What Makes a Philosopher Great?: Thirteen Arguments for Twelve Philosophers

Book Details

• Author: Stephen Hetherington

• Publisher: Routledge

• Language: English

• Edition: 1

• ISBN: 9781138936157

• Pages: 272

• Binding: Hardcover

• Package Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 0.6 inches

About the Book

What Is Great Philosophy? is a scholarly yet accessible exploration of what it means to be great as a philosopher. Rather than seeking a single grand answer, this book delves into specific case studies of philosophical greatness, offering close, detailed studies of renowned philosophers across time and cultures. Each chapter is written by an accomplished scholar and focuses on understanding the distinct greatness of a particular philosopher.

The contributors to this volume explore figures from various traditions, including:

• Lloyd P. Gerson on Plato

• Karyn Lai on Zhuangzi

• David Bronstein on Aristotle

• Jonardon Ganeri on Buddhaghosa

• Jeffrey Hause on Aquinas

• Gary Hatfield on Descartes

• Karen Detlefsen on du Châtelet

• Don Garrett on Hume

• Allen Wood on Kant (as a moral philosopher)

• Nicholas F. Stang on Kant (as a metaphysician)

• Ken Gemes on Nietzsche

• Cheryl Misak on Peirce

• David Macarthur on Wittgenstein

The book aims to explore the nature of philosophical greatness through these individual studies, offering insights not only into the specific achievements of each thinker but also into the very nature of philosophy itself. By studying the contributions of these philosophers, the reader is encouraged to reflect on what makes philosophy great and how philosophical thought evolves across different periods and cultures.

This work serves a larger purpose, asking whether we can gain greater clarity about what philosophy is by looking at its greatest practitioners and their lasting contributions. It’s a thought-provoking volume that sheds light on the diverse paths to philosophical greatness while encouraging readers to consider their own understanding of philosophy.