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Twentieth-Century Analytic Philosophy

Avrum Stroll investigates the "family resemblances" between that impressive breed of thinkers known as analytic philosophers. In so doing, he grapples with the point and purpose of doing philosophy: What is philosophy? What are its tasks? What kind of information, illumination, and understanding is it supposed to provide if it is not one of the natural sciences?

Paperback: 304 pages

Publisher: Columbia University Press (September 15, 2001)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0231112211

ISBN-13: 978-0231112215

Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.7 x 9 inches

Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)

Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)

Best Sellers Rank: #1,468,332 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #64 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Philosophy > Analytic Philosophy #238 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Philosophy > Methodology #590 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Philosophy > Reference

Twentieth-Century Analytic Philosophy by Avrum Stroll is a useful but limited guide to the history of 20th century analytic philosophy. Stroll deals only with some of the giants. He explicitly limits his treatment to Frege, Russell, Moore, Wittgenstein, Carnap, Austin, Ryle, and Quine. These are indeed leading analytic philosophers but many other leading analytic philosophers are left out or only mentioned: Strawson, Grice, Rorty, Davidson, Putnam, Ayer, Rawls, Hare, Hart, Berlin, and so on. Furthermore Stroll almost entirely ignores 20th century analytic ethics. Rawls, who's stature is equal to Carnap, Austin, or Ryle, is never even mentioned anywhere in the book. Broad has more entries in the index than does Strawson.Despite the claims of the author this is not a book for the general reader. The treatment assumes a good background in philosophy and a command of the technical vocabulary used by philosophers. This is a book for the philosophy grad student or teacher who wants a good overview of some main threads in analytic philosophy. It would not be appropriate for use as a text in an undergrad course.For the most part Stroll's expositions are clear and correct, direct and fair. He is especially good on Russell's early philosophy, Frege, Austin, and some of Carnap. His explanations of e.g. Russell's theory of descriptions, Austin's treatment of speech acts, Wittgenstein's Tractatus are very useful.In the final chapters Stroll considers the direct reference theories of Kripke and Putnam. These sections are especially weak. He does not understand what the new theory of reference is about. These sections are not historical expositions but critical engagements as Stroll acknowledges.

The Story of Analytic Philosophy: Plot and Heroes (Routledge Studies in Twentieth-Century Philosophy) Twentieth-Century Analytic Philosophy Composing for the State: Music in Twentieth-Century Dictatorships (Musical Cultures of the Twentieth Century) Philosophy's Second Revolution: Early and Recent Analytic Philosophy Philosophy of Mathematics in the Twentieth Century: Selected Essays The Making of a Philosopher: My Journey Through Twentieth-Century Philosophy Contemporary Analytic Philosophy: Core Readings (2nd Edition) Redrawing the Lines: Analytic Philosophy, Deconstruction, and Literary Theory (Minnesota Archive Editions) Analytic Philosophy: An Anthology What is Analytic Philosophy? The Oxford Handbook of The History of Analytic Philosophy (Oxford Handbooks) A Brief History of Analytic Philosophy: From Russell to Rawls Classics of Analytic Philosophy (Hackett Classics) The Analytic Tradition in Philosophy, Volume 1: The Founding Giants Fashionable Nihilism: A Critique of Analytic Philosophy Reading in The Philosophy of Religion: An Analytic Approach, 2nd Edition Heidegger's Analytic: Interpretation, Discourse and Authenticity in Being and Time (Modern European Philosophy) Analytic versus Continental: Arguments on the Methods and Value of Philosophy Analytic Philosophy in America: And Other Historical and Contemporary Essays What Philosophers Know: Case Studies in Recent Analytic Philosophy