The Dream of Reason: A History of Philosophy from the Greeks to the Renaissance

Rating:
Summary: Easy read, nicely done.
Review: This easy to read book, which paints the history of pre-modern philosophy in broad strokes, makes up for the lack of detail by giving us a nicely integrated panoramic view. It has been argues by some that all of modern philosophy is little more than footnotes to Plato, Aristotle, the Sophists and the Skeptics. There is some truth in that; in any case, this book reminds the reader of the ubiquitous contribution of the ancients to the philosophical construction of the modern world. The author's linguistic style produces plenty of pithy remarks, often amusing images and clever phrases that - had he been a political speech writer - might have become more widely known quotable sound bights. I found it an enjoyable read, and strongly recommend it for the reader looking for a good introduction.