Abstract

The general tenor of this introductory text is metaphilosophical, perhaps too much so for an introduction to twentieth century philosophy. The book is divided into sections on Realism, Idealism, Pragmatism, Existentialism, and Analysis. Each of these sections has an introduction of twenty or so pages which traces the currents in the history of philosophy which gave rise to Realism, Idealism, etc. in the twentieth century. Two spokesmen or "voices" for the general position or for some methodological consequences of the position are then presented by means of reasonably lengthy and self-contained selections from their writings: Lovejoy and Montague on Realism, Blanshard and Joachim on Idealism, Dewey and Lewis on Pragmatism, Sartre and Tillich on Existentialism, and Schlick and Austin on Analysis. Each section concludes with a good annotated guide for further reading. There are dangers in the "isms" approach to philosophy on any, let alone an introductory, level. The editors seem aware of these dangers in their general introduction, but the format of their book works against their own admonitions, and the instructor who adopts this text will have to provide considerable supplementation.—E. A. R.