Ancient Philosophy

An extraordinarily readable book...Few people are as able as Kenny to make philosophy sing as it should. * Christopher Rowe, Classical Review *
Bertrand Russell apparently wrote his History of Western Philosophy in a hurry to raise funds. Although this remains a popular work, it is a patchy and unreliable source. By contrast, Kenny's history of philosophy is the product of a lifetime of scholarship and this is manifest on every page. The other celebrated history of philosophy is that of Frederick Copleston, which runs to twelve volumes. Although this contains a wealth of detail and remains a valuable resource, Kenny is by far the better philosopher and writer. * James Ladyman, Times Higher Education Supplement *
This wonderful book . . . is not only an authoritative guide to the history of philosophy but also a compelling introduction to every major area of philosophical inquiry. . . . Kennys prose is exceptionally clear . . . He conveys his rich subject matter with a light touch of which only the greatest of writers are capable. . . . This, combined with his breadth and depth of learning and philosophical sophistication, make reading this book hugely rewarding. It is also worth mentioning that the book is beautifully illustrated . . . One is left eager for subsequent volumes and convinced that the intellectual cosmos is, indeed, boundlessly rich. * James Ladyman, Times Higher Education Supplement *
this genial and highly accessible book . . . presents and analyses with exemplary clarity the most important ideas and arguments ancient philosophers contributed to the main fields of philosophical inquiry . . .the range, beauty, and often the unexpectedness of the illustrations are one of the triumphs of the volume * London Review of Books *
The ambition and the difficulty of his project are immense, but Kenny has the right qualifications to undertake it. Kenny's book is beautifully produced and imaginatively illustrated. He packages an informative and lucid synopsis of the individual philosophers' lives, work and doctrines; and he follows this survey with 200 stimulating pages on seven topics. * TLS *
genial and highly accessible book * London Review of Books *