THE STORY OF PHILOSOPHY, VOL. I From Plato to Voltaire and the French Enlightenment

[Editor’s Note: The following is a combined review with THE STORY OF PHILOSOPHY: From Kant to William James and the American Pragmatists.]--“Most of us have known some golden days in the June of life when philosophy was, in fact, what Plato calls it, ‘that dear delight.’” So writes Durant in the introduction to this immensely entertaining history of thought. The book is larded with savory bits of information. Aristotle thought the brain “an organ for cooling the blood.” The German clergy so hated Kant for the blows he struck at God that they named their dogs after him. Plus, we learn an enormous amount and--perhaps more importantly--we sense again that learning matters. Companion and guide, the golden-voiced Grover Gardener gives a bravura performance. He never drops a line, nor overplays one. It’s June again. B.H.C. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE/JULY 05]