Abstract

What Frankel has done in his book is to give the general reader an excellent selection of readings from ancient, modern and contemporary philosophers. In his foreword Frankel gives an overview on how philosophy "testifies to man’s capacity to take pleasure in the free play of intelligence." Philosophy in his estimation is an encounter with the human situation not measured in symbolic notation but revealed in tensions that struggle to find truth. He divides the readings into five sections which are: Philosophy and Religion, Philosophy and Politics, Philosophy and the Ideal of Reason, Philosophy and the Irrational and The Significance of Philosophy. There is a biographical introduction before each reading and an afterword at the end of each section. The reading selections have continuity and are not too technical. Some of the philosophers represented are: Plato, Berkeley, James, Royce Nietzsche and Russell. This text could be used for an introduction to philosophy class where there are students who need a little stimulation and direction toward cultivation.—G. D.