Why study philosophy? Bryan Magee's answer isn't one Christians accept. In the introduction to The Story of Philosophy titled "An Invitation to Philosophy," he suggests philosophy, unlike religion and art, is firmly rooted in reasons.
The Christian religion is one of faith and divine authority, but it's not without reasons, and Christians do not eschew its rational defense. Magee makes an off-hand concession in this direction, though it's clear he holds religious faith in low esteem.
Does that make his introduction to philosophy worthless? Not at all. More scholarly surveys exist, but this is by far among the most accessible while remaining mostly accurate. Though Magee sometimes shortcuts, it's mostly harmless and necessary.
One of the great appeals of The Story of Philosophy are its many full-color illustrations, usually taken from classic works of art or modern photographs. Not only do they add interest to the pages, many of them help illuminate the concepts or individuals being discussed. But this is by no means a children's book.
This isn't an in-depth technical assessment, but it isn't light reading, either. Concepts are engaged honestly, with jargon explained and arguments followed clearly from beginning to end. Magee focuses on the primary stream of Western philosophy, bringing attention to supporting characters and ideas through inset boxes and extended illustration captions.
Like most histories of philosophy, Magee shows a willingness to follow "established" assumptions, such as the assertion that Soren Kierkegaard was the father of modern existentialism. While some of these tendencies are annoying, they don't ultimately detract from the usefulness of the work overall.
So why should Christians study philosophy? The fact remains that philosophical ideas influence people, which influences in turn culture and history, and the only way to understand what's going on now and how best to deal with the present is to understand and learn from the past. Bryan Magee's The Story of Philosophy is an excellent place to start.
Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he's a husband and father who loves church, good food, and weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews
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