The Great Philosophers: An Introduction to Western Philosophy
Beginning with the death of Socrates in 399 BC, and following the story through the centuries to recent figures such as Bertrand Russell and Wittgenstein, Bryan Magee’s conversations with fifteen contemporary writers and philosophers provide an accessible and exciting account of Western philosophy and its greatest thinkers.
The contributors include A.J. Ayer, Bernard Williams, Martha Nussbaum, Peter Singer, and John Searle, so that the documentary is not only an introduction to the philosophers of the past, but gives an invaluable insight into the view and personalities of some of the most influential philosophers of the twentieth century.
The series are little bit dated but I think they’re real treasure and food for thought.
Watch the full documentary now (playlist)
i wanted to like this one. but i just couldn’t keep my mind focused on these guys talking for 5 hours. i guess I’m just the type that needs pictures and diagrams. and some back ground music.
@afly_on_the_wall
ahhaha I know what you mean, but for me Its one of those things you watch whenever you feel like your ready to listen to them as long as you want to without any pictures or diagrams.
But I agree with you that those additions may make the show more appealing and palatable. But I commend the show for emphasizing on the philosophy itself rather than sanitizing it with overblown special effects.
White superiority……
Greeks were the first to rob ideas from the ancient Egyptians, Phoenicians etc;.
Greeks were colonialists, & the last to know that the earth was around. As white Europeans do not have a clear history of their own, Greece is a propaganda to present their image.
F*** I fell asleep after the third guy. Man though, WTF NERDS. Hahaha. I spent more time laughing at their awkward body language/nil social skill facial expressions more than paying attention to what they were saying.
I awoke during the segment on Descartes, Sponanza (w/e) and Liibra (f*** I don’t know). THAT sounded much more interesting than Plato. So it probably gets better as the timeline moves farther right. I’ll be back to provide a proper critique within the month.
Thank-you for adding this though Vlatko, the philosophy section needs some more junk in the trunk.
Thank you for this site. Liberates me from watching tv and all its inner ****
*shakes head* ^^^ do you REALLY believe the egyptians, ect practiced philosophy?
Philosophy is only a bore (in most cases) while listening to academics banter between each other. Individuals are attracted to any given subject matter two ways. One is its appeal, the other is coercion, as in, it’s required for the attainment of a given personal goal.
The latter has no need for explanation. A subject’s appeal is another story. It’s emotional at some level, if it’s only that you find it interesting. You then proceed to study and research your interest and draw your conclusions.
Conclusions may be true or false. In order to determine the correctness of the conclusions you must have the ability to use logic and critical thinking. The answers must hold up against all criticisms. That is the realm of Philosophy. There is no room for emotion in the process other than attraction to the subject matter.
Alas, today there is a lack of critical thinking and a wealth of emotional conclusions. The Golden Ages of Egypt, Greece, Rome and all others have fallen by their own swords and degenerated. Their ethnicity is of no importance. The important questions are why they fell and are we aware of whether or not we are falling into the same traps? So what is truth or what is the Self, anything or nothing, fact or illusion?
WHAT?! Why are there no pretty pictures and bright flashing colors in this documentary?
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGE!!!!!
@dread
“European don´t have a clear history of their own”….
I dont know what you are talking about, I find pretty difficult to imagine a place with more history per sqkm than
Europe.
Couldn’t stop thinking of a Monty Python sketch. Had John Cleese written all over it!
nostalgic..i feel myself as if i were in one of those boring lessons and cant help yawning…
Wow.
I was really interested in this documentary. I like reading about philosophy and figured this would be really good.
Until about fifteen minutes in when it occured to me that they were going to go on like that for five hours.
It’s like watching flies sleep.
The contributors include A.J. Ayer, Bernard Williams, Martha Nussbaum, Peter Singer, and John Searle? Well you got three right. You better check this again. The contributors actually include Miles Burnyeat, Martha Nussbaum, Anthony Kenny, Anthony Quinton, Iris Murdoch, Hilary Putnam, John Serle, A.J. Ayer, John Passmore, and Goeffry Warnock.
I have some of questions.
1. How does one read ‘about’ philosophy?
2. Do flies actually sleep?
3. What exactly does this mean? “i feel myself as if i were”
I can understand people saying they find this a bit boring or long-winded but the format of pure conversation means these are among the most in-depth philosophy documentaries you’ll find.
Philosophy isn’t a subject where pictures and diagrams necessarily help, there’s nothing that has to be demonstrated, it can all be explained or referenced.
I’ve found these very informative, it’s nice to here experts talking in plain language rather than some celebrity dumbing everything down.
@Jack – I’m pretty sure Peter Singer is in here. I haven’t watched through the playlist, so maybe the person who made the playlist didn’t include it, but I’ve seen an episode where Peter Singer talks about Hegel before. Search youtube for it if it isn’t in this playlist. Not sure about Bernard Williams.
1. If one read a book on the history of philosophy, isn’t one to some extent reading _about_ philosophy? One would probably also be reading philosophy, but at the same time also reading about it.
2. Yes, but they never dream. At least, they don’t remember dreaming when they wake up.
3. I don’t know man, that one blew my mind.