Greeks to modern day. the author made it insightful and interesting that even a beginner can understand and pick up the theories listed

[Veronica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always wanted to know more about Philosophy but had no idea where to even start. I was intimidated by the books I did see. They always ended up to be more like textbooks and extremely detailed but I am open to trying new books on the subject so when I saw this one I wanted to give it a try. I am so glad I did decide to read it as it is exactly what I have been looking for.
"A Short History of Philosophy" gives a simple timeline to the major philosophers and how they connect to one another in sequence. It is short and concise without going into too much detail and provides a clear but complete synopsis of their concepts and the schools they followed.
The book is a wonderful introduction to Philosophy and I was fascinated to learn how Philosophy is so integral to the World we live in today including Democracy to Mathematics to Physics and much more.
If you are interested in learning about Philosophy but just want a brief introduction to start with then I highly recommend this one.

[Sophie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well this is certainly an ambitious book! Each of the most prominent Western figures and their key beliefs are covered in chronological order providing an overview of how the subject of philosophy has developed over the ages.

Gibson does a good job of narrowing the field down to the basics and presenting it in easy, digestible chunks. This does mean that a lot is left out and I do think the book would have benefited with a little more time focusing on certain theories, particularly the ones that are later referred back to.

I should also mention that this book is very much a history of Western, in particular European, philosophy. It may have been a lot to ask for it to cover every corner of the globe but I would have liked a mention of the field existing beyond Europe.

I would recommend going into this novel with a basic understanding of philosophy and terminology, the speed of which things are covered means there’s little time to fully expand on points. But if you have a beginners interest in the topic then this is an ideal book to expand on that and launch further research from.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Kerry Pickens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting book that focuses on the relationship between logic, rational scientific thought and the development of philosophy.

[Lizzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I went into this book, my knowledge of philosophy was mostly drawn from that one university class on Wagner, and extensive re-watches of The Good Place. It’s a topic that I’ve always had an interest but that seems quite intimidating to a newbie, so I was glad for this book which gave me a good introduction.

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Starting in Ancient Greece, we get a whistle-stop tour of the key figures in Western philosophy. I do think the audiobook format was, on the whole, very helpful in understanding the different people and schools of thought over time. While some things, such as timelines, were difficult to keep track of in audio form, it was very helpful in understanding the different concepts to hear everything explained out loud.

What I found particularly fascinating is how philosophy as a discipline has changed over time. For example, I came across Aristotle’s ideas many times in my education, both in science and music as well as in ethics. It was really helpful to read a book like this, which places everything in its chronological context and lays out how the field has evolved over time.

It is worth noting that this book exclusively discusses European philosophy. I do think this should be clarified in the title, and while I’m by no means an expert I did feel that something was lost by glossing over Eastern influences on Western philosophers post-enlightenment era.

Overall, this was a fascinating read and a great introduction for anyone wanting to get started in learning about philosophy, or in looking at the field with a more holistic viewpoint.

I received a free copy for review. All opinions are my own.

[Manuela · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Short History of Philosophy gives a simple and concise timeline of the main philosophers and a quick historical context of the time they lived. It showed how the ideas from different philosophers connected with their predecessors; which concepts they agreed or disagreed and how they contributed with the discussions of the period. It never goes too deep into any of them - which it is to be expected - giving a general idea of the most famous insights of each philosopher or school.

Overall, it was good introduction on the subject and an enjoyable read. I don't have a lot of knowledge about it, but the language was simple enough to follow - though I have to confess that some concepts went a bit over my head. It made me interested in reading more about some philosophers whose ideas compelled me, and I might try reading more about their work in the future.

I received this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Despina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brief summary of philosophical arguments from Ancient Greece all the way to modern philosophy. The subject matters can get a bit tricky to wrap ones' head around at first, but this book does genuinely summarise them in a fairly easy to understand way. Some arguments may be seen as slightly _undersimplified_ but I truly don't know how a full account could be accomplished given the ambitious scope of the book. Overall a good read. I think I would have read it in paperback as well as audio just to help me be 'grounded' in the theories as it were because I'm more of a paper gal when it comes to theoretical stuff, but the audiobook was very clear and well-paced, good work on the narrator's part!

If you're interested in a succinct overview of philosophy, this book does an excellent job!

Many thanks to Arcturus Digital Audio who provided me with a complimentary copy of this audiobook via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, which I leave voluntarily

[joyce w. laudon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Are you using this time at home to improve your mind?  Would you like to learn a bit about philosophy?  If so, this book provides a brief overview of the subject.  Those who become intrigued will not doubt want to read further but, if you just want a sense of the important thinkers, this book will provide exactly that.


This title starts in 585 BCE and works its way up to philosophy since 1960.  Thus, it is very comprehensive.  I enjoyed this book.  Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

[Daniel Kukwa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now this is my kind of book: concise, informative, trimmed of extraneous detail and filler, and something that just gets on with doing what it say it does on the cover. If anything, reading this book convinces me I could never be a philosopher. The philosophers of the last 100 years seem so concerned with obscure and esoteric ideas, it makes the ancients & their broad-ranging examinations seem much more relevant today than they were in their own time!

[Amy Stacey · Rating 2 out of 5]

A heads up: This is not a book for begineers. With the high amount of key terminology and critical information there is a clear need of understanding of pholophy to inderstand this book. I studied Philosophy of Education and so I have a level 4 basis of philosophy and thought however there are several elements raised in this book.
I listened to the audiobook of this however i belive that a print version may indeed need a glossary to make this more accessible.
Despite this I now have somemore ciriticial theories which I can included in my lessons to analyse character's such as Shakespeare's Shylock. Who in an anachronicstic way he was more advanced as a righteous person who believed a social contract is important and a contract is only made on the basic on equal parts to trade. Shylock is not a villain but an anachronistic moral hero.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from #netgalley , thank you. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Beth Younge · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is similar to another short philosophy overview book I've read before and it was exactly what i expected. The history was precise enough that i learnt a bit more about certain figures and it expanded what i knew of others. I really liked this and thought that this was enjoyable and accessible by all.

[The Kawaii Slartibartfast · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This book is exactly what it says it is and thats fantastic! Its a quick read and very easy to understand. Understand its the basics and not a deep-dive but it is very enjoyable and i feel like I learned a lot!

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exactly what it says it is – a short history of philosophy. An ideal introduction for anyone not already conversant with the subject, a broad overview of philosophy and philosophers through the ages. Concise, accessibly written and an ideal volume to have around when you need an introduction to a particular thinker.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is crammed full of interesting information. From gods to the patriarchy - this book links phases in history with current thoughts and thinking. Such a lot to take in, but totally fascinating. I enjoyed listening to this as an audiobook as the narrator helped me get my head round all the pronunciations of names and theories. Fantastic! I’m feeling quite clever and informed right now.

[Michael Glennon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A rather dry overview of the evolution of philosophy from its beginning as a science explaining the physical world to an examination of our roles and responsibilities in modern society. Dense descriptions of philosophical works slowed things down. A thorough catalog, but not much to flesh out personalities or historical context.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

A useful introduction and I found the first two thirds really interesting, but the last third very hard going.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

My apologies to Netgalley and Arcturus Publishing, who sent me a free electronic copy of this book. I cannot give this book an enthusiastic review.

Update: 23 hours after original posting....

Shortly after I posted this review, a Goodreads librarian changed the listing for this book to show the correct author. Please disregard material below in [bracketed italics].

[Before commenting on the contents of this book, I want to say that the Goodreads page of this book is in error. The author of this book is listed, as of this writing, as Jane O'Grady. The author of the book I got from Netgalley was Peter Gibson. This is the book's cover:



It is identical to the image of the book currently on the page, except the author is changed.

I did a little Google research. O'Grady is a professor of philosophy in England. So is Gibson. My theory is: O'Grady was originally slated to write this book, but for some reason did not complete the task. Gibson wrote it instead.

I sent this information to Goodreads librarians, but my post was not answered and this entry remains unchanged. Goodreads librarians, I understand, are volunteers. I do not wish to antagonize Goodreads librarians by being a pest about it.]

About the book itself …..

Positive: Short and clearly written.

However, I still didn't understand a lot of it. I'm interested in philosophy but don't know any more about it than the average person. I couldn't hold the abstract concepts straight in my head and understand how Philosopher A's conception of Being differed from Philosopher B's. Perhaps this book might work well as an accompaniment to an undergraduate introduction to philosophy class, but reading it alone didn't help make philosophy any clearer.

Perhaps I should have informed myself more about philosophy before attempting to read this book, but do the publishers really think that someone who is already well acquainted with the concepts is going to read a book named A Short History of Philosophy?

[Sym · Rating 4 out of 5]

Focusing on western philosophy, this audiobook delivers big ideas at pace. Starting from the earliest thinkers in Ancient Greece to the modern day, A Short History of Philosophy discusses the 'thinker', when they were working and how political and sociological events impacted their work. A lot is packed into this audiobook and the narrator's voice comes across as knowledgable, authoritative but also engaging. It does what it says it would do but I found I needed to take small breaks to process the information.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very nice, compact overview aimed at new students of the subject or those with a casual interest. It does an excellent job of making currents and through-lines of philosophy clear while nevertheless introducing the very big parade of major figures in Western thought. It falls apart a bit at the end, in large part because philosophy itself fragments in the 20th century in a way that makes keeping up a master narrative impossible. Still, it's very useful and good for what it is.

[JCS · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed listening to the narrator in this very concise chronology of philosophy through time. It was interesting, but very dense, and I think I would benefit from listening to it again. Thank you to Net Galley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.