A Journey Through Philosophy in 101 Anecdotes

Nicholas Rescher presents the first comprehensive chronology of philosophical anecdotes, spanning from antiquity to the current era. He introduces us to the major thinkers, texts, and historical periods of Western philosophy, recounting many of the stories philosophers have used over time to engage with issues of philosophical concern: questions of meaning, truth, knowledge, value, action, and ethics. Rescher’s anecdotes touch on a wide range of themes—from logic to epistemology, ethics to metaphysics—and offer much insight into the breadth and depth of philosophical inquiry. This book illustrates the various ways philosophers throughout history have viewed the issues in their field, and how anecdotes can work to inform and encourage philosophical thought.

“Rescher’s A Journey through Philosophy in 101 Anecdotes is just that—and much more. The book is immensely wide-ranging, highly instructive, and a delight for anyone interested in ideas, intellectual puzzles, and the breadth of philosophical imagination. The engaging narrative style invites reading for pleasure; the range gives the book relevance to scores of philosophical topics; and the sketches themselves contribute ideas on major issues.”

—Robert Audi, John A. O'Brien Professor of Philosophy, University of Notre Dame

“Nicholas Rescher has culled from the entire history of philosophy its most pungent stories, puzzles, and paradoxes. The result is a satisfying tapas-style introduction to the main periods and ideas of Western thought. Wherever you dip into this book, whether you’re new to philosophy or an experienced scholar, you’re assured a burst of intellectual stimulation.”

—Scott Samuelson, author of The Deepest Human Life: An Introduction to Philosophy for Everyone

"What Rescher offers is a potpourri of brief (two- to three-page) reflections on select images, passages, or themes that encapsulate intriguing ideas. Arranged chronologically, from the Tower of Babel and Heraclitus’s river to John Searle’s Chinese room and Jacques Derrida’s “demolition,” each meditation generally states the context of the topic, quotes from a primary text, and then succinctly spells out the reasonable import that flows (or doesn’t flow) from the issue, often concluding with an insight, implication, or invitation to further reflection. Suggested related anecdotes for each reading and a table of thematic clusters around the traditional topics of philosophy invite readers to skip around in the book according to their interests. VERDICT Despite occasional lapses into logic-eese and some abstruse vocabulary, this esteemed, prolific philosopher offers a thoughtful, wise, and engaging journey through philosophy’s history and major themes in bite-size morsels. Suitable for general readers.

—Library Journal

Nicholas Rescher is Distinguished University Professor of Philosophy at the University of Pittsburgh and chairman of the Center for Philosophy of Science. A member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, he has served as president of the Eastern Division of the American Philosophical Association, the Leibniz Society of North America, the Charles S. Peirce Society, the American Catholic Philosophical Association, and the Metaphysical Society of America. Rescher is the author or editor of more than one hundred books, including Aporetics: Rational Deliberation in the Face of Inconsistency, Ignorance (On the Wider Implications of Deficient Knowledge), and Philosophical Inquiries: An Introduction to Problems of Philosophy.