A Short History of Modern Philosophy: From Descartes to Wittgenstein

Philosophy surveys tend either to ignore important nuances and therefore become just plain wrong, or pay attention to those details and therefore become impossible to read. This book, however, manages to provide a robust introduction to each major philosopher of the modern period, along with some pieces of what came before it, in a very short, readable way. Scruton walks you through each philosopher's most important arguments, how those arguments come together into conclusive philosophies, and where those philosophies fit into the broader scheme of the whole history of philosophy. His clarity and brevity make this book accessible to any interested beginner, and his attention to important details in the flow of philosophy gives this book an audience within the ranks of the previously initiated. To put it succinctly: He both rigorously understands his subject and communicates very smoothly, which makes this book the absolutely perfect introduction. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn a whole lot about philosophy, and to any undergraduate who wants to ace his philosophy classes.

It was 3/23/88 and I was an undergrad at the UW (Seattle) working the library stacks when I ran into this book. I devoured it. They are all here: The rationalists like Descartes, Spinoza and Leibniz; the empiricisits like Locke, Berkeley and Hume; Kant and the idealists (Hegel) with reactions from Schopenhauer, Kierkegaard and Nietzsche. Well worth a look if you want a short history of modern philosophy.

I was convinced to buy this book by browsing through its chapter on Marx. Scruton's own political views lie on the Right, but his treatment of Marx's philosophy is among the best of this length that I have read anywhere. And that goes for other philosophers from Descartes to Wittgenstein who are discussed in this book. Scruton does not expect his readers to have any prior knowledge of philosophy, but neither does he patronise them. He expects them to think hard, and discusses the difficult points with great clarity rather than glossing them over. However, as the first chapter makes clear, this book is best seen as a historical introduction to philosophy rather than a 'history of ideas'. Those who wish to understand the evolution of philosophy in its social and historical context will have to supplement this book with other sources.

If you want to discover the pleasures of philosophy, then read Roger Scruton's books. In addition to this title, I recommend "The Intelligent Person's Guide to Philosophy" and "Modern Philosophy." Scruton has an uncanny ability to convey even the most difficult concepts with clarity and grace. His "Short History of Modern Philosophy" is worth reading for two reasons: 1) it is a model of fine expository writing; and 2) it is an accessible overview of modern philosophy that will provide a foundation for further study of the central philosophers. I wish Scruton's books had been available when I was reading philosophy as an undergraduate.