Overview

Tracing the history of philosophy from ancient Greece to the Postmodern world, this introductory textbook introduces students to Western thought while also highlighting the contributions of marginalized people, groups, and non-Western traditions. The Path of Philosophy characterizes the discipline of philosophy as a never-ending quest, driven both by wondrous curiosity and by a distressing realization that ultimate truth always evades our grasp. Threads running through the text demonstrate how philosophy is distinct from, and yet interrelated with, religion, science, and art. The second edition includes a new chapter on Postmodern philosophy to introduce students to key debates in twenty-first century thought. Written in a lively, accessible style, and featuring original, eye-catching artwork, this book offers a clear introduction to the essential concepts, themes, and debates in philosophy, while also emphasizing its relationship to other disciplines, practices, and to our everyday lives.

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Table of Contents

Reviews

With clarity and eloquence, John Marmysz humanizes the writings of a vast range of philosophers, placing different schools of thought in illuminating historical context. The Path of Philosophy offers cogent critical perspectives that invite reflection for any reader seeking a synoptic view of the history of philosophy in its many forms. -- Carolyn Korsmeyer, Professor of Philosophy, University at Buffalo, USA This superb book has long served as the foundation for my introductory philosophy course. Students adore its existential sensibility; they resonate with its open-ended questions. The second edition is expanded with magnificent sections on recent, postmodern philosophies, making the textbook an enduring guide for a new generation. -- Katie Terezakis, Assistant Professor of Philosophy, Rochester Institute of Philosophy, USA The Path to Philosophy breaks ground in the topics it introduces, the thinkers it discusses, and the way it does justice to philosophy's power to attend both to profound thoughts and intense emotions. This accurate, enjoyable, and beautifully illustrated introduction to philosophy will reward any reader: its vision is vast, deep, and pertinent; it honors the past, welcomes the present, and heralds the future of our discipline by emphasizing its relevance to contemporary plights and perennial concerns. -- Lydia Amir, Professor of Philosophy, Tufts University, USA

With clarity and eloquence, John Marmysz humanizes the writings of a vast range of philosophers, placing different schools of thought in illuminating historical context. The Path of Philosophy offers cogent critical perspectives that invite reflection for any reader seeking a synoptic view of the history of philosophy in its many forms. -- Carolyn Korsmeyer, University at Buffalo, USA This superb book has long served as the foundation for my introductory philosophy course. Students adore its existential sensibility; they resonate with its open-ended questions. The second edition is expanded with magnificent sections on recent, postmodern philosophies, making the textbook an enduring guide for a new generation. -- Katie Terezakis, Rochester Institute of Technology, USA The Path of Philosophy breaks ground in the topics it introduces, the thinkers it discusses, and the way it does justice to philosophy's power to attend both to profound thoughts and intense emotions. This accurate, enjoyable, and beautifully illustrated introduction to philosophy will reward any reader: its vision is vast, deep, and pertinent; it honors the past, welcomes the present, and heralds the future of our discipline by emphasizing its relevance to contemporary plights and perennial concerns. -- Lydia Amir, Tufts University, USA This textbook does something essential in the study of philosophy: provide clarity to an abstract, difficult subject. Marmysz tells the story of philosophy with an ease of language penetrable by any student. With charming wit and illustrations that give a panache to the storytelling, The Path of Philosophy is a little gem. -- Chris Keegan, SUNY Oneonta, USA A lucid and comprehensive trek through the history of ideas, The Path of Philosophy is an invitation to engage, first-hand, with the most fundamental questions. The author's distillation of the philosophical mood as wondrous distress yields a work studded with original insights. Robinson's lush illustrations add life to an already thrilling intellectual odyssey. -- Jonathan Weidenbaum, Berkeley College (NY), USA

Author Information

John Marmysz is an instructor of philosophy at the College of Marin, USA. His primary research interests focus on the issue of nihilism and its cultural manifestations. Marmysz is the author of numerous books and articles in philosophy addressing topics such as nihilism, film, humor, and the history of philosophy. He is an associate editor of The Philosophy of Humor Yearbook, a recipient of the SUNY Chancellor’s Award, and has served as an NEH fellow.

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