A Critical History of Western Philosophy

If you are studying theology or some other field where you need to have a good basic command of the history of philosophy, or just want a readable but sophisticated intro, this could be the book for you. It was first published in 1964 with undergraduate philosophy majors as the intended audience, but with the decline of philosophical literacy and the trendiness of contemporary programs, it should be useful for graduate students who are either beginning to study philosophy or have just enough exposure to be confused. There are about 20 authors including some big names like MacIntyre, Flew and Danto. The general approach is critical more than historical with impressive analytical commentary. The book covers an amazing amount of ground in a relatively short space (about 550 pages of text, but it covers over 20 centuries). To have this kind of overview from the hands of top contemporary philosophers is a real treat. The only downside is that it doesn't include all the moderns it might -- e.g., only a page or so on Husserl. The editor chose quality over quantity. You can always go elsewhere for the missing philosophers. If that is a possible concern, check the index before buying. No one overview can do it all. This is easily the best one I've seen. I just wish I had found it sooner. I read a chapter in the library today and was delighted to find the book is still available.