Originally published in 1926, ‘The Story of Philosophy’ profiles several prominent Western philosophers and their ideas, written by Will Durant, an American writer, historian, philosopher, and a Pulitzer Prize-winning author.In this enlightening and eminently readable book, Will Durant accounts the lives, ideas and views of various critical philosophical thinkers throughout history. Starting with Socrates and Plato and concluding with Friedrich Nietzsche, with twelve other distinguished ph...

A concise survey of the culture and civilization of mankind, The Lessons of History is the result of a lifetime of research from Pulitzer Prize–winning historians Will and Ariel Durant.With their accessible compendium of philosophy and social progress, the Durants take us on a journey through history, exploring the possibilities and limitations of humanity over time. Juxtaposing the great lives, ideas, and accomplishments with cycles of war and conquest, t...

“...So much of our lives is meaningless, a self-cancelling vacillation and futility; we strive with the chaos about us and within; but we would believe all the while that there is something vital and significant in us, could we but decipher our own souls. We want to understand; ‘life means for us constantly to transform into light and flame all that we are or meet with’...”The Story of Philosophy (1926) is a groundbreaking work of creative nonficti...

This brilliant and concise account of the lives and ideas of the world's great philosophers—Plato, Aristotle, Bacon, Spinoza, Voltaire, Kant, Schopenhauer, Spencer, Nietzsche, Bergson, Croce, Russell, Santayana, James, and Dewey—is "a delight" (The New York Times) and remains one of the most important books of our time.Will Durant chronicles the ideas of the great thinkers, the economic and intellectual environments which influenced them, and the personal ...

The first volume of the expansive Pulitzer Prize-winning series The Story of Civilization.**Discover a history of civilization in Egypt and the Near East to the Death of Alexander, and in India, China, and Japan from the beginning; with an introduction on the nature and foundations of civilization.

The Story of Civilization, Volume IV: A history of medieval civilization—Christian, Islamic, and Judaic—from Constantine to Dante: A.D. 325-1300. This is the fourth volume of the classic, Pulitzer Prize-winning series.

The purpose of this essay is to show: first, that the social problem has been the basic concern of many of the greater philosophers; second, that an approach to the social problem through philosophy is the first condition of even a moderately successful treatment of this problem; and third, that an approach to philosophy through the social problem is indispensable to the revitalization of philosophy.

Will Durant’s first book analyses the ‘social problem’ that he identifies as the gap between the rich and poor. He proposes that knowledge is the answer to this issue and suggests that philosophy is the key to this knowledge.Philosophy and the Social Problem is Will Durant’s 1917 work arguing the importance of philosophical thought within societal functions and government organisations. He refers to Socrates, Plato, Francis Bacon, and Baruch Spinoza’s idea...

Praised as a “revelatory” book by The Wall Street Journal, this is the last and most personal work of Pulitzer Prize–winning author and historian Will Durant, discovered thirty-two years after his death.The culmination of Will Durant’s sixty-plus years spent researching the philosophies, religions, arts, sciences, and civilizations from across the world, Fallen Leaves is the distilled wisdom of one of the world’s greatest minds, a man with a renow...

“I cannot imagine anyone so erudite that they cannot learn a great deal from this monumental work.” —from the foreword by Richard SmoleyThe great series The Story of Civilization by Will and Ariel Durant is one of the most monumental achievements in historical writing. In its eleven massive volumes, it tells the story of Western civilization from its origins to the age of Napoleon.This volume, The Climax of Christianity, is taken ...

In "Will Durant on Philosophical Pessimism and Individualism," the brilliant philosopher-historian, Will Durant, explores the intricate landscapes of pessimism and individualism as embodied in the philosophies of Arthur Schopenhauer and Friedrich Nietzsche. Durant's rich narrative weaves together the profound insights and complex worldviews of these thinkers, shedding light on the depths of human existence and the relentless search for meaning. This compilation serves as a thought-provokin...

"Will Durant on Enlightenment and Rationalism" is a captivating voyage through the age of reason, led by the eminent historian Will Durant. Durant delves into the intellectual ferment of the Enlightenment, where luminaries like Voltaire and Immanuel Kant championed reason, liberty, and tolerance. Through Durant's insightful analysis and engaging storytelling, readers gain a deep appreciation for the transformative power of these philosophical giants. This compilation is a testament to the ...