Philosophy Through the Ages

Rating:
Summary: Insights into philosophy's and life's enduring questions.
Review: "Philosophy Through the Ages" is an excellent introduction to philosophy. Price takes the reader chronologically through Westrn philosophical thought from the early Greek period to the present day. Price shows how great philosophers through the ages have gappled with questions we are still asking: What is the good life? What makes life worth living? Who am I? How much can I know? Whay does evil exist? Is there a God?

This is a book to enjoy without losing philosophical accuracy and integrity. At the end of each chapter is a section "On Women" that describes each philosopher's view of women. There are also "Pause for Thought" questions that help you relate philosophical ideas to your daily life.

Rating:
Summary: An Average Effort
Review: Dr. Price has writtten a text that is basically a long series of excerpts from the major works in Western Philosophy. Each excerpt is couched in a little historical context, on the one hand, and just as little textual analysis, on the other. Unsurprisingly, the textbook was written with the community college student in mind, a breed of student that is notorious for not being interested in either reading or thinking. Anyone who has taught at Mesa Community College (which is Dr. Price's institution) will know what I am talking about. With this in mind, I can not say that this particular textbook is an effective teaching tool. Introducing young people to philosophy, especially those with very little intellectual merits, ought not to be a laborious trek through 2,500 years of "THOUGHT." In a classroom setting that works best when it is driven by ideas and discussion, the concerned philosophy instructor might fair better by using "Questions That Matter: An Invitation to Philosophy" by Ed. L. Miller.