Philip Stokes

Exceptionally readable. Loved the cross-connections noted among philosophers of different eras.

Philosophy 100 Essential Thinkers by Philip Stokes is a pocket reference of philosophers in general terms. Stokes is British-born Thai philosopher. He completed his BA in philosophy in 1993 at the University of Reading, and his MA in philosophy in 1995 at University of Bristol, both in the United Kingdom. In 2011, Stokes was teaching English language and critical thinking skills at Thai University.

This is a handy guide for those looking for a philosopher to study up on or perhaps refresh show more your memory. If you can't remember where Engels, Marx, and Lenin differed in ideology this book can help. Again it is all in simple terms and by no means complete. Thomas Aquinas is covered, but no mention of his Just War Theory. Each philosopher gets between one and three pages so much is left out. However, the number of philosophers covered makes up for the quantity of information. It essentially covers Thales of Miletus to Noam Chomsky. The coverage of the different schools of philosophy, overall, is well done.

Philosophy 100 Essential Thinkers does a fine job of completing what it sets out to do. It is an excellent quick reference. It also provides a map to the history philosophy allowing the reader to search his or her own interest. Stokes also creates starting points for the reader to expand on with additional works. In the Kindle edition, there are also quick links in the text that allow the reader to follow concepts shared between or expanded upon by other philosophers. show less

Philip Stokes goes over the thinkers who have developed modern thought in 100 Great Philosophers Who Changed The World. The book does not limit itself to talking about philosophers alone but includes articles on scientists and other men of stature. The book is primarily about men; it only lists around three women from my skimming of the Table of Contents. It could bother you if you let it, but I don't mind.

As I mentioned, the book does not merely discuss philosophers. It also talks about show more economists, scientists, psychologists, and more. For example, there is an article on Albert Einstein. The articles all contain the same basic information.

One problem is that the book only focuses on the West, i.e., European thought. Buddha, Confucius, and Avicenna; you won't find them in this book. On the other hand, there are plenty of other books that cover those thinkers. show less

Picked this up from a remainder bin, and it's a handy little reference book of Western thought. Illustrations and snappy one-page summaries of 100 thinkers, arranged chronologically by groups such as the Pre-socratics and the Existentialists. Good public transport or restroom reading.