Full AspenCat Catalog

"For generations, our remote ancestors have been cast as primitive and childlike—either free and equal innocents, or thuggish and warlike. Civilization, we are told, could be achieved only by sacrificing those original freedoms or, alternatively, by taming our baser instincts. David Graeber and David Wengrow show how such theories first emerged in the eighteenth century as a conservative reaction to powerful critiques of European society posed by...

"A myth-shattering view of the medieval Islamic world's myriad scientific innovations, which preceded-and enabled- the European Renaissance. The Arabic legacy of science and philosophy has long been hidden from the West. British- Iraqi physicist Jim Al-Khalili unveils that legacy to fascinating effect by returning to its roots in the hubs of Arab innovation that would advance science and jump- start the European Renaissance. Inspired by the Koranic...

The greater our familiarity with the ideas that have shaped our culture over the centuries, the greater our ability to understand--and influence--that culture for Christ. From the ancient Greek thinkers Plato and Aristotle to the Christian philosophers Augustine and Aquinas to the molders of modern thought such as Kant and Nietszche, R. C. Sproul traces the contours of Western philosophy throughout history and demonstrates the massive consequences...

"The first authoritative and accessible single-volume history of philosophy to cover both Western and Eastern traditions, from one of the world's most eminent thinkers The story of philosophy is the story of who we are and why. An epic single-volume tale spanning civilizations and continents, it explores some of the most creative minds in history on this great, intellectual, world-shaping journey. With characteristic clarity and elegance, A. C. Grayling...

First published in 1926, "The Story of Philosophy" is noted historian Will Durant's survey of Western philosophy. Having been described as "a groundbreaking work that helped to popularize philosophy", the book begins with detailed descriptions of the philosophical ideas of the ancient Greeks, i.e. Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. The book then proceeds in chronicling the different philosophical doctrines of French Enlightenment, German Idealism, Pessimism,...

This book, an extensive overview of the history of thinking, illuminates the major philosophical issues, focuses on the important questions, and analyzes the key works of the great philosophers.

"Fifty Major Philosophers presents the traditional mainstream of European philosophy and is a vital reference tool for those wishing to improve their understanding of some of the world's seminal intellectual figures."--BOOK JACKET.

Most historians study the smallest slivers of time, emphasizing specific dates, individuals, and documents. But what would it look like to study the whole of history, from the big bang through the present day -- and even into the remote future? How would looking at the full span of time change the way we perceive the universe, the earth, and our very existence? These were the questions David Christian set out to answer when he created the field of...

A collection of essays discusses such topics as history, philosophy, literature, education, and music, and re-examines such figures as Shaw, Berlioz, Swift, Dorothy Sayers, and Diderot.